New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-26
RAILWAY INTERESTS.
MR. DEpEw ON THE REAGAN BILL.

IL.
WASHINGTON, March 25.-The House Com
mttee on Commerce to-day heard further arguments IN
opposition to the Reagan Interstate Commerce Dill
Chauncey NJ Depew, representing the New-YorS Central
and Hudson River Railroad Company spoke for ABOUT
three hours He reviewed the entire railroad question:
and argued that pending bill will not meet inc ue-
sired end even 1t shall be conceded that IL IL CohSu
tional He said that nothing has caused 80 mnch ms
aster az the railroad which have occurred wthin
the last twelve wears and that this bill Is calculated TO
encourage such wars, lie regarded the equalization OF
rates the main point to he reached He he hat tue
competition which exists between railroads III this co-
try cannot be obviated, that Whenever railroad sue
ceeds building up interest OF 10 per cent upon s
investment competitor will along to divide the
profit Mr. Depew spoke at length In explanation OF
the difference between the carriage of local ana
through freghts, and showed that the character
OF the local freight would not permit lts
being equazcd at the same ratio as through freight
lie thought this OF the most difficult OF rairoad prop
lens It's the revolving wheel that earns the money!
he added not the idle carr The result OF the passage
of thc Reagan bill he sad IL II could be applied TO the
New-York Central Railroad. would be to compel that
road to elect whether 1t would retire from the car
ryng through freight Of the ocal traffic lnsanchg
The effect Of such action he said we should OF course
drop the through freight and do the local business.
raising the rates sufficiently to compensate u.s. Thus 1t
will the local shipper woud suffer from in
creased rites while the through shipper would lose
the benefit OF the competition OF one OF the
through lines" He argued that the anti
monopoly gentlemen Of the country had
cos. the United States more in the last few years
than would defray the expenses Of the late war In re-
sponse question to how they did it. he said BY
buying M all the wheat corn beef, etc, taking II ont OF
the market ard holding il until the prices advanced
lie took last year specimen, and showed how the
markets were stripped until the commodities In this
country were 20 per cent higher than in Liverpool not
,fto fr.fah oflbn
consequence driven into Russia for the purpose OF slim
ulating production in that country, whereupon lands
previously dependent for their supplies were found
TO be productive, and in that discovery American
commerce received staggering blow, from which 1t will
not recover for twenty years.
Mr. Dcpew described how the railroads their cars
TO the doors of the packing houses grain elevators etc.
aud offered 10 carry the produce for nothing and the
anmonopOlists merely complained that the railroads
were interfering with their business. He pictured the
scene OF railroad carrying carload OF cattle from
Chicago 10 NewYork for 81 and afterward refundg the
money and maintained that this did not satisfy the
anmonOpolisis He said that the posting OF schedules
which apparently In the interests OF the public would
be it's worst enemy; that me great Canada were
waiting opportunity To build up helr lines AT lhe eN
pense of the American lines, and that this great qnes
ton cannot be touched through the hand Of the agaor
lie warned the COMMITTEE that the railroads. were so
bound up with labor and the production OF the people at
large that they would be found the working machin
cry OF the public remarked that when the machinery
is nterfered with 1t would he well to make sure that the
various puOnc interests are Doi dlHo uihlmocu.
Ex-Governor John c. Brown Of Tennessee, represent
ing the south interests Of Mr. Gould, next
heard He maintained that the passage OF the Reagan
hill would he disastrous to the Southwestern part OF
the country and that II would ne absolutely destructive
TO the revenues If the railroads. He gave statistics OF
the past construction of railroads In the Southwest ana
of the lines now being built, about to he built. He
said The Reagan bill is really bill not to regulate
but to control, Interstate commerce; and TO dlscrm-
nate we'll" He contrasted the possible railroad egisla
ton by States in conflict with such legislation as Is pro
posed by the bill. He held that while Congress may
have power regulate Interstate commerce. II has no
right to attempt to regulate much less TO CONTROL COM
mon carriers.
Mr. Brown had not concluded his argument when the
committee adjourned until Monday, at which time 1t
will determined whether Ia hear further argument on
the subject interstate commerce or proceed with
the consideration of the River and Harbor Appropria
ton bill which order previously assigned for that
day. Representative Reagan will endeavor 10 close the
argument the subject In advocacy of the passage OF
his bill