Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-01-27
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Opinion of Railroad Men on the Author
ity of Congress over Internal
Traffic.

Washington, January 26.-Beiore
the special committee to-day, COM
missioner Fink said that the bill intro
duced 10y Horr, providing for the es-
Enlistment of a board of commissions
ers ofiuter.state commerce rs bureau
of the interior department, was the
only practicable measure TO he adopted
AT this time, and its enactment would
be satisfact ~ to the railroad Interests
and meet the approval of all cnnserva.
tive people. No such commission as
that proposed 10y the Reagan bill
would come in contact with shippers,
hence it could not know their wants
The Interstate commerce bill
sought 10 prevent unreasonable and
unjust rates. The sections proposing
10 do this are in themselves unjust.
If congress compelled the roads TO run
at a loss il should compensate them
therefor. 1t had the right to regulate
railroad property, but not a right TO
| cuntiscate it,
| Ex-Governor Brown appeared in be-
! half of the Missouri Pacific company
in opposition to the Interstate com
nerce bill. He said that by the Req
gan bill railroads will be placed at
a disadvantage with water ways
in comp. ton for the carrying business
of the country. He dwelt at length
IN the services rendered in the pro-
gress Of the United States by the rail-
roads by bringing the producer nearer
to markets. He pointed out the man
her in which the Reagan bill would in
his judgment hamper railroad trans
porlatiun service by restrictions, con-
ditions, and unnecessarily severe pen
alties. Coming 10 the question of the
constitutional authority of Congress,
he denied that it was empowered by
the constitution to control traffic upon
rail Dads or fix limit of rat s To be
charged on sucn traffic, aud reviewing
the decisions of the supreme court
cited by the friends of the
bill as evidence that the
court acknowledged such constitutional
authority, he said the supreme court
never had the issue directly presented
to 1t. Some of its decisions might be
construed as declaring this by infer
ence. Some Of the justices had deliv-
cred an opinion that the supreme
court admitted such authority had
been invested in congress, but the
question had never yet been presented
To the court for decision. He believed
one effect of the Reagan bill would be
to compel roads now forming part of
connecting systems to ab ,nd"n the
system of through rates and give only
local bills of la ing. SO far as the
Gould system, with which he BROWN
was connected, was concerned, there
We're very few complaints.
The speaker was asked as to the
financial condition and profits OF roads
~ Arly. 4
mat busin IS was not profitable.
Judge Reagan bore testimony TO the
integrity and fairness of leading off
GERS of the Gould system, including
Gov. Brown, and contended that his
bill would work no injustice to the
roads.
II iris spoke for the Northern Pa
ciiic. He gave a history of the enter
prise from the beginning. claiming
that the same wise consideration for
not declaring the grant forfeited that
mas prevailed in congress heretofore
should be continued as long as the
Northern Pacific company displayed
energy In prosecuting their work,
ana until the road n originally char,
Tered, was COMPLETED. Good faith To
thousands OF p rsons who have settled
ana are now settling at Puget Sound,
looking 10 the completion Of the Gas.
cade division and direct connection
with the East should be an unapswer-
able reason why congress and the gov.
ernment should do nothing toward de.
laying the work
Senator Van Wyck asked whether
any arrangement was entered into
with the Central Pacific which nre.
v'hied competition OF rates between
+ Hah Francisco and the East. Harri.
was unable TO answer. He had been
only few days president of the road
tails. VIZ" ue-
Col: Geo. c. GRAY, general counse, os
,9e Northern Pacific, followed Harms
ne referred to the language of The
Charter OF the company, arpuiny
rs no right for revocation of the 1rani
had been inserted therein. no snch
I rieht existed In congress. The courts
atone could lay the basis for re.entrv
OF lands, and they only upon sbowinS
that the compan had broken its Co.'S
tract, de admitted no such breach -,
hn' ~ ms was not only the law.
put the terms Of the contract, and con,
sIess was not alone the prnnInr
unt only party to the con-
Inct' In the matter ~
oi,ce power and regulation. congress-
hHd the right, but in so far az prn,,ert,,
rights are concerned, congress had No
power 10 act except 10 further The ends
~ the original grant, namely. N &C.
cure compilation nf tho r,aa W ~