The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-30
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
Prof Edward James Favors Railway Com
mission with Absolute Power.

PHILADELPHIA, May 29.-The United States
Senate committee on interstate commerce re-
sumed its session to-day in the Continental
Hotel Prof Edward James, of the University
of Penns ylvania, was heard on the subject. He
thought that the subject of interstate commerce
had arrived at such point that it should be
regulated by national commission, with abso-
lutte power to prevent discrimination. AS to
giving it power to fix rates." Prof James added,
.sthat wo uld be matter of the future. We
scarcely know yet enough on the subject to 60 so
far" Going deeper into the subject of the com
missions authority, Prof James said: '"The COM
missioners' decision should be absolute. There
should be no appeal from it. All cases,
however should not come before it. AS
consequence of the creation of
body so absolute in authority, there should be
commissions of inferior power, like inferior
courts. They could, Of course, decide many
cases. The all powerful commission would thus
be, as it were, supreme court" Relating his
pers onal experience, the professor cited a case
where, some years ago, he had some coal brought
from mine located sixty miles from Philadel-
phia, for less than cents per ton.
General Isaac Winstar, manager of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company's canals was next
heard. He thought it very unfortunate that
railroads should own canals. In Pennsylvania,
there is no use in keeping up the canals, be-
cause they are owned by the railroads and there
can be no competition.
General Wlnstar then followed with sketch
explaining the methods whereby the canals of
Pennsylvania came into the possession of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. 1t was his
opinion that all the money appropriated by the
government for water improvements was squan-
dered. He would improve the harbors by leav-
ing them to nature. He knew the Mississippi
jetties had greatly increased trade on that
stream, but he believed that, no matter what the
productive facilities of the South might be, and
even if the government did nothing the produc-
ers would get their products to market. In
other words, private individuals would improve
our harbors if the government did not
Soon after this, Senator German took up the
line of interrogative, and directed his questions
in the direction of the probable establishment of
vast connecting line of canals.
when General Grant was President, replied
General Winstar, II spoke to him on the sub
Ject. My idea was for the government to con-
struct large canal, at tenth the cost of our
river and harbor improvements, connecting all
the smaller ones with the wealthiest centers of
the country. Then fleet of gunboats might be
constructed. These could run any portion OF
the canal, and could be summoned to any point
by telegraph. l am of the opinion that system,
of this kind would offer more protection to the
country than our combined forts and arsenals
AS to the commercial value of such scheme,
that is seen on its face"
Mr.. John Norris, one of the editors of the
Record explained the effect of freight rates on
the distribution of coal. He did not favor a
railroad commission, as it would bring the roads
into politics. He favored railroad courts.
The committee then adjourned. 1t will re-
sumo its sessions June II at Chicago.