St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-06-25


against legislation in railroad Matters
''Would legislation prohibiting pooling
do you any damage?"
''That would be the only thing that
would do us any good, at any rate"
IFS there not discrimination IN favor of
through rates?"
eyes, local rates are much higher. 1t
costs only One-half to ship to the sea-
board for the distance that local rates
cost. TO ship 400 miles to Chicago costs
% cents a hundred, while to ship 1,4OO
miles to the seabOard costs 80 to 40 cents"
"Do you get any rebates or are you
shown any favoritism?"
''There are no rebates at all. There is
favOritism, if any, for Minneapolis, because
it is nearer Superior than points further
south, which, being no nearer Chicago get
no benefits from competition"
''Do you think rates are reasonably low
in Minnesota, between river competition
points?"
eyes, l do. There is only one road in
Minnesota that could afford a reduction Of
rates; and if it did reduce, it would COM
pei others to follow, and that would newt
ably bankrupt them. There is only one
road in the state that is making money"
do you think it right that road should
put its rates. at competing points, at the
very lowest figure and then make up eX-
penses on some less favored and non-com-
peting points?"
No. Mr.. Pillsbury did not think that ex-
actly right, neither does he think differ
ence in rates should be made, as between
the man who ships sixty cars and the man
who ships one but he did think there was
often justification in discriminating be-
fvxyan toir inf II n hi In
Chicago rates were about right, but the Du-
luth rates too high.
'sTo make long story Short Mr.. Pills
bury, you want no legislation"
''No, think it would be better without
any. Just leave it to the laws of trade
There are advantages and grievances, but
taking them together, l think legislation
would be harmful"
''When we were in Omaha" said Sena-
tor Platt, ''we had farmers before us who
complained bitterly. How would your
farmers be?"
Mr. Pillsbury thought they would be the
same way. In conclusion, he said that
Minnesota wheat was superior to that of
India or Russia, containing more strength
in gluten. though it did come into compe-
tition at foreign ports. And, he added, the
treasury department has struck US great
blow in withdrawing the drawbacks on jute
sacks, in which all flour is exported.
AN ELEVATOR MAN.
81. W. Pratt, the elevator man, told the
committee there was chronic complaint
among the farmers against the extremely
low rates on grain as compared with former
years. They blamed everybody but them
selves and knew nothing Of the cause. He
knew, in regard to discrimination, only
that Duluth, st. Paul and Minneapolis and
river points were favored and he regarded
that as just. He looked upon it as ques-
ton of locality, fixed by the Almighty, and
believed it was just as merchant in New
York could sell cheaper than merchant in
Chicago or Pittsburg. It was a necessary
evil.
Don't you know Of cases where railroads
have Disseminated against Individuals"
ss'Yes, 1 do; but it is not what would
call unjust discrimination.
''Do you believe there should be law to
prevent this Determinations"
II do not. 1 believe the laws of trade
and competition will regulate this, without
the interference Of legislation"
''But suppose rs per cent. of the country
should desire such law, what would you
say?"
IT would certainly stay with the Is per
cent"
DO you believe in the principle of the
Reagan bill?"
81 have not read the bill itself, but only
the newspaper comments. From what l
understand of it think it would be i'm
practicable. Tied up by long and short
all to the seaboard. A railroad" he ex-
a II I,
it long distance cheaper than it could
by picking up car by car at way stations
Senator Harris-Have you a railroad COM
mission in your state?
Eyes, sir"
''What are its powers?"
Merely ornamental, guess; no partic-
ular powers
SIS there not really some good ground for
feeling, out in the state, at the way the rail-
roads are conducted?"
Eyes, 1 think there was some ground
last fall when the rates were reduced after
the wheat had been sold. 1t did nobody
any good"
''Do you think a law prohibiting pooling,
compelling publicity of rates, if enforced.
would do any harm?"
ooh L don't know. / am firm believer
in the principle Of allowing these things to
work themselves out in their own way.
Development, competition and the laws of
trade regulate these things"
SIS there any complaint of the overcap-
italization of railroads."
''Not much, because they are not inter-
ested in the stock. Besides, dividends are
based on the values of the road without
regard to the stock, whether watered or
substantial"
A RAILROAD PRESIDENT.
Charles F. Hatch president of the Wis
consin, Minnesota & Pacific road, was
called upon for general view of the sub.
ject, and said he believed congress could en-
act no law that could as well meet the ext
gencies of the case as the roads themselves
in their general and steady reductions from
time to time. In regard to pooling, he
thought the results had not been disastrous
to business, as the pools were based on rates
lower than the previous tariff rates. For
instance, the fifteen-cent rate to Chicago,
as at present, was lower than original rates.
Pooling is only formal agreement among
the roads as to prices, and is only done to
solidify the roads.
'sIs it not really to silence competitions"
Greatly. yes; as is prevents the compa-
MES cutting each other and making railroad
property utterly Worthless. Lie great I'LL
ficulty in the way of government approval
is that any government official is only hui
man, and his Judgment would be no better
than that Of those who are interested in
building up roads and bringing them bust
ness"
Continuing at some length Mr.. Hatch
said he thought public sentiment was the
great regulator, after all. No road mindful
of its interests would care to place rates
at figure which would damage shippers.
Every road wanted the land it covered I'M
der the pillow, and business fourishing at
every point along it's line and the country
tributary to it, He favored publicity of
rates and did NOT think il right or inst