Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-20
Interstate Commerce.

The Senatorial Committee on Inter-
State Commerce arrived in Atlanta
Wednesday morning. Only Senator
Harris. of Tennessee, with T. #. Shuey,
an official stenographer of the Senate,
and G.. II. Paul, clerk of the committee,
came on to Atlanta, the rest departing for
home in order to prepare tor the coming
session of Congress. The Chamber OF
Commerce Committee conferred with the
Senatorial Committee at the Kimball
House.
Mai. Campbell Wallace was present
among the number, and was asked to
give his views on transportation laws.
He spoke briefly on the situation in
Georgia, and paid high tribute to the
work done by the Georgia commission in
regulating and systemRtizlng traffic and
traffic rates.
Maj. Wallace was asked to take the
chair and be questioned by the Senate
Committee.
He stated that he was present under
protest; that if he answered the questions
pTopounded in the circular, his answers
must be purely practical, as he did not
believe in the theory, and he thought
there was a great deal of it used in the
United States Senate.
Senator Harris said that for his part he
preferred the practical. And Mai. Wal
lace went on 10 SIdLB MS views.
Maj. Wallace thinks rates for through
traffic on railroads exceedingly low and
reasonable, but that local rates, where
they are unrestrained. are rather liberal; :
also, that there should be a law providing
that regular fixed rate shall be pub
lished, and that no deviation from said
fixed rates without notice first having
been served upon the public OF not less
than thirty days.
Senator Harris asked: "Do you think
1t would be wise for Congress TO tx laws
regulating maximum and minimum rates
throughout the country" Mai. Wallace
said he concluded that it was almost
impossible to fix maximum rates. But
that rigid laws should be fixed to prevent
unjust discrimination and rebates. Mai.
Wallace commended that no law
could be made which would APP
ply with effect to Interstate and
local traffic alike, unless ii was law
making maximum charge for rates
of transportation. Senator Harris asked
if he thought it right for Congress to le-
galize pooling byrailroad and other trans
pOrtatiOn companies. swell, now. Gov
ernor," said Maj. Wallace, ''you are ask
ing the very question which | objected to
answering when | agreed to come before
you, and | only came on condition that
should not be called upon to answer it,"
81 beg your pardon. did not so under
stand it, and l waive the question. You
need not take that question down." said
he. turning to his stenogrspher, who was
taking down the entire conversation.
Maj. Wallace thinks no rebates should
be allowed by law, except such as are in
tended to correct obvious mistakes in
charges, and no secret deal should be al
lowed between the transportation compa-
nina md N fpHfufdna1 ~,
should be open impartially TO the public
in all their service.
A uniform system Of accounts terminal
ing at certain time of the year should
be compulsory with all transfer cOmpa-
MES by a United States law.
Maj. Wallace also thinks there is no
doubt but that there is favOritsm shown
between trade centres, brought about by
influence and other powers, and that a
law doing away with all discrimination
by transfer corporations would be a great
benefit to commerce.