The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-30
senate Sub Com mittes ON Interstate Dom.
merce.


PnrLaprLpHIA, Pa, May 2c.-The United
States Senate Committee on Inter State Com
merce resumed It's session to-day In tho Con.
tinental Hotel. Professor Edward janis,
Of the University of Pennsylya oia, was
heard on the subject He thought that the
subject OF inter State commerce had arrived
ut such point that Ii should DO regulated
by q National Commission, with absolute
lower to prevent determination. "As to
giving 1t power TO fix rates." Professor James
adds. "that would be matter Of the failure.
We scar cely know yet enough on the subIsc!
10 90 90 fnr." Going deeper into the subject
OF the commissions authority, Professor
James said: Tho Commissioners decision
should be absolute. There should be no ap-
peal from IL. All cases, however. should
not come before IL. Asa consequence, OF
the creation OF O body so absolute In author.
ity, there should bs commissions OF inferior
power, like interior courts. They could OF
coure. decide many cases. The all powerful
commission would thus be, "a Ii were, a Su.
prtme Court" Relating 10 his personal ex.
pefiepce tho Professor cited case whore,
some time ago, no had some coal brought
from q mine located sixty miles fram Pntia.
delphia st that tims for less than 50 per ton.
General Isaac Vision, Manager of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company'a canals,
was next heard. He thought lie very un-
fortunate that railroads should own canals.
In Pennsylvania there Is no use in keeping
up the canals, because they are owned by
the railroads, and there can BIO no competi-
ton.
General Winston then followed with a
sketch explaining the methods whereby the
canals of sylvania came into the pos.
session OF the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
psny. 1t was his opinisn that all OF the
money appropriated by the Government for
water improvements was squandered. Hs
would improve the harbore by leaving them
To nature. he knew the Mississippi lettiss
bad greatly increased trade on that stream
but he believed that no matter what the
productive facilities OF the South might be,
ana the Government did nothing, the pro.
ducers w1uli get their products to market.
In other words. private Individuals would
improve our hsrbois IL the Government did
not.
Soon after this Senator German took mp
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 re.
piled General Winston. II spoke 80 him on
the subject. My idea was for the Govern
pept to construct large canal, ct onetenth
the cost of our river and harbor improve.
meDts, connecting all the smaller ones with
the wealthiest centers OF the country. Then
fleet OF gunbests might be constructed.
These could run on any portion of the canal
and could be summonsd 10 any point by
telegraph. / am .f the opinion tina. q sys.
tenn II this kind would afford more protec.
ton to the country than our combined forts
and arsenals.n As to the commercial value
OF such a scheme, that is sean on its face.
Mr. John Norris one of the editors of the
Record explained the effect of freight rate.
on the distribution OF ccat. He did no.
fnycr n railroad commission, as it would
bring the roads into politics he favotsd
railroad courts.
The committee then adjourned. 1t viii
resume its sessions jane II at Chicago.