Omaha daily bee., 1886-12-22
HuGnlTT ON HAuLs AND POOLS.
The Northwestern's General Manager
on the Interstate Commerce RilL

CHIC AGO, Dec. 2l.-lSpecial Telegrm to
the BEE. l-"What do you think of the in.
ter-state commerce bill and its results. il 1t
should becomes law?' was asked of General
Manager Ilughitt, of the Northwestern rail-
road.
"Foreseeing the result of the BILL provided
il became a law, is rather 4 difficult thing to
do, was the reply mo one can tell what
its effects will be. In many respects the pro
visions of the bill are wise. and such that
railroad men in general would be glad to
work under. But In two respects, at least,
an entire reversal Of railroad practice is re-
quired. An entirely new policy must be
adopted. II the bill becomes law only
time can tell what its effects upon trade will
be. 1t Is the customary thing for newspa-
pers to declare that the motives of railroad
men In any matters OF this sort are purely
nercenary, and anything which is opposed
by railroad men is declared to be so opposed
simply because it is against the interests of
the general public and for railroads. Now,
my own impression is that the proposed leg
iSlation prohibiting the making of greater
rates for short hauls than for long haus will
work great deal of hardship for Shippers"
'ln what way?'
We'll, | don't know that can illustrate 1t,
but think | can. All railway people that
Know believe it Just and right to make less
rate per ton per mile for long haul than for
short haul. A rate which would be very
moderate indeed for short haul on the New
cork Central, would be simply prOhibitory
to grain shippers from west of the MissiS-
sppt to New \ ork If we can't charge q
less rate for q long haul than will be remun-
cratve FOR a short haul, manufacturers and
grain shippers will simply be precluded from
putting their goods on distant markets. In a
country with the extensive railway system
that America has, it is, | believe, out of the
question TO successfully introduce any such
schedule. But, as | said we can only wait
and see.
Another Objectionable feature about the
pill is the section prohibiting pools. In my
Judgment pools are a positive benefit to ship
perS as well as to railroads. 1t is only by the
mediation OF the pool that managers are
enabled to keep uniform rate | think the
pool is the best known method Of preserving
rates between competing roads. With
the two exceptions L have named
| am content with the bill as far as
enabled to make OF it. | may say that there
are vital diSagreements as to the meaning of
many OF the provisions, and after they have
been explained the bill may have a different
face
The live stock exchange and stock ward
interests here are heartily in favor of the pas
sage of the Cullom bill. The DrOver's
Journal which reflects their sentiments SAYS
tonight: rs the business of the country TO
remain subject to blood letting by pools when
they In. desire, and ruin shippers aud producers
oy eXtortionatc freight rates? On the first OF
last March the east bound pool increased the
freight on live stock 10 per cent and
on dressed beef so per cent from Chicago to
the seaboard; and by this one act alone they
nave taken from the pockets of producers of
live stock not thousands but millions of dol
lars, which has been divided between the six
trunk lines comprising the east bound pool"