The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-15
LONG AND SHORT HAULs.

lenator Culiorn on the Objections offered by
Representatives of the Railways.
Washington Special
The attention of Senator Cullom was to-day
directed to the criticisms of the different railway
managers and pool commissioners upon the COM
promise measure agreed upon by the conference
committee upon the interstate commerce bill.
~ have heard good deal for several years" re.
marked Senator Cullom in reply, ION the subject
Of the regulation of interstate commerce, and
have given the subject close and impartial study.
am anxious that the bin now before the con-
ference COMMITTEES, which has been agreed to
except in afesres.articulars, shall become a law.
Z know that some men are alarmed unless the
short-haul provision. as agreed upon, may prove
injurious to the commerce of the country"
''Will it interfere with Western interestsf"
II do not think so The provision agreed upon
Is nearly the same as the one in the Senate bilL
Railroads are now claiming that they do not
3harge more for the shorter than they do for the
longer distances the same line and in the
same direction except in very rare cases. In
such exceptional cases the commission can, un-
der the provisions of the bill as it stands, sus-
pend the operation of the law if it is found nee
&ssary. But | do not apprehend that there will
be any trouble on that score"
You are satisfied, then, with the short-haul
provision as it stands"
IF the railroads do not now observe the pro-
visions of the short-haul law they ought to do
so, and be made to do so if necessary. l do not
wish TO be understood as saying that favor any
provision that requires the observance of the
principle in all cases. because am satisfied that
sometimes the roads cannot observe the general
rule without doing both themselves and the pub
lie injustice. Ii the bill should pass, and the
proper commission be appointed, it will be the
duty Of the board to relax the operation of this
provision, should it be found necessary, in order
TO get the products of the West to the seaboard
Tor export"
S.Bat what are you to say to those who are
opposed to the bill because 1t prohibits poolne2'
''The people do not believe in the system of
pooling adopted by the railroads. have not
myself favored the immediate prohibition of
pooling. SIS | was willing to first give time and
opportunity to the commission to investigate the
necessity of legislation and report to Congress.
II may be that such a course would be wiser
now. but it is important that pass bill, and,
in order to do So concessions must be made.
The Supreme Court has decided that the re-
sponsibity is with Congress. By the hill as it
stands the commission is charged with the duty
of recommending to Congress such legislation as
1t may deem necessary, and II it shall turn ont
that pooling ought to be allowed under the sys-
tenn OF regulation proposed the commission can
50 report and Congress can amend the law.
The publicity OF rates. required by the bill,
will tend to make them more stable, which ia
the main object of pooling now practiced by
the railroads. If the bin passes there will be q
little furry for a time, but those who seem
alarmed now will find that the railroads will adj
just themselves TO the new system, and business
will 60 on without so much unjust discrimina-
tien to the rights of persons and places"