The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-04-19
CAMDEN'S SPEECH
ON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Tho LOuE aud short Haul Question as
Applied to this sinls-H0 Makes a
OlPAr cGGo-sspsral Washing.
ton News NOtss aud Gossip.

Special COn9paElRee af hs Ialslgga,es.
WAsHINGroS, D. O., April 1.-THE
matter discussed by Senator Camden in
his speech in the Senate on Friday, is a
very important one to West Virginia, and
deserves more than a passing notice. A
brief review OF the speech seems iustid-
able.
The subject under debate Was the
amendment offered by Mr.. Camden to
the Oullom Interstate Commerce bill.
The West Virginia Senator's amendment
reads as follows;
"That itshall be unlawful for any com.
mon carrier, as provided in the first sec
ton Of this act, to charge or receive any
greater compensation for a similar amount
and kind OF property, for carrying, reCeiy.
ing, storing, forwarding, or handling the
same. for shorter than for longer dis.
lance, which includes the shorter dis
IGnCe, on any one railroad; and the road
Of corporation shall include all the road
in use by such corporation, whether own.
cd or operated by II under a contract,
agreement, or lease by such corporation" /"
This bill, as introduced by the Illinois
Senator, contained o section similar to the
above, and was likewise intended to pro.
hibit charging more for short than for q
long haul, but, as Mr.. Camden stated, II
"'did not 20 far euoug gh to provide against
the evils Of discrimination most largely
complained Of by shippers all over the
country" He further said that he had
always been Of the decided opinion that
such q provision as the one he proposed
embodied the most important feature that
could be embraced In any bill for the
regulation Of transportation, and that he
was more and more impressed every day
with its comprehensive justice.
rIE KEY TO THE WHOLE TRANSPORTATION.
TN my opinion" said he, sit Is the key
70 the whole transportation problem TO
prevent discrimination and to force the
railroads to properly sdjust rates from
competing points. The principle Is fair 10
Goth railroads and shippera,"
The Committee on Commerce In report
ing the Cullom bill, recognized the prinCi.
pie advocated by Senator Camden, and
discussed the extent and manner OF its
application, Our senior Senator, however
seems TO be Of the opinion that the com
mittee 0ughtto have taken even stronger
ground against charging more for o
shorter haul than for u longer.
After speaking at some length in q very
iorCible manner regarding tho disOrimtna'
la h nlVNN
The injustice under which our people live
by reason Of them, Mr. Camden continued
"But, Mr.. President, the evils OF this
kind Of discrimination complained OF are
not Confi1sd by any means to long hauls
from the West. The lar greater proper.
ion, l would say so percent, originates
along tho lines Of railroads from non.com.
petitiye points rs compared with Competi.
I've points Throughout the country In all
directions, and the illustration drawn from
he longer haul Is applicable to all points
Ind distances on every road to which Leg
station by Congress could apply. Take,
or instance, competitive points along the
Ohio River-wheTe low rates prevail by
reason Of CompetiLion-and the non.Com.
pstitiye points 80 and 100, or even 200
|
lucts going in the same direction are often
charged 80 percent more, and sometimes
double the amount OF the longer haul from
the Ohio River or beyond IL.
AS TO WEST VIRGINIA.
"Alr. President, this is not theory, nor
| Is 1t the statement Of imaginary cases that
might exist It is the everyday experience.
| It ia q notorious fact that men engaged in
agricultural and stoCk.raising pursuits In
West Virginia and other States near the
Eastern markets, who ship their products
rom points one-half TO three.fourths
nearer the markets, will be met In the
IaIne markets with the same kind OF pro.
ducts shipped Two or three times the
distance, coming by their own doors al
greatly less rates, often as much as one
| lalf less. And II sometimes happens
that shipperB living In these States ship
their own products TO market and at the
,ame time purchase products OF the same
Kind in Chicago and the West and ship to
he same market at the same time at leBs
freight than is paid for their own products
almost at the market rates.
"In support Of this assertion beg to
read letter, received only a few days ago
rom one Of the most substantial, intelll'
gent, and reputable farmers Of the South
Branch Valley, in my State. l do not give
his name, for the reaUon that l have nc
authority to give II publicity, but the let
ter is only the repetition Of complaints re-
CelyUd by Senators aud Representatives
llmost daily on this subject. The letter
says:
Il believe you are opposed to the inter
Jtate.cunmerCe bill. believe the people
Of our Stats are almost unanimously III
favor OF 1t. / know Of none who are op'
posed TO II, except those who are interest
cd in special rates and In railroads.
~ will stop here to remark In this CON
uectiOn that do not know how tue writeI
could have imagined this to be my posi-
don unless he has been deceived by mis-
tepregentlnDp, or inagines that beCause
hayo some railroad interests In my own
State | cannot rise TO the level ot u tlisin'
crested conviction on this important sub
ject. have that conviction, and this Ii
not the first time l have Expressed it OF
this floor. But let that pass; that Is mol
the poin, 10 which wish TO call the Rtten
ton Of eenators.
COMPLAINTS or DISCRIMINATION.
The letter goes on to say!
Our people complain very much OF dis
examinations, II costs tis more TO get oul
cattle to market from the point named In
West Vifginia), often as much as double
Al from farther west. was In Philadel
phia In December, with cattle men from
Ohio and farther West, who were payinl
about otie.hAlf tho rate Of freight l paid
| buy more or less cattle In Chicago every
sbriiig, and II costs inc great deal more