New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-06
THE McEyoYI ELEVATOR BILL
AN IMPORTANT MEASURE AWAITING GOV.
ERSoR Hills ACTION.
STRONG ARGUMENTS AeAIssr THE BILL ADVANCED
BY TIE caAmBtR or coMslrRcs AND

By TIE caAMBtR or coMsIRRcs AND
THE 'PifoptSE' rxcHASss.
Albany, June 5!-One Of the most important
measures that awhits sstion by Governor Hill is
the McEvoy EiesstdE hill This is purely COM
mercial piece Of legislation There is no politics
whatever in it. but it involves great interests, and
its disposition by the Governor is awaited with
much anxiety, not only by every owner of elevator
property in ew-York Brooklyn and Buffalo the
three cities to which the proposed law Is ap-
plicable but By almost every interested in the
grain movement throughout the State.
The bill. as is generally known. the result
OF the popular cutlery against monopoly and ex-
tortion. II purports to limit the charge for Gle
waiting, weighing and discharging grain by means
OF floating or stationary elevators to a maximum
rate of fve-eighths Of one cent per bushel, and
the charge for trimming and shovellng grain to
and from the leg of the elevator TO the actual
cost OF these operations. It's provisions apply
only to cities having 10000 inhabitants 1t was
introduced at the instance Of some of the Erie
Canal boatowners The arguments urged in its
behalf are, in substance, that the elevator charges
now paid at New-York and Buffalo are higher
than those at Chicago; that these charges arc IN
Iustand extortonate; that these excessive charges
are the main cause for the increasing diversion of
the grain from New-Yorl to other seaports that
they bear with especial severity on the canal boat
men; that they are maintained by combination
OF elevator owners, and that an undue amount
Of capital has been invested in elevators.
ALI these arguments were considered and dis
cussed at length by committee of the New-Yo
Chamber Of Commerce. which examined the whole
subject when the BILL or one substantially the
same, came up before the Legislature in 1885. In
their report the members of this committee dis
prove the statement that the charges at New.
York and Buffalo are in excess of those at Chicago
when q fair comparison is made, or that they
are excessive. II trade has been diverted from
this port it Is due to railroad trunk line com
petition, not to elevator charges the committee
holds and in regard to the claim that the charges
bear with particular. severity on the owners OF
| canal-boats, the report has this to say:
on rss s bs ks D a1a
the elevator charges 70 apply alike to both classes
frsn S s e @ SEQ that III t1, relative
Of the bill under consideration. The expectations
entert aimed by tbs boatmsn to the efeot Of the
through our port, your committee think are OK,
aggerated aud have foundation whatever. unless
the charges are proved to ba excessive
TIE other arguments are disposed Of with equal
ease and the report adopted by the Champer
Of Commerce., that body declaring that the 5ilI
interest of the State would prove UNJUST oppres-
sive and even destructive 10 the elevator interests
of this port ,, T.
change, which joined with the Chamber OF CoIh-
merce In asking the Legislature MOB 10 pass the
bill Indeed the opposition TO the proposed law
has been and is SO great, that 1t is SAID even ven
many of the Erie hoat-owners, who, gave tne
matter careful thought are convinced thai tne
bill is mistake and are hoping that the Governor
will not sign it.. ,;,,.
Speaking Of the measure yesterday. prominent
member Of the New-York Produce Exchange de,
cIared that IL the bill became law lt woufd
practically destroy the elevator property ana the
grain interests of New-York and drive the snip
ping to other cities, "where property wouIu ps
| protected, and the operation OF elevators woulu
be based on legitimate competition" CONTINUING
he said: A.. cors,,tpt,on
NJ the limited safes that all legislation as 10 co
iperce 1, vested solely in the Federal Govern,lens
and thai Congress alone has the power 10 maze la"s
This bill is In direct opposition TO tus IN ,hs
elevators IN this port for loading foreign hsn
The mercantile interests OF New ork are dn po.
lutey opposed to this bill and, II you may renon'o'i
they are the ones pay the present charges. as.
As TO the canal boat being unlQaded TOT actua 49,
It very unfair that capital snouid % of
doing something for nothing. This IS private prV to
erty, asking no privileges from the state put on Inc
contrary paying vast amount OF money ID the snaPo
Of taxes Furthermore, this class OF properly Is
fitted to but purpose namely tne hts aIovo
grain II il is made impossible TO operate TINS eievs
or interest SO as to be reimbursed for the amount re-
oured 10 operate IT, then why not legslat as 10 us
confscation1 One seems TO mo Just as lalr q, tne
other and practically amounts 10 Inc sauiS thlns
This ttll for years has been strike ana the cues
ton now is whether private caplta anu proPer,y
shall he attacked for the sole purpose Oh GULL