Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-17
LONG AND SHORT HAUL.
Charles Francis Adams, Views OF
the Interstnte Act.

the Interstate Act.
BosToN, December 16.-Charles Fran.
cis Adams, President of the Union Pa.
cifc Railway Company, addressed the
Commercial Club last evening on the
subject of the present condition and ten.
denotes of railroading in this country.
He had been asked particularly to ex-
press his views of the Interstate Com.
merce Act and its practical working.
He said, in part:
Since the Interstate Commerce Act
went into effect two years ago, there has
been what might be called a craze for
railroad construction. It is impossible
to pool, and the long haul regulates the
short haul. The dishonest methods OF
rate-cutting and other means to influence
the course of traffic have been resorted
to or devised during the past two
years, I do not hesitate to saw
are unprecedented in the whole bad
record of the past. When asked why
do not give information and institute
proceedings under the law, may say
that while am morally sure these things
are done, cannot furnish legal proof. 1t
is this absence of good faith which has
brought the railroad system to it's pres
ent condition and threatens to carry it
still lower. To attribute it to the Inter-
state Commerce act is an utter mistake.
If that act were totally repealed to- NOR
row it would produce but temporary
relief. The railroad system must heal
itself. But in saying what have raid, |
do not mean to imply that in my Judge
ment the Interetlte Commerce Act is a
harmless, much less useful piece of legis.
lation. On the contrary I am very sure
that as it stands it is not. Its present
effect and future results are exactly thos e
which it's trainers never con-
templated. The process OF gravita-
ton and consolidation, so far an
railroads are concerned, was going fast
enough before, but the Interstate Com.
merce act has given it a Few impetus.
Under the operation of sthe act the
smaller local railroads throughout the
country are being ground out of exist
ence. 1t is the long haul which brings
in the profit. The smaller independent
railroads cannot have this and are forced
whether they like it or not, into the
maws of the few great systems into
which the railroads Of the country are
rapidly crystallizing. Thus the effects
of the act are being felt at the smaller
distributing points which are deprived
of their market, for those who formerly
bought of them can get the same goods
on better terms from larger and distant
centers. Contrary to every design OF
those who framed the act, its provisions
have lent new impetus to just those
forces it was intended to hold in check.
The Interstate Commerce act, acting on
the tendency of natural forces, is
rapidly driving us forward toward some
grand consolidation or railroad trust
scheme. Even this, from my point oi
view, | cannot regard as a thing to be
dreaded. l am very sure great consoli-
dated corporations, or even trusts, can
be held to far stricter responsibility than
numerous smaller and conflicting corr O.
rations. A well-devised railroad clear.
ing-house scheme would prove in prac.
| tice, whether so intended or not, in 6
direct line Of the enforcement of the
Interstate Commerce act in all it's better
features, and it has many such. If
were asked this evening for concrete
propositions, I would say delay, at leas
for time, the present too rapid tend
ency toward crystallization or consolidat
ing, by repeating the features of the
Interstate Commerce act which are pre-
cipitating events in that direction.