New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-11
CANADA'S ADVANTAGE.
DEFECTS OF THE INTERSTATE LAW.

DEFECTS OF THE INTERSTATE LAW.
GENERAL WILSON BEFORE THE coMMEnoE COM
MIrrEg OF THE sENATE-PR0rosINd A hh"ADi
FOR FLAGRANT EVILS.
rBr TELEGRAPH THE TRTBuSEl
WASHINGTON Feb. l0.-The Senate intefs"iVo
Commerce Committee took the first step this morn
Ing toward remedying the present unfair advan-
tage which Canadian roads are enjoying over
those OF this country. II is one OF the results
growing out OF the crudeness OF tie Interstate
Commerce law and this has now developed INTO
n serious abuse by the action of the present Adj
ministratlon end the rulings OF Secretary fair-
child According to the law, goods may oe seh'
from a point In this county, across Canaoa III
bond for delivery another point in this country.
As the Canadian roads are not affected by the
Interstate Commerce law this provision allows
them TO compete with American roads in carrying
American goods while they enjoy the advantage
Of being free from the requirements OF the inter-
state law. II has been Of particular disadvantage
TO the transcontnental systems OF this country
which lie parallel and have TO compete with inc
more favored Canadian Pacific and Grand Trunk
systems To make the Meter worse, secretary
Faiichild has given TO the tanad en- systems every
aid in diverting traffic into Canada, by ponuine
the Pacific Coast steamship line which is one OF
the main sources for supplying Canadian roads
with American freight.
PROTECTION FOR AMERICAN ROADS
Ceneral James RI Wilson appeared before the
Committee this morning, in response TO Chairman
Cullom's invitation, and made an elaborate pre-
sentation of the injustice Of the present dlscrlm-
nations lie discaimed being the representative
OF any interested road, coming through his pres
emit interest in the subject. As the Government
officer at time in charge Of work on me MISS
issppi, and as an extensive rallraad Dulider, ne
had been a student Of Interstate Commerce ana
was the first citizen to suggest to Congress tne
need of federal Legislation on the SUBJECT
The change he proposes was absolutely
to prohibit the shipping OF American goouS;
whether dutiable not, on Canadian roads ii
had always been the policy Of the Government 70
favor home industries when possible, f0r tnis
reason the coasting trade was preserved ny law 10
American coasters and as result ioufhl'is OF ,he
coasting trade was in American vessels fXactiy
the same theory applied to railroads. For IN
stance the law protected the American boat which
carried freight from Detroit to Buffalo by way
of Lake Eric, and yet the same protection was
withheld from the American roads between THESE
points The Government was directly Interested
In the American roads, particularly those 10 WHICH
subsidies had been given.
ALvssoN TO DE LEARNED FROM CANADA.
Particular attention directed by General
Wilson TO the course taken by Canada. The
authorities there compelled all Canadian goods
to 90 by Canadian lines, and no goods could DC
bonded across the United States. In this way
they held every particle Of their own tranic'
besides absorbing good portion of ours This
was in fact. the correct policy and the one which
Congress should adopt Every Continental country
ought 20 retain its own traffic in this way. IT,
sucrcstcd General Wilson France should ask Bis
marck for such concession as this country grants
Canada, the Chancellor would have the hydro
phobia And vet the conditions were exactly
the same This continent
II was explained by means Of the map how
readily the Canadian lines were able TO SECURE nm
lust advantages over the American roads Inc
Canadian Pacific rms from ocean TO ocean, much
Of the line being lust outside the American Dor
der Along its entire length 1t had connexions
with roads tappng immense sections Of American
territory, by which American freight was poured
into it. This had diverted n %%er be last sea-
SON The Grand Trunk road of Canada had
alone handled over IL per cent OF the t9taI
the American roads complained OF the loss or
freight but that TINS loss should he owing TO me
fact that the Canadian roads were Tree from tne
Interstate Commerce restrictions and might cnt
rates make special contracts. and adopt any
means 10 defeat the American compettion
would not result in raising the rate of freichts to
American shippers. TO this General wilson
answered that there now sufficient comnctl.
ton among American roads TO insure low freight
rates This view was shared by Senator Reagan,
who pointed out the various parallel American
systems which competed.
PROPOSING ANNEXATION OF CANADA.
An interesting feature of the meeting was the
expressions favoring an annexation OF Canada 10
the United States which cropped ont Mr.. Will
son stated that his main personal interest IN the
matter was to secure a step toward anneNauoh
If Canadian roads were cut OF from American
freights, it would bankrupt every one OF them
but this he urged. Is was their own funeral
1t would be means Of forcing Csnada mo an IL
nexation At present Canada was menace TO
the limited States for the Canadian lake re-
gion offered q base OF military opera!lons
for Great Britain in case OF hoS ManaS
and the Canadian ownership OF the Wellanu
Canal gave them the exclusive inlet for gunboats
to the Great Lakes He declared that the com
mcrce of the S. Lawrence River was Ten um mes
more valuable than that of the Mississippi at the
time the latter stream was entirely acquired ny
this country in the purchase OF LOUISIANA. In.
stead OF fosiern ia dTos,ed To this country
for the two countries should be united " peaceabiy
II possible. forcby if necessary. these views
seemed 10 meet the approval OF the Senators ana
some of them indicated their entire assent
General Wilson also suggested another change
In the Interstate law He stated that his own
observations had shown him that ROADS were
obeying the law in letter and yet, .disobeying 1t
in spirit While no apparent discriminations
were made. vet old claim for rebate wers alloweu
allowance being made to cover up an actuai
discrimination Fictitious agencies were estao-
lished, the compensation to the agent oeingi IN
fact. merely method OF enectlng discrlmi-
nation in frcights. Such abuses were dne 10 pfl-
waite contracts, and TO overcome them hew
section to the law was Pro p9 to be made pub
lie Secrecy it was cOntended, was WhaJ was
undermining the Interstate Commerce law 1s
TO the Canadian favortism under the Jaw, tno
Committee are likely to report remedial proVls-
ions as the expressions were unanimous IN laNor
of "a change.
MISTAkING THE CLERK FOR THE CHAPLAIN.
WASHINGTON Feb. 10 (Special).-There was an
amusing scene in the House OF Representatives
this morning The blind chaplain, the Kew. DE-
Milburn, is i'll, and had sent word TO Speaker
carIisie to secure n substitute. The message
however came too late, and so there was no one
called the House to order the members present.
n hundred or more in number arose and stood
with b wed heads expecting to hear the chaplain
w. ,-;sod in nraver Instead the clerk read