The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-04
CANADIAN RAILROADS IN MAINE
The Subject OF Senator cuIIom's
Resolution Passed Yesterday,
After a Lively War Of Words Between
German and Edmunds.
Senator Teller in Opposition to the
Fisheries Treaty


United States railway lines are owned, 0per-
ated or controlled by the Grand Trunk or
Canadian Pacific or any other Canadian rail
way companies; also whether the commerce
originating in the United States is diverted
from American to Canadian lines, to what
extent and in what manner; also whether
any discrimination is practiced in their
charges for tolls against American vessels
in the Welland and St. Lawrence canals /;
also to Inquire into the question OF regula-
tion of commerce carried on by railroad or
water ways between the United States and
Canada. The committee are to report what
legislation is necessary for the protection OF
the commercial interests of the United
States and promote the enforcement of the
Interstate commerce law.
The discussion of Senator Cullom's resolu-
tion took a somewhat political and a some
what personal turn, particularly in the re-
marks Of Senators German and Edmunds.
Senator German maintained that the con-
cession given by the State Of Maine TO the
Canadian Pacific shortened the route be-
tween Liverpool and Japan two days and
this trade. He insisted that Congess should
inquire whether the State Of Maine in the
matter Of Interstate commerce has the right
to grant such concessions to foreign road.
The majority of the directors In the Maine
branch are, It is true, American citizens, but
the Maine road receives from the Canadian
Pacific $4,000 per mile. 1t is in the power
of the Canadian Pacific, he said, to bank
rupt the Northern Pacific and the Union and
the Central Pacific.
Senator German did not take the trouble to
state that one reason why the Canadian
Pacific can take away the trade of the
American Transcontinental Line Is that the
United States Treasury Department under
this Democratic administration has given the
Ion Hn ha rtahf IN frar. .Arfi In,
bond from San Francisco to the Western
terminus of the Northern Pacific and then to
any port in the United States. BY this per-
NIT the Canadian Pacific has been made q
through bonded line from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, while at the same time the Canadian
the interstate commerce law.
Senator German read a list Of the officers
and directors Of one of the roads, which, he
said, is designed to receive part Of the
bounty paid by the British government,
among the names being Levi p. Morton and
VIM. L. Scott. Of Erie, Pa. Senator German
submitted that it is time for the American
Congress, without regard to party, to re-
cognize this condition Of affairs.
Senator Mitchell, interrupting, said III the
Senator from Maryland had taken the tronble
to read the names of the directors OF west
ern road which had lately fallen into the
hands of the Canadian Pacific, he would
have read the name of the chairman of the
OtuOcTdLlC udLlOudl tAtCuLlN6 COLuInltLec.
Senator German said he had no doubt Of it
but that gentleman was not candidate for
office. He did not believe there ought to be
any partisanship in the question, but, as the
Senator from Oregon brought it out so point
edly, he desired to express his belief that no
man who is a candidate for high office,
whether Democrat or Republican and who,
If elected. might become the President of
the United States, could properly accept
office until he had purged himself of every
Into s..& .to Drskf oh
not a question of politics and he had not
brought 1t in for political purposes. Mis-
takes had been made by both parties in the
past. He, as Democrat, and the Senator
from Massachusetts,, Senator Hoar,] as a
Republican, and both as American citizens,
discussing these matters, as persons aiding
this administration and counselling and ad-
vising with 1t so as to protect these great
transportation interests.
Senator Gray asked whether any part Of
the British subsidy comes to railroad
building through the State of Maine.
Senator German could not speak with abso.
Lutte accuracy, but had information that the
road received from the British or Canadian
government $4,000 mile for construction.
The road was chartered by Maine, and was
subsidized by the Canadian Pacific, and If it
was permitted to 60 on. not only would it alb
sorb trade, but would bring the Canadians
into closer relations with that class of Amer
ican citizens who have power and influence
in shaping the affairs of our own govern
ment. This ought to be no longer tolerated.
He was glad the Senator from Illinois intro
duced his resolution. Let the matter be
probed to the bottom. He knew the strug-
gle to which it would give rise in the States
Of Maine and Vermont. where the roads
were being built, and great as his friend
from Vermont Senator Edmunds) was, he
doubted very much whether he was prepared
to drop all partisanship and join the Demo-
Gratis in wiping out this interest, not as DEM
Ocrats, but as American citizens.
Senator Edmunds replied that the fault
with the Democratic party was that the only
thing about 1t was its name. That party had
had control Of the House Of Representatives
ten or twelve years. and yet no attempt had
b!en made, in that time, to rectify those pro-
digious evils which the Senator from Mary
land had now, for the first time, discovered.
1t was possible that some interests in the
State Of Maryland have stimulated the Sena-
tor in the form of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road company to more intense interest than
general patriotism would have done. He
was perfectly right, because If the Senate was
composed only of men who had no personal
interest In the country, they would be a very
poor legislative body.
Senator German admitted that he was a
director OF the railroad company and said
that the Senator from Vermont would scarce
ly be able to appreciate why ne was not a
private director Of any railroad. But when
the great railroad which the State of Mary
land had helped to build up was about to 60
over to the very syndicate which controlled
the Canadian roads, he was selected as a
public man to represent the interests OF his
State to prevent the syndicate which was
controlling the Maine road and Vermont
road from taking the Baltimore and Ohio
road. He wished his friend from Vermont
would purge himself as he Senator Gorman)
had purged himself. ~.
Senator Edmunds said he would purge
himself by the statement that he had never
been director OF any railroad whatever He
did hot, however, see the distinction between
being director to represent the
interests Of the State Of Maryland and di-
rector to represent private interests. AS far
as he knew, there was only ore railroad line
IN IN the State OF Vermont that was owned by
the Grand Trunk of Canada, and that was a
link in the northeastern corner Of the State,
completing the line between Montreal and
Portland, but for every one of these 20 or 30
miles Of railroad controlled in Vermont by a
foreign company, there were fifty miles Of
road-he would be safe in saying 100 miles
in Canada that were controlled by Vermont
corporations. There was one thing that
might be taken as true on both sides of the
chamber, and that was that the physical ge-
ography of the globe could not be changed,
either by the ST. Louis or the Chicago plat
forms, or by President Cleveland or his sue
cessor, President Harrison. The round globe
would continue to be just what 1t was and,
II the route from Japan to Liverpool was 500
miles shorter across Canada than though the
United States, it would remain 500 miles
shorter. Ii goods could be carried cheaper
between Liverpool and Hong Kong across
Canada, commerce would seek that route.
Another physical condition to be eonsid-
cred is that Of climate. When the Senator
from Maryland said that the Canadian road
could compete with our Pacific roads or
even exist without government aid, over
looking the climate Of the region in which
the road lies, he made an immense mistake.
Senator Edmunds, then spoke OF Republi-
can attempts In the past to further the
trade of the nation and Democratic hostility
to them.
Senator Cullom closed the discussion, de-
claring it conclusive, that II 1t were necessa-
ry in order to protect the American people,
that the flag of the American nation should
float over Canada, he should be in favor Of it
before the subject was got through with.
dissension.
Senator TeIler's Speech.
The Senate then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the fisheries treaty in open execu-
tive SESSION and was addressed by Senator
Teller in opposition to its ratification. He
said. the committee had not any reason To
suppose that Great Britain would deal fairly
with the United States, unless compelled to
do so by a determination on the part of the
United States, to insist upon compliance
with the terms Of existing treaties. England
had never kept her engagements with any
people that was not ready and willing to