New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-25
THE INTERSTATE la ".
MUCH DISSATISFACTION WITH IT.
m'NU1rA's EMPHATIC VIEWS ON THE

pEcFrVFR M'NUITAS EMPHATIC Views oN ALE
RESULTS OF THE NEW MEASURE.
CHICAGO. Dec. GA local newspaper prints intor-
Vows with a number Of leading Chicago wnoSsai.
merchants and also with two wellhnown raro"i
managers. giving their opinion of the Interstate Con
80 ,,v bascd on its workings up to the present
,i,nc The majority Of tho merchants express 4cideu
onposition TO t. holding that 1t proved OF little oeneh
and I'm many cases working absolute INJURY ~
of them favor radical amendments and somo Oh then
want It repealed at once
Receiver McNuta. Of the Wabash Railway saau'
"Theoretcaly, the law appeared TO DC all rlsn"
Practically, It's radically wrong. It's feet has been
and must continue to DO directly the opposite OF what
WAS ntended That It has and may for time con-
time 10 We much lower rates Is uDquestonaDy truo'
n nresents case where TOO much of the good thing
T., obtained and where ultimately all of the advantages
gained must be repaid hundred fold II Is hhe DOT
rowing money at an exorb of interest without
calculating for the day of settlement. 1t seems 10
me that two-at the outside three-years of tho
condition Of affairs that has existed during the past
srrinp and summer would not leave three solvent rail-
road companies In the West. Northwest or southwest
While this is true It ls believed that the earnings oil
te trunk lines have been Increased SlOoOoOo every
month under the operation OF tbs law The natural
seouence of this in my opinion is the absorption OF
all of the roads IN the country by the present uunK
line corporal In that case. the only remedy
that can think of would be Governmental ownership
or control that would bc equivalent to ownership
The law Is radically defective. but II S folly 10
talk Of its unconditional repeal Something sim lar
to the English clearing house system should be adoped
and carried under the direct on Of experienced
Government officers The Canadian roads should bc
compelled TO conform TO the rules that govern
American roads. The competition with natural water
WAYS should be exempted or provided for under the
long and short haul clause. II that clause Is not wholly
repealed as ! think it should be. Tne law should
prohibit the building OF parallel railroads to be main
ia ned at public expense
Equality and permanency of rates are more I'm
portant inan low rates increase the rates 80 per
cent, secure permanency and Uniformity
General Manager ST. John, Of the Rock Island Road,
said the law has undoubtedly abolished much dis
elimination, which is an admirable result The long
and short maui clause has, IN some cases,
produced satisfactory results. while In others
H. has wrought great injury both 10
shippers and carriers. 1t not easy to say now upon
which side of account the balance would be found
IL I were carefully made up. Practical railroad
men, said Mr.. ST. John, " see no permanent remedy
aqa nst rate until the companies can DC permitted
10 contract as to the terms of peace between them
and enforce the performance Of the contracts In the
ccrrts This would protect the people against dis,
elimination and extortion and secure stable rates
Mr. ST. John did not favor the repeal of The Inter
I etof 1au-