Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-04
Mr.. EdmundS Points Out a Possible Slim.
uluS to Germans AfterthOusht.
French Spolation Claims Puzllins The
congressman.
The Claims Merits and History Re-
viewed by Mr.. Long.

The Claims Merits and History Re
viewed by Mr.. Long.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 8.
| Senate
Cullom offered a resolution instructing the
committee on interstate commerce TO ascer-
tain and report whether any United States
railway lines are owned, operated OF con-
trolled by the Grand Trunk or Canadian
| Pacific or any other Canadian railway com
panles also whether the commerce original
| ing in the United States is diverted from
American to Canadian lines, to what extent
and i'll what manner; also whether any dis
elimination is practiced i'll their charges for
tolls against American vessels in the Wei
land and St. Lawrence canals; also to inquire
| Into the question of the regulation of COM
merce carried on by railroad or water ways
between the United States and Canada. The
| committee is to report what legislation is
necessary for the protection of the CONNER
cial interests of the United States and pro-
mote the enforcement of the Interstate
commerce law.
The discussion of Mr.. Cullom's resolution
took a somewhat political and somewhat
personal turn, particularly i'll the remarks of
Messrs. German and Edmunds.
The resolution was adopted without divis-
ion.
Discussing Cullom's resolution, German
read the list of officers and directors on one
of the roads, which, he said, is designed to
receive part of the bounty paid by the
British government, among the names being
Lew Z. Morton and VIM l.. Scott of Erie
Pa.
German submitted that it is time for the
American Congress, without regard to party,
10 recognize this condition of affairs. The
Americans whose names he read as directors
of the Canadian Pacific road had perfect
right to become such.
Mitchell, interruptlng, said that if the SEN
ator from Mary land had taken the trouble to
read the names of the directors of the west
ern road which had lately fallen into the
hands of the Canadian Pacific, he would
hear the name of the chairman of the demo-
cratic national executive committee.
German said he had no doubt of it but
that the gentleman was not a candidate for
office. lie did not believe there might be
any partiZeship IN question, but as the SEN
ator brought it out SO pointedly he de-
sired to express the belief that no man who
is candidate for a high office, whether
democrat or republican, who, if elected,
might become President of the United
States, could properly accept the office until
he had purge himself Cf every interest in
this British enterprise. 1his was not ques-
ton of politics; he had not brought it in for
political purposes. Mistakes had been made
by both parties in the past. he as demo-
crat aud the senator from Massachusetts
(Hoar) as a republican, both as American
citizens, ought to be here today in private
council discussing these matters as persons
aiding this administration ami counciling and
advising with it SO as to protect these great
! transportation interests.
| Senator Gray asked whether any part of
the British subsidy comes to the railroad
building through the State of Maine.
| German could not speak with absolute ac-
curacy, but was informed that the road re-
ceived S25 900 a mile from the British OF
Canadian governments. Tho road was char
tered by the State of Maine and subsidized
by the Canadian Pacific, and if it were per
mitted 10 go on, not only would it absorb
trade, but would bring Canada into closer
relations with that class of American citizens
who have power and influence in shaping the
Affairs of our own government. TLis ough
to be no longer tolerated. He was glad the
Senator from Illinois introduced the resolu
ton. Let the matter be probeI to the bot
tom. He knew the struggle to which il
would give rise in the states of Maine and
Vermont where roads are being built, and
great as his friend from Vermont (EImunds
was, he doubted very much whether he wa,
prepared to drop all partizanship and jon
the democrats in wiping out this interest, not
as democrats but as American citizens.
Edmunds replied that the fault with tht
democratic party was that the only thnl
about was its name. That party had contro
of the House of Representatives for ten OF
twelve years, and as yet, no effort had been
made in all hat time, to rectify those pro
digious evils, which the Senator frou
Mary land had now, for the first time, dis
covered 1t was possible that some Interest,"
in the state of Maryland might have stimu
ated the senator from Maryla in the form
of the Baltimore & Ohio company to a NOR,
intense interest than general patriotism woult
have done. 1t was perfectly right because
if the Senate vas composed only of mel
who had no personal interest in the country
it would be very poor legislative body
German admitted that he was a director o
the railroad company, and said that the Sen
ator from Vermont would scarcely be able t
appreciate why. He was not private direc
tor of any railroad, but when the great rail
road which the State of Maryland had helpe
to build up was about to go over to the yer
syndicate which controlled the Canada
roads, he was selected as public man to re
present the interests of his State, and prever
the syndicate which was controlling the Main
and Vermont roads. from taking the Bait
more and Ohio road He trusted his frien
from Vermont would purge himself as b
: (Gorman) had purged himself.
Edmunds said he would purge himself by
statement that he had never been a directc
of any railroad whatever. He did not, hoV
ever, see the distinction between being a d
rector to represent the interests of the Stat
of Maryland and director to represent pr
vate interests. As far as he knew there wi
' only one railroad line in the State of Vernon
that was owned by the Grand Trunk of Ca
|. ada, and that vas link in the nortbeastel
) corner of the State, completing the line b
: tween Montreal and Portland; but for evei
4 one of these twenty or thirty miles of raj
5 road controlled in Vermont by a forei,
company, there were 90 miles of road q
would be safe in saying 100 miles, in Cana.
that we're controlled by Vermont corporation
There was one thing that might be TAKE
as line on both sides of the chambe
e and that was that the physical geography
the globe could not be changed either by Il
,. ST. Louis or Chicago platform, or by Pre-
y dent Cleveland or his successor Preside
Harrison. The round globe would contir
to be just what it was, and if the route frc
Japan TO Liverpool was five hundred mil
shorter across Canada than through the u
IS ted States, it would remain FIVE hundr