New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-16
RAILROAD INTERESTS.
CANADIAN ROADS FAVORED IN CHICAGO.
VIEWS OF THE BOARD OF TRADE PRESENTED
TO TILE SENATE COMMITTEK.

TO THE SENATE COMMiIIf1'
Chicago. July 15.-The senate Interstate Commerce
Committee resumed It's work to-day. II began with
the hearing of special committee OF the Board Of
Trade Secretary stone read a report questions
submitted BY the committee to the Board of Trade on
July 10. To the question. DO Canadian lines Of
transportation In the United States affect the COM
mercial interests Of the United States favoraby or
unfavorably' ~ the reply was. Probably, as whole,
they affect them favorably, in so far as commerce IS
favoraby affected by having open to 1t as many chan
nels OF trade as possible
ain what manner does It affect such lntercss7'
"By smashing pools aud all traffic arrangements
that have existed between such roads as the Michigan
Southern and Michigan Central, and by the equalza
zion OF frechts 10 points In NewEngland, when
American lines charged exorbtant rates under the
Interstate Commerce law. The Grand Trunk line OF
Canada was the pioneer in the dressed beer trade,
which was continually discouraged by Amcrf-
can roads in the interest OF their
live stock trade and yard commissions Tho
Canadian lines were among the first to build and
operate transfer elevators here for the preservation
Of identify and weighing OF grain in hopper scales
as required by the law of the STATE, which law now
openly dened by some of the American lines here.
The Canadian lines have the larger share OF this
business from the West by su;h and kindred meas
urcs, and by uniformly just and equitable treatment
OF their patrons and not by favoftsm TO one shipper
another, as Is eVlucnctu ny lHc poPuai iOboi"
for these lines among western merchants. We
do not consider any additional legislation
necessary but this committee would recommend the
enforcement OF the Interstate Commerce Act and such
laws as pertain TO the bonded regulation OF the unod
states products passing the great commercial
highways of Canada as will allow them to pass UNI
trammelIci in tie future as IN the past
The committee also suggested additional legislation
70 make It "unlawful for railway corporations to
combine for the formation of railway associations like
tbo Trunk Line Central Traffic, Southwestern and In
terstate Commerce Railway Associations, or railway
trusts OF any description, believing that they DE-
strov competition and evade the law This
statement anpcared 10 come Unexpectedly TO the com
rritten and created somewhat of sensation. They
Immediately abandoned temporarily, me CONSIDERATION
OF the relations with Canada, 10 develop the board OF
Trade idea OF traffic associations and POOLS
This Is indeed important question:" said sena
TOR Uscock and the attitude of the Board OF Trade
I'm This CITY is a surprise TO me. The opinion. both
among railroad men and shippers, and particularly In
poson where we were last in session Is that these
associations and traffic agreements the only sou-
ton of tho present complication. would like to ask
whether the denuncatoy sentences In your report are
a deliberate opinion. or are merely rhct0ricall"
The committee evidently did not anticipate this turn
of affairs and eVaded an immediate answer on the
protest that they did understand they present
10 consider the question OF pools Individual members
az the committee were then examined on this and
opposition to any traffic agreement diferent,als for
tho weaker roads the ground that It prevented free
competition. The Senate Committee finished its work
here to-day.