The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-07-16
CHICAGO MERCHANTS ARE EMPHATIC.
They Say That Canadian Roads Have
Always Treated Them Fairly,
Which Is More Than Can Re Said
for American Lines.
The Senators Interested at Finding
Pools Vigorously Condemned.

CHICAGO, July 15.-The Senate interstate
commerce committee resumed Its work to-
day and began with hearing OF the special
committee Of the board Of trade. Secretary
Stone read report on the questions sub
mtted by the committee TO the board OF
trade. The report says: Canadian lines OF
transportation in the United States affect
the commercial interests Of the United
States favorably as far as commerce Is Ia
vorably affected by having open TO IL as
many channels Of trade as possible. 1t az
fects such interests by smashing pools and
all traffic arrangements that have existed
between such roads as the Michigan South
ern and Michigan Central by equalization Of
frelghts to points in New England when the
American lines charged exorbltant rates un-
der the interstate commerce law. The
Grand Trunk line was the pioneer In the
dressed beef trade which. before they en-
couraged II, was continually discouraged by
the American roads in the interests Of their
livestock trade and yard commissions. Traf-
fc orI Iginating In the United States which
naturally belongs to the American roads Is
not diverted from them by Canadian roads
except in the case Of perishable goods.
The Canadian lines were among the first to
build and operate a transfer elevator here
for the preservation, identity and weighing
Of grain In hopper scales as required by the
law Of the State, which law Is now openly
defed by some American lines. The Ca
madam lines have won the larger share Oh
this business from the West by such and kin
dred measures and by uniformly just and
equitable treatment Of patrons and not by
favoritism TO one shipper over another. We
do not consider any additional legislation
necessary. This committee would recon-
mend the enforcement of the interstate com
merce act and such laws as pertain to the
bonded regulation OF United States
products, passing over the great commercial
highways Of Canada, as will allow them TO
pass untrammelled in the future as In the
ures calculated 20 restrict the transportation
facilities now enjoyed Dy all, will, In the
opinion Of this committee, bury in impene-
!rsble oblivion the party that accomplished
It."
The committee suggest additional legisla-
tion to make it unlawful for railway cor
peratlon to combine for the formation Of
railway associations or railway trusts Of any
description believing that they destroy com
petition and evade the law"
This statement appeared to come unex-
pectedly TO the Senate committee and cre-
ated somewhat OF sensation. They imme-
diately abandoned, temporarily. the consid-
Grafton Of relations with Canada TO deyel0pe
the board Of trade idea OF traffic associations
and pools. Said Senator Hiscock: THE
attitude Of the board Of trade Of this city Is
considerable OF a surprise TO me. The con-
sensus Of public opinion, among railroad
men and shippers, particularly In Boston, Is
that association and traffic agreements are
the only solution Of the present complica-
ton. would like to ask whether the de-
nunciatory sentences in your report are de-
liberate opinions or merely rhetorical"
The committee evidently did not antici-
| pate this turn Of affairs aud evaded an lmme-
| date answer on the protest that they did not
l understand they were present to consider
| the question Of pools. The individual mem
l bers Of the committee were examined and
l from each was elected the strongest opposl-
| tion to any traffic agreement or differential5
| on the ground that they prevented free COM
| petition.
| this afternoon and left for the East, with the
| exception Of Chairman Cullom.