Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-07-10
pURIED pErEArH rHE rlMsERs
INTEsTIGATING RAILROAD RATES
The Interstate Commerce Commission
Getting the Opinions Of Oficials.

The Interstate Commerce Commission
Getting the Opinions Of Oficials.
BosroN, July 5.-The United States Sem
ate committee on Interstate commerce,
which has under investigation the relation
between Canadian railways to the inter.
state commerce laws and the United States
railways, began q session in this city, to-
day. Senator Cullom explained the pur.
poses oil the committed visit.
President Bliss OF the Boston Il Albany
was then invited to give his views to the
committee.
He stated that he was not one OF those
who believed the Grand Trunk railroad
should be prevented, at this late day, from
doing business in the United STATES, pro.
vided. however, they were subject to all
the rules and regulations to which the
American roads are subjected. He had no
personal knowledge that
TIE CANADIAN ROADS
we're making reduced rates but there was
general opinion that they were. II they
were making reduced rates to individuals
he considered they failed to compy with
the provisions OF the interstate commerce
rules.
II the system OF granting subsidies to
the Canadian road was continued it would
be an injury to Boston in go far as it
would divert trade from Boston.
In reply to question OF Senator Blair,
Bliss claimed that it was just to regulate
American roads so that they cannot COM
etc with water lines. It is just, also to
regulate Canadian roads so they cannot
prey upon the American roads after the
latter are tied up.
Senator Blair tried hard to make Presi-
dent Bliss say that il Canadian competi-
ton was removed, the road would surely
increase their charges, but the witness
would not do so, stating that If the Cana
dian roads were subjected to the same reg
ulations as the American roads, the latter
would
HAVE TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES
in the competition. He was not disposed
to think the Canadian roads the public
benefactors that the people Thought them.
President Choate OF the old Colony road
is probably less affected by the Interstate
commerce bill than any other road in the
United States. 1t 10 doubted il any law
regulating the competition Of the Canadian
roads could be put in force, though it
would be good thing to subject them to
the same laws as our own roads.
How to do this he did not know, GER
tainly not by legislation. He believed
there had been an increase in business
over the Candian lines
SINCE THE PASSAGE OF THE Law.
The competition Of the Canadian roads
was an advantage to New England. He
was in favor of permitting the Canadian
lines to run through New England under
the same regulations as our roads. The
exclusion Of their cars would be unfair
He did not think the Interstate law would
ever be enforced. The long g-and short
haul clause system was wrong. Some
system of pooling would be the best
thing.
After recess the general track man
ager of the Union Pacific said the compe
| tition his road felt in connection with the
Canadian lines was in transcontinenta
traffic. He quoted from the Canadian Pa
cific figures to show the increase In its
| traffic and said this was due to the toe
large differentials allowed tbe Canadian
Pacific II differentials were done away
with, the Canadian Pacific would come in
as q .'free lance" and at such rates that
no road could do business at a profit
They could afford it ON account OF govern
ment aid.