Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-09
'TISACRUEL Law, MY MASTERS
Adams Before the Senate Commit
tee, on the Interstate Law.
CANADA READY FOR ANNEXATION
Erastus Wiman Says the Ties That
Bind Her to England are But
Sentimental and viii
Not Hold.
Damned with Faint Praise.

New YoRK, May S.-The senate committee,
which is investigating the workings of the
interstate commerce law, and the matter of
Canadian roads doing business in and with
this country, resumed its labors this morn
ing.
The first witness called was Charles Fran
els Adams, president of the Union Pacific
road. Adams thought the Interstate COM
merce law in many cases cruel one. Those
who obeyed it lost by its operation, and those
who evaded it, profited. 81 should like,
however, to see 1t universally obeyed and
given fair trial." he said, land since Janu-
ary 1, l really believe, the law has been bet
ter obeyed than ever before. 1 know, for In
stance, that large shippers, who heretofore
have practically dictated their terms, can do
so no longer. The inter state commerce com
missioners, l think, are doing q good work,
and l am glad to see they proceed cautiously
and deliberately. This investigation, too,
is going ahead as rapidly as possible. Pub
liclty is good remedy for many OF the evils
which we are seeking to mitigate, and the
greatest service the interstate commission
ers could do the railroads in general, would
be to prosecute some of the offenders. Moth
ing would have better effect on the situa-
ton. Since the first of the year, however,
rates have been very well maintained"
Mr. Adams thought a common railroad law
between Canada and the United States. and
a legalized pool would be good thing and
would tend to bring about a solution of the
present troubles in reference to the Cana
dian roads.
'If you think the Interstate law is good
thing then where does all the opposition
come fromr' asked Senator Blair
"You must remember the country has
been built on a system Of distribution, which
the interstate law shakes to its foundations,
and the long and short haul clauses give in
effect to the smaller cites many of the advan-
tages heretofore exclusively enjoyed by the
larger cities, and the consequence IS in city
like San Francisco the opposition is very
strong"
"Then it Is a question Of whether the
smaller towns shall be enslaved by the larger
ones, or theIarger ones give up some of their
prestige to themp' asked Senator Blair.
"Enslave is "a strong word,h said Adams,
"but without question what is taken from
one goes to the other"
In conclusion the witness said that while
nonlinally president of the Uuon Pacific
railroad, he really knew very little of its
practical workings and referred to members
of the Union Pacific executive staff at
Omaha.
At ii 80 the stand was taken by Thomas
Lyman Green, u transportation expert of
this city. Green had no objection to a legal
pool, but wanted the merchants to have some
voice in fixing the rates.
At o'clock the committee took recess
until g.
President Hill, the st. Paul, Mime
apols & Manitoba railroad, was the first
witness called after recess. He gave an
account of the probable route Of the future
between Asia and Europe. The Canadian
Pacific road, he said, had fast line of
steamers running from its western terminus
to Asia, and from its eastern terminus to
Liverpool.
SIS there much foreign trade, Asiatic
trade coming over the Canadian Pacific
road ~ asked Chairman CullOm.
considerable. Some comes over our road,
destined for Omaha
why does 1T take such roundabout
course!"
Probably because or cents hundred
pounds is an inducement. We have differ
entail rate, and time is no object. 1t pays to
take advantage of the lower rate"
Erastus Wiman spoke strongly in favor
of commercial reciprocity. Any attempt to
shut out Canadian lines from operating IN
this country would be a serious blow to
western American farmers, and would be
badly received by the Canadian people.
SIS it policy for the American people,"
asked Senator Blair, "to help, with their re-
sources, to build up great nation with a
hostile, or at least an alien connection, on
the north of u.s."
"The tie that binds Canana to England is
but sentiment. The state of New York,
to day, in certain sense, is far
more important than all of Canada
Canada cannot stay as she is. She must
either become an independent republic or
Join with the United States. There are many
forces at work in Canada. The hopes of a
great party then rest entirely upon one old
man. After the death of Sir John Mac
donald will come the deluge."
Wiman spoke at considerable length on
various Jesuit, Catholic and Orange move
ments in Canada, but said farmers, fisher
men and miners all favored commercial
union, which, of itself, was step toward
a nneXatiou.