New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-11
FOREST FROM THEIRLABOR
srs.ToRs ADJOURN THE INVESTIGATION.
PLEASED WITH THE TESTIMONY THAT HAS
sEEN sBcURED-sHoULD THE PRESENT
INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW HAVE
/ LONGER TRIAL.

LONGER TRIAL.
IN. Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce, whict
,as been In session the Fifth Avenue Hotel since
last FRIDAY finished its investigation far as this
oitv "a concerned yesterday morning. Senator CnHom
4, we'll pleased with the result Of the commuters
gork and is of opinion that much valuable tesumon!
has been secured. Whether the investigation "oul'
lead to any direct legislation he was unable 10 say
Int he thought the burden OF testimony was In FAVOR VI
giving the present law a longer trial
Yesterday given up 10 the merchants Vi 'nS
city The first witness was Charles S. Smith, presF
dent Of the Chamber Of Commerce. Although 'no
Chamber of Commerce he said. believed that 'he
Interstate Commerce Commission had performed very
valuable service 1t thought also that the laws whch
the Commission have to enforce might 90 ameuuo" '"
advantage He declared that be was stih Oh the
opinion, as he had always been, that the iohS anu
short haul clause Of the Interstate CommcFce Ac'
was Injurious TO the interests of the country. lie
believed prohibition contained IN tna' causo
had decreased the expectation ot eralh'
-four and other products, anu han IT.
tarded the development OF the entHo "esG
since 1881 the balance Of trade In favor OF thlS country
had constantly decreased until, In 1885, IL was on
The other side to the extent of S29,OOOOOo The long
and short haul clause should therefore be amended or
the United States would be forced 70 surrender her
Mace in the foreign markets 10 India or Russia. He
was not he said as representative OF the Chamber,
of the opinion that pooling should be absolutely pro
hibited It had secured greater uniformity OF rates
and obyiated TO an extent unjust discrimination.
It had been found more advantageous to shippers
TO deal with q commissioner representing the
nooI than with the individual officials Of the various
roads II was Objectionable, however, because 1t
was entirely In control of the railroad men them
selves For the last thirty years the railroads had
virtually made their own laws by controlling the
legislature Governmental control Of pooling, he
believed would insure all the advantages Of the
system and abolish its disadvantages. The mer-
chants believed that since the operation of the Inter
state law and despite It, rebates had been given TO
favored ones and Determinations made to greater
or less extent. Railroad officials admitted much
USES OF THE CANADIAN LINES.
He favored the competition of the Canadian lines.
They were Of very great advantage to large mills in
such places as lewiston, Saco and Biddeiori. They
were enabled send goods TO Chicago cheaply as
10 Boston or Ncw-Y York 1t was also advisable, he
thought, to cultivate reciprocal trade with the FIVE
million people of Canada. II Canada would adopt
tariff regulations like those of the United States he
would favor free trade between that country and
this. But the Canadian lines, when trans sporting
American goods, should be subjected 10 the same
regulations the Americans doing the same business
He believed that it would be advisable to amend the
Commerce Act with reference TO the ex-
port trade.
Mr. Smith then gave up the witness chair TO J.
H. htTrFht eApTtsuCut VI tuO IiOuuOS hANHoAeS
He said that before the Law passed pooling had
been general. The discrimination then most
unjust. Since the passage OF the law the position
Of the merchant had improved; there WAS less dis
elimination. The railroads had adopted another
system which was destructive TO COM
merce. that Of naming cheaper rates
for export traffic than for seaboard traffic.
That matter of making a cheaper rate to Liverpool
affected the prices of wheat all over the world The
exports had fallen OFF. No rate could be made that
could compete with an oSerproduction Of grain. 1t
was necessary to establish in this connec ton new
system Of farming, like the English system. The
Canadian roads should not be abolished. he thought
The American roads could increase their prices Of
in consequence. That elimination
might DO advantageous TO NewYork. because OF
throwing more traffic toward t. But New-York was |
only . small part OF the United States For the coun
ry at large they were needed regulators
The next witness Z. II. Ammidown, Of No 69 |
worth-st He thought that MI. Smith had gone over |
The ground thoroughly, and he desired say that he
ooncurrod with him he did think that Canadian
tines should be allowed to take advantage OF specific
legislation controlling the American lines. He referred
10 the decreasing exports, and criticised the govern
mental method Of compiling the returns OF exports OF
Manufactured articles The Treasury ignored com
pIeeIy he sad the classification adopted by tho Cen
Jus Bureau, and excluded many articles which were
hero described manufactured.
John d. Herman, a lawyer of this city, then |
he gave his views upon the subject under investga
Ion He thought that II would have been better to |
Allow pooling TO some extent He was uncertain |
whether the present law did not allow the railroads all
he legitimate advantages that they had under the old
regime Tho present law should be tested for some
Tine yet Congress could not decide without more |
experience Pooling, however had many evils. II |
,oun result IN roads which did no work getting as
Canadian roads, they did not remain in the pools |
which were formed when traffic poor. They
kicked the traces" then and adopted cutrateS.
They were IN the pools when traffic good.
As 10 the long and short haul clause he had said
hat should not be Inserted 10 the Interstate Com
nerce act That measure was TOO strong. II was, al
lines, Injurious both to The railroads and the people
The people, however, not ready for its repeaL
,he local traffic upon the American roads was so much
greater than upon the Canadian lines that they could
tn observe the regulations % rates and live, while
he Canadian lines must stsve. There was no doubt
hat the Canadian lines should submit 10 the American
avs.
After bearing the testimony of Joshua j. white who !
beloved Mr.. Herman, the committee adjourned, 10 |
meet In Boston on July 3.