Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-09
I'd EDITION.
Latest T6lGgIanS to The Star.
PRESIDENT ROBERTS, VIEWS.
His Examination by the Senate Inter-
state Commerce Committee.

NEW YoRx. May 9.-The United States Senate
interstate commerce investigating committee
met again to-day, there being presen,
Senators Cullom, Blair, German, Harris,
Reagan and Barbour. The first
witness was President George B. Roberts, Of the
Pennsylvania railroad. He stated that the
Pennsylvania system comprised number OF
leased roads in addition to the Pennsylvania
road proper, which practically controlled the
policy of the system. 1t had very little actual
business relations with any Canadian road.
BY Senator Cullom-What have you to say OF
the relations between the Canadian roads and
those of the United States?
Mr.. Roberts-.'Since the United States has
begun to regulate the railroad companies by
special legislation the latter have been
PLACED AT DISADVANTAGE
in their competition with the roads Of Canada,
the effect on the Grand Trunk roads being
independent of the legislation which affects
those of the United States and a constant men
ace to the latter. / don't know that at present
the Canadian roads do any serious injury to
to do so az any time the managers see ut to do
So"
What advantage have the Canadian roads
over those of the United States?"
1.-THE Canadian Pacific is heavily subsidized
by the government SO as to encourage the de-
Trunk and the Canadian Pacific roads draw
their supplies from England free of duty"
"Can roads i'll the United States be operated
as cheaply as the Canadian roads?'
There is considerable doubt as to the
answer to that question"
WHAT REMEDY HAVE YOU TO SUGGEST
as an amendment to the law that would place
American roads and Canadian roads on an
equality"
Mr.. Roberts-'I think that any foreign cor
poration doing business here should be subject
to the same laws as the roads Of our own coun-
try. If Canadian roads are permitted to carry
traffic in and out of the United States they
should be made amenable to our laws OF
course we cannot oblige foreign roads to con-
form to our laws when they are out of the
country, but while they do business within our
borders the same law should apply to both. In
fact am not SO sure that foreign roads should
be allowed the privilege they enjoy in this coun-
try under these conditions. I cannot quite un-
derstand why foreign roads should be allowed
to go in and out of the United States, while
foreign vessels are not allowed to do a coasting
business with this country"
BY Senator Blair.-''What practical method
do you suggest to protect US in our cornpeti-
ton with Canada?"
Mr.. Roberts.-'I should make them subject
to the same laws which our own roads obey.
In case this is not satisfactory, think our own
roads are fully able to accumulate the public
even if there were no Canadian roads,"
CONFORM TO LAW OR STAY OUT.
Senator German asked President Roberts the
same question that Mr.. Wiman answered yes
terday whether or not it would be fair prop
osition for the United States to demand that
all Canadian roads doing business in the United
should conform to American laws or else stay
out of the country?
Mr.. Roberts replied that he thought it per-
fectly fair demand, and one which should be
made in the interest of American roads.
By Senator Gorman-'There is move on
foot understand, to construct through line
from the Pacific to the Atlantic, to
connect either end with subsi-
died line of steamers, its object
being to take the trade that comes from China
and Japan and transport it to the eastern coast
What chance, in your opinion. do American
roads stand of controlling this trader
Mr.. Roberts-.'The American roads have first
call on all such trade, and under equal condi-
tons with the Canadian roads, could con-
troll il"