Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-09
JUDGE COOLEY IN BOSTON.
He Defends the Interstate Law and
Sounds a Warning About Trusts.

He Defends the Interstate Law and
Sounds a Warning About Trusts.
Among the distinguished guests at the an
nual dinner of the Boston Commercial club
last night were Judge Cooley chairman OF the
interstate commerce commission; Prof Richard
+. Ely, of Johns Hopkins university: Hon.
Seth Low, eX-mayor of Brooklyn: Col. Elliott
+. Shepard of the New York Maj aud Erpvsss;
Gov. Ames, Collector Saltonstall. Gen. Francis
A. Walker, Gen. n. L. Banks and Hon. ]. W.
Gambler. There were about $50 present in all
Messages of regret we're read from Allan q.
Thurman. John Wanamaker. Abram s. Hewitt
and Hon. Charles +. Adams. President Lane
then made a brief Introductory address in
which he announced the subject of discussion
as Combination and Competition, and Allied
Subjects"
OBJECT OF THE LAW.
Judge Cooley said he did not care to discuss
the question of repeating the interstate COM
merce act, which, he declared, had a good pur-
pose 1t was intended to correct enormous
abuses previously existing, but they cannot be
corrected without cutting off some sources OF
improper income. The urgent call for a modi-
fcation of the act which comes from railroad
circles has sprung up recently. Judge Cooley
continued: Il desire 20 call special attention
to this fact: That the period during which the
law operated most 10 the benefit Of the rail-
roads was precisely that during which it's pro-
visions were best observed There are very
vigorous complaints now. They relate mainly
TO the clause of the act which forbids the
greater charge on the shorter haul ON the same
line in the same direction where the circum-
stances and conditions are similar and that which
makes pooling unlawful. The first mentioned
clause embodies principle right in itself In
large sections OF the country the roads have
come into conformity with it and not suffered
loss from dingo so. In others il was not practi-
cable to do SO, at least immediately But
the difficulties are greatly increased by the ex-
cessive competition Of the roads at leading
points, and they will diminish the managers
come to a better understanding among them
selves.
CoNrRIvANcEs OF RAILROAD MEN To DEFEAT THE
LAW.
1.-The law intends that the rates for the trans
portation of persons and property shall be the
same for all classes and shall be steadily MAIN
tanned. 1t also intends that the railroad BUSH
ness of the country shall be done with full pub
hcjty. This purpose of the law is defeated by
contrivances that are clearly opposed TO the
intent of the law, if not to its terms. The diff
ference between a trust and pool is almost as
great as that between a despot on a throne
and the player who mimics him on the
stage. Trusts are things TO be feared. They
antagonize a leading and most valuable prin-
ciple of industrial life in their attempt not to
curb competition merely, but TO put am end 10
1t. The course of the leading trust of the
country has been such AS to emphasize the fear
of them, and the benefits that have come from
Its cheapening of an article of commerce are
insignificant when contrasted with the mis-
chiefs that have followed the exhibitions in
many forms of the merciless power of concern
trated capital.
ONE OF THE CRYING EVILS
in railroad service now needing attention is the
combination between the scalper and the I'M
scrupulous passenger agent This will be bro
ken up just soon as there are applied in
railroad matters the same general maxims OF
business prudence which are expected 20 con-
troll in other interests. IL the combination in
the same person of the two characters of rail-
road manager-in whatever official position
and of speculator in railroad stocks could be
rendered impossible, Judge Cooley thought, il
would go Tar to remove many present abuses.
Mysterious Crime I'm Baltimore.
AN OLD WOMAN FATALLY BEATEN. IT Is THOUGHT
By ANOTHER WOMAN, WHO FLED.
An aged German woman, Mrs. Margaret
Schneider, appeared at the door Of her residence,
No. 8 west 5th street, Baltimore, yesterday
afternoon, and appealed for help TO some men
working at an engine house opposite. The men
ran to her assistance and found that she had
been terribly beaten} over the head with q
blunt instrument, her skull fractured and her
left almost torn from her head When
the men reached her, the old woman
died last night, muttering something that
sounded like Ida did it." The house was i'm
great disorder, blood was spsttered on the bed
in a second-story room, on the walls and floor.
been hurriedly ransacked. Two other women
and boy who had lived on the farm with Mrs.
Schneider were missing. One of the women
was known as Mrs. Meyerhoh. She and boy,
said TO be her son, went several days ago 70
Philadelphia. The whereabouts of the other
woman is not known. A child woman
leave by the back gate about an hour before the
crime was discovered, and one of the neighbors
heard sounds of a quarrel and struggle sbout2
O'Clock. The house has not borne a frst-class
reputation, as carriages frequently drove TO the
door late at night. and an opium smoking lay
out" was found in one Of the rooms
Explosion I'm the Palace at Madrid.
THE BOMB WAS COMPARATIVELY HARMLESS, Buf
THE ROYAL FAMILY WAS PANIC STRICKEN.
bomb was exploded under the staircase Of
the royal palace at Madrid Yesterday. Fortu-
nately no one was injured. the only damage
done being the smashing of many windows.
Great excitement prevailed for q time, the
members of the royal household being almost
panic-stricken. Prime Minister Sagasta, a.
soon as he heard Of the attempted outrage,
hurried from the congress to the palace, where
he was at once admitted TO an audience with
the queen
Several petards were exploded in the street
at the time Of the explosion in the royal palace.
The petards were carelessly and almost harm
lessly constructed The governor of Madrid
received an anonymous letter on Sunday say
ing that the outrages would be continued The
explosions are supposed 70 be due 10 the recent
active raiding Of a gambling house, the fire.
quenters Of which were arrested and fined and
the money found on the tables contested
Judge Baker, in Chicago, refused 10 ersus
the petition for q writ of habeas corpus for The
release of Ralph Lee, the assailant Of Bankse
RAwson.