Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-05-09
RAILROAD INVESTIGATION
President Adams and Interstate Law
New YoIk to Yokohama in Two
Weeks-AtteI Mcdonald the Deluge.

| NEW YoRk. May S.
The Senate committee investigating tn
workings of the inter state commerce Law
and the matter of the Canadian roads doin.
business in and with this country resumed it
lsbors today in the Fifth Avenue hotel
The first witness was Pres Charles Fran
els Adams of the Union Pacific railroad
Mr. Adams thought the interstate com
merce Law in many eases a cruel one. rhos,
who obeyed it lost by its operationsa nd thos,
who evsded il profited
II should like, however to see il univer-
sally obeyed and given IA fair trial" he said
land since January lst really believe III,
Law has been better obeyed than ever before
know for instance that large shippers who
heretofore have practically dictated their
own terms, can do so no longer
The interstate commissioners | think ar,
doing good work aud am glad to see that
they proceed cautiously"
Mr.. Adams thought common law be-
tween Canada and the United States and a
legalized pool would be good thing and
tend 10 bring about a solution of present
troubles in reference to Canadian roads.
''lf you think the interstate law is a good
thing then where does all the opposition come
from?' asked Senator Blair.
You must remember that the country has
been built upon system of distribution
which the interstate law shakes to its foun-
dation." replied Mr., Adams. The long
and short haul clauses give in effect to
smaller cities many of the advantages here
tofore exclusively enjoyed by larger cities,
and the consequence is that in a city like San
Francisco opposition is very strong"
Then it is a question of whether the
smaller towns be enslaved by larger ones,
or larger ones give up some of their prestige
to them?" asked Senator Blair.
"Enslsve is a strong word" said Mr.
Adams, but without question what is taken
from one goes to the other" In conclusion
the witness said that v lille nominally presi-
dent of the Union Pacific railroad he knew
but little of its practical workings and re-
ferred the committee to the members of the
Union Pacific railroad executive staff at
Omaha.
At the afternoon hearing President James
J Hill of the st. Paul, Minneapolis and
Manitoba railroad described in detail
the subsidies and government gifts of money
ard land to the Canadian Pacific roads and
gave an account of the probable route of the
future between Asia and Europe
The Canadian Pacific road, he said, had a
nus To Asia and from its eastern terminus to
Liverpool. "Iu Is months said he, Il
fully expect one can travel from New York
to Yokohama in two weeks"
Erastus Wimsn took the stness chair.
"The construction of the Cana lan railway,
he said "has done more to contribute to
closer relationship between east and west
than anything else" Wiman spoke strong
ly in favor of commercial reciprocity and
figured ont how in that event the Canadian
territory would at once be built up by emgra-
ton from Europe and largely from the Unit
ed States
This close interchange of ideas aud peo,
pie must eventually bring about one grand
republic. Any attempt to shut out the Can
adam lines from operating in this country,
would be serious blow to western Ameri-
can farmers, and be badly received by the
Canadian people. According to Wman, "the
tie which binds Canada TO England is but
sentiment Canada must either become an
independen, republic or join with the United
States. After the death of Sir John McDon-
aid will come the deluge. The Canadian
farmers, fishermen. lumbermen. miners all
favored commercial union, which. of itself
is but a step toward snexation."
The session will be resumed at 10 tomor
row.