The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-02-01
OPINIONS CONCERNING THE IN
TER-STATE COMMERCE LAW.

OPINIONS CONCERNING THE IN
TER-STATE COMMERCE LAW.
The Bulletin, of New York City, re-
Gently sent out to prominent firms
throughout the country the following
questions relating to the interstate COM
merce law: ....
| /. Has the operation of the long-and-
shoru-haul clause of the interstate COM
merce law acted favorably or unfavora-
bly, upon the trade of-and in what re-
spect?
2. If unfavorably, IN diverting trade
formerly belonging to---haye there
| been any compromising advantages?
3. Has the anti-pooling clause, in
your estimation, resulted satisfactorily
in maintaining steadier and more rea-
sonable rates?
4. Upon the whole, are you satisfied
with the fairness of the interstate law as
now administered; and, if not, what
changes or notifications would you sug-
gest for strengthening or relaxing its
provisions?
The c. A. Gambrill Manufacturing
Company, Baltimore, replied: "The
law is most excellent one, great BEN
eft to the people at large, and ultimate
ly to the railroads; but believe an
amendment should be made, delegating
greater power to the interstate commits
sioners-a law strong enough to prevent
cutting rates, which few in most OF the
large cities secure. The law stands on
solid foundation; what is wanted is fur
Their development, and in the end the
railroads will be on an equally solid
foundation, which every good citizen
should wish to see. We believe the
general public is greatly benefited, ow-
Ing to greater equality in freight rates;
hence larger number Of our merchants
are benefited, because the trade tribu-
tarv to this city is now controlled better
by the small dealer. The small dealer
has a better chance for business, as
against the large dealer. We believe
stable condition will never be reached
by pooling; it is in opposition to the nat
ural law, which is that the stronger
should protect the weaker. In making
pool. the stronger force the weaker in
to the compact, and when proper time
comes, the stronger will break loose; no
amount of money as forfeit will stop
giant in pool from cutting loose when
he sees chance of making 81 ,0OO, 600 by
paying forfeit of 100000"
This is the opinion of firm which
recognized that there are all over the
country small cities with struggling In
dustries which would become important
competitors of the more pretentious
ones if not strangled out by rascally dis
examinations. Now listen to what one of
the big monopolistic millionaire firms
has to say of the law which stripped
them of their power over smaller manu-
facturers by putting both on the same
basis, freight tariffs considered:
Chas. A. Pillsbury & Co., of Minneap-
oils, said: at is impossible for us to
answer your circular-that is, each ques-
ton by itself; and We do not think that
the interstate commerce law has, up to
the present time, had any effect upon
the business OF Minneapolis and Mime
sofa, for the reason that we had remark
ably low rates before the law went into
effect, and the same thing continued un-
til very recently; but we have no doubt
but that the ultimate effects of the law
will be very bad in this entire section.
Minnesota is particularly favored by its
natural position near Lake Superior, and
if we were just let alone, without any
Legislative interference at all, we should
probably in the long run get lower rates.
1t looks to us as though the ultimate eff
feet of the present law will be to make
the railroads stand together more strong
ly than they would without any law at
all. We always looked upon it as very
foolish for any of the Minnesota repre-
to vote for the interstate COM
merce law, as, no matter how other Sec
lions were suffering, Minnesota was get
ing very low rates between here and the
East, and we do not think that the law
has affected, or will affect, rates from
Dakota into Minneapolis. We do not
think the majority of the people in this
section look at the matter the way we
10, but we are quite sure that we are
right, and that the people will eventual
v see about the same as we do"
1t is very natural Messrs. Pillsbury
md others like them who had enjoyed
remarkably low rates. through the in
quitous determinations practiced before
he interstate law went into force, does
not like the new order of things when
hey are compelled to pay the same rates
Is other shippers.
The interstate law has come to stay.
It has been of advantage to the smaller
owns and cities, and those were the
places which suffered mostly from the
wills which it was designed to correct.