Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-11
W YEARS OF RAILROAD POOLING.
MIR. Fink Expresses His Opinion to the Sem
ate Investigating Committee.

MIR. Fink Expresses His Opinion to the Sen.
ate Investigating Committee.
New YoRK. May cat the Senate com.
mittee railroad investigation, after recess
Senator Blair inquired where the competi
ton between roads could come in when d
schedule OF rates had been previously agreed
upon.
Fink replied there a no other way to
protect themselves from each other. Some
settled rate must be agreed to.
Senator Hiscock-Now, Mr.. Fink, after
two years OF prohibition against pooling,
please give US your views upon it's effects
and the reason, if any, why pooling shonld
be legalizeG?
Pooling" replied Fink, sis entirely mis-
understood by The public. 1t is practiced
by railroads and governments in all coun.
tries. The law regarding the maintenance
Of rates begins at the wrong end. 1t should
first establish a rate and then keep it,
though it is the object OF the interstate law
to make a fixed law and maintain it by
furnishing those who break it. In pooling,
the same end was arrived at, but instead
Of furnishing the offenders the pool WAS so
arranged that each and every road in the
pool could get an equal share in the profits
and freights. Since the law against pool
ing has been in force there has not been a
single punishment for violating it. The
reason is that there are only five commit
tees to look out for 10000 miles of road,
and since the Passage OF that law there
has been more triCkery to evade that law
than ever before. Under the system Of
pooling rates were fairly maintined. II it
sever legalized they will be again"
When Fink finished, President King of
the Erie stated that the passage of the
Interstate commerce Law and the abolition
oil the pooling had cost the Erie road
about n million dollars. Under the pool
Ing system the Erie received $500, 900 a
year as its share in the profits Of the pool.
When this law passed this income ceased
aud although the Erie now had " differen-
tii rate to the west it a get none on
east hound freight. King was unable to
explain why the Canadian Graud Trunk
rio1d WIS abe to get SD much business un-
less 1t was that they we're in the ha hit OF
giving rebates.
Senator Blair said: Now, Mr.. King,
You have seen the workings Of the utter
state law, can you give the commas toner's
any idea how it can be iinproved?"
10 this Mr., King replied: The greatest
oeheht to the American railroads would be
10 put the Canadian roads that come into
snls country GU IL par with our roads, AMI
u tney violate my provisions of the law
Ht them be punished, but make the PEN
atty the same for both American and
canadian offenders. That is all we can
ask"
TUESDAYS INVESTIGATION.
NEW YORK, May THE Senate commit
zee investigating the working of the inter.
state commerce law. resumed it's labors,
Snls morning. Chauncey M. Depew OF the
new York Central WAS the first witness.
ne gave his opinion on the workings OF the
uVer'state law, aud. to q question as to
.nat amendment he could suggest to pro-
'cC American roads, said the roads doing
BUSINESS in this country, whether Mexi.
Eau or Canadian, should be made to COM
Py with the conditions Of the law as
american roads are. At present it was
very easy for the Canadian roads to get
iarse Quantities OF freight by means of re-
oa!eS; Pools he considers good things,
Suu should rave been permitted. The ten
seacy OF all roads is to lower freight
s ass' and So no amount OF pooling could
n thlS tendency.
t9s Interstate commerce bill, by making
,oaGS publish rates, had given stronger
t"Hus more business and taken it away
NJ The weaker roads proportiouateiy.
nnehter'state law will never be effective nor
SperatlVe until it in some form or other
'~sgalizes the pool.
senator P~latt-Don't you think it would
ave % been better il goods destined to points
L"onin the United States borders had never
zen allowed to 60 through Canada2
Ruepew-lf you go back to that, yes.
= mink it is 10 an existingfact.
ouflng the discussion on the merits OF
ssSSOOalng, Senator Harris asked whether the
ssCVO,OOO testified by President King as
NC annual share OF the Erie road was not
lung from the pockets OF shippers.
MI. 20 not understand it hat way" re-
S Eos9 Depew. Could not get rates over our
may, ior instance, and therefore cit was q
fsus.s1lon whether we should pay it a salts.
b%sS.1ry amount to maintain the rates or
plunged in a ~ruinous war;"
JDepew wa followed by General Manager
o U'sph Hixon OF the Grand Trunk. Xix.
nnSaescrlbed the road and it's terminal,
In u alter some questioning finally ac.
ths""TNwledged the Trunk practically con.
lsUa ,ed rates between Chicago and Port
N"u' Their business in the United States.