Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-07-16
Senators Surprised.
Chicago Board of Trade Men
Startle Them.
VIEWS ON THE RAILWAY QUESTION.

of the Canadian Roads, and Denounoe
All Sorts of Combinations of the Amer
lean Lines, Including the Interstate
the Senate Committee.
CHICAGO, July IA special committee
from the Chicago board Of trade met the
senate committee on interstate commerce
at the Grand Pacific hotel yesterday morn
ing and added its testimony to the fund of
information already gathered ON the subject
of Canadian competition with the United
States railroads, Secretary Stone was first
called to the witness stand He began by
reading report containing tho replies of
the board of trade to the interrogations sub
mitted some time ago by the senatorial COM
mittee. 1t was clear that these replies were
quite unexpected and that some of them
| were regarded by the senators as really
sensational.
The Canadian Roads All Right
In answer to the question how the Cana
dian lines of transportation in the United
States affected the commercial interests of
this country the answer was: Probably as
. whole they effect it favorably by smashing
the iniquitous and scandalous pools and
agreements at times existing between the
Michigan Central, the Michigan Southern,
and the Pennsylvania railroads, by which
un just and unreasonable rates were exacted
on western products from Chicago to the
seaboard previous to the entrance of the So
called Canadian lines into the city; by equal
iZing freight all western products to
numerous points in New England, where
previously American lines exac tel severe
and unjust rates
They Are Enterprising and just.
Mr. Stone further said that the Grand
Trunk railway Was the pioneer in the
dressed-beef traffic, which had always been
discouraged by the American lines Traffic
originating in the United States had not in
the opinion of the board been d iverted to the
Canadian lines 'only in far the latter
have offered greater facilities for the safe
and quick carriage of perishable and other
property The Canadian lines were among
the first to build and operate transfer eleva-
tors here for the preservation of identity and
the weighing of grain in hopper scales, as
required by the law of the state, which law
is now openly defed by some of the American
roads centerng here. The Canadian lines
have won the larger share of the business
from the west by such kindred measures and
by uniformly just and equitable treatment of
their patrons.
Want No Further Restrictions.
NO additional legislation is needed No
further restrictions upon commerce between
the United States and Canada by the water
routes should be tolerated The committee
recommends such enforcement of the inter-
state commerce act, and such laws as per
tain 10 the bonded regulation of United
States products passing over the great com
mercial highways of Canada as will allow
them to pass untrammelei in the future as
in the past The committee volunteered the
suggestion that "the adoption of any legisla-
tive measures calculated to restrict tie
transportation facilities now enjoyed by the
farmers, cattle raisers, and cotton growers
of the west and southwest would bury in i'm
penetrable Oblivion the party that accom-
plishei its
Opposed to Railway Combines.
Another suggestion was that additional
legislation is needed winch will make it I'M
lawful for railway corporations to combine
for the formation of associations like the
Trunk Line, Central Traffic, Southwestern,
and Interstate Railway associations, or
railroad trusts of any form OF nature, be-
lieving that such associations tend to destroy
competition and to oppose or evade the en-
Oh law.
The Senators Surprised.
This statement caused considerable sur
prise, and Senator Hiscock said
Il want to know if these statements repre-
sent deliberate judgment or whether they
are merely theoretical II you believe what
you say Chicago stands alone in its judg-
ment Men every where, both railway Of
ficials and shippers, take decidedly the oppo-
site view. Wherever we have yet been we
have found the contrary opinion" There
was no direct answer to this.
81 judge them" said Senator Cullom, "that
you are satisfied with affairs as they aref
Yes
Hesitated, but Said "No.'
is there any objection to placing Cana
dian railways on level with our own The
witness, after some hesitation, said he saw no
objection.
George Clark when called to the stand ex-
pressed an unfavorable opinion of pools and
railroad associations. He thought the gov
eminent should be allowed to make the
rates Similar views were given by w. j.
Pope, A. NJ. Wright and other members of
the board of trade committee
ATT p. IN. the senate committee adjourned
to meet in Washington on the converting of
congress.