Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-10
POOLING PREFERRED.

| President Roberts, of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, Examined as an Expert By the
Senate Investigating Committee-Hia
Views ON the Canadian Competition
Question.
| NEW YORK, May 9-The United States
Senate Interstate Commerce Investigating
Committee met again to-day. The first witness
was President George B. Roberts, Of the Penn
sylvania Railroad. He stated that the Penn
sylvania system comprised number Of leased
roads in addition to the Pennsylvania road
proper, which practically controlled the policy
of the system. It had very little actual bnsi-
ness relations with any Canadian road.
Senator Cullom-What have you to say Of
the relations between the Canadian roads and
those of the United States?
Mr.. Roberts-Since the United States has
begun to regulate the railroad companies by
special legislation, the latter have been placed
at disadvantage in their competition with
those of Canada. The effect Of the Grand
Trunk roads being Independent of the legisla-
tion which affects those of the United States
know that at present the Canadian roads do
any serious injury to American commerce, but
they are in position to do SO at any time the
managers see ht to do so.
'What advantage have the Canadian roads
over those of the United States7'
1.-THE Canadian Pacific is heavily subsidized
by the Government SO as to encourage the de-
velopment Of the country. Both the Grand
Trunk and the Canadian Pacific roads draw
their supplies from England free of duty"
"Can roads in the United States be operated
as cheaply as the Canadian roadsP
There is considerable doubt az to the
answer to that question"
Senator Cullom-What remedy have you to
suggest as an amendment to the law that would
Canadian roads
Mr.. Roberts--I think that any foreign cor
poration doing business here should be sub
Ject to the same laws as the roads of our own
country. If Canadian roads are permitted to
carry traffic in and out of the United States
they should be made amenable to our laws. OF
course, we cannot oblige foreign roads to oon-
form to our laws when they are out of the
country, but while they do business within our
borders, the same law should apply to both. In
fact, am not so sure that foreign roads should
country even under these conditions. I cannot
quite understand why foreign roads should be
allowed to 60 in and out Of the United States,
while foreign vessels are not allowed to do
coasting trade with this country.
Senator Blair-what practical method do
you suggest to protect US in our competition
with Canada?
Mr.. Roberts-I should make them subject to
the same laws which our own roads obey. In
case this is not satisfactory, think our own
roads are fully able to accommodate the public
even If there were no Canadian roads.
Senator German asked President Roberts
the same question that Mr.. Wiman answered
yesterday whether or not it would be fair
proposition for the United States to demand
that all Canadian roads doing business in the
United States should conform to the American
laws or else stay out of the country. Mr..
Roberts replied that he thought 1t perfectly
fair demand. and one which should be made in
the interest of American roads.
Senator Gorman-There is a move on foot
understand to construct through line from
the Pacific to the Atlantic coast to connect at
either end with subsidized line Of steamers,
its object being to take the trade that comes
from China and Japan and transport it to the
eastern coast. What chance, in your opinion,
do American roads stand in controlling this
trade?
MI Roberts-The American roads have first
call on all such trade, and under equal condi-
tions with the Canadian roads could control 1t.
Mr.. Roberts was in favor Of pooling, as only
the different roads in the combination would
keep their agreement. Under the old system
of pooling. certain of the roads kept part of
the contract, but other conditions were vio-
lated
pie of railroad business combination rather
than competition?
Mr.. Roberts-Hardly. I am in favor of
fair competition under proper legislation. If
better than any pools.
When President Roberts had ended, Presi-
dent w. G. Van Horn, of the Canadian Pacific
road, was called upon for his views upon the
subject in question. He described the Cana
dian Pacif: road from Halifax across the |
continent to Vancouver, and then by line of |
subsidized steamers to China, to Japan and |
Australia. The Canadian roads compete with |
American roads for trade from San Francisco, |
China Japan and Alaska in the West, and |
some of the trade from Ontario to Manitoba.
Senator Cullom-What percentage of your |
traf1c is taken from the United States?
Mr.. Van Horn-I do not know the exact hg- |
ures but aside from coal, the percentage of |
trade taken from the United States is very |
small.
Mr.. Van Horne was followed by President |
and General Manager John Newell. of the |
Lake Shore and Michigan Railway. He testi- |
fed that his road suffered severely from the |
practices of the Canadian roads, |
and offered to furnish the committee with doc |
evidence of the unfair dealings and |
methods of the Grand Trunk Railway in par |
ticular, which, he said, WIS now one of the |
largest carriers out of Chicago. Chairman
Cullom accepted bis offer. Tomorrow the |
committee will listen to representative busi-
ness men and merchants of this city.