The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-05-09
WASHINGTON.
Yesterdays Dolngs at the Federal
Capital-Illness of Secre-
tary Window.
The Senate Committee Investigat.
ing the Canadian Railways IN
Relation to Commerce.

ownership by Canadian corporations and
capitalists of American roads reassemblet
this morning. Maps of railroad line
through the country lay before each Of
the members of the committee and a mar
of railroads in the dominion of Canada
ing oonspicuously on the side of the
room.
First witness examined was Commits
sioner Albert Fink, chairman of the Trunk
line association, which he explained was
an association of railroads to arrange
Joint and competitive tariffs to secure
uniformity in charges ard classification
and to maintain established tariffs. At tine
request of Chairman Cullom, Mr.. Fink first
described the Grand Trunk railway and
its branches asfar as he knew. AS a Trunk
line witness said it ran from Chicago to
Portland Maine.
In response to a'question about the
Canada Southern road Mr.. Fink said the
road in question was leased by the
Michigan Central road. The numerous
branch roads of the Grand Trunk road
he was unprepared to name, witness said
and Chairman Cullom read long list of
roads which were believed to be asso-
Gated with the Grand Trunk, in order
that they might go upon record.
| Mr. Fink acknowledge the Grand
frank road had differential rates for it's
New England business but said this was
not looked on in the light :of discrimina-
ton for the reason its road was at least
one hundred miles longer.
Senator Cullom-"Is your organization
to-day practically the same it was before
the passage of the interstate commerce
law"
Commissioner Fink-"In every way
except that we no longer divide earnings
of direct freight"
Continuing, witness said the Grand
Trunk was forced in a measure to subsi-
die the steamship company running to
Portland, for the reason but one line ran
there. If their rates we're not lower to
that point, there would be no freight sent
there. The differential rate of the Grand
Trunk road varied from 10 cents on first
class to 2 cents on the lowest classes.
Chairman Oullom-"Have you any sug-
gestion as to amendments to the inter
state commerce law!"
- aAS-ss~- -----1 ---------s
law. The interstate commerce commits
sion should have discretion to deal with
questions that arise and make exception
in certain cases."
The rates from Chicago to seaboard
points, Commissioner Fink said, were the
same whether freight stopped or was ex-
ported. The commissioner then gave q
short summary of freight taken by the
Grand Trunk road at Buffalo and Niagara,
which he said was about 20 per cent of the
business to those points. Differential
rates graded from cents per hundred
Dpounds, downward.
To question by Senator Hiscock as
to what would be the effect to shippers
if differential rates to Canadian roads
were abolished, witness said it would
simply reduce the number of lines at the
shippers command. Many points in the
northwest too, would be hurt by the Grip
ping of the Grand Trunk road by great
number of shippers who would not be
hurt if half dozen Of the trunk lines
were wiped out.
oHAUNoEY M. DEPEw TEsIIFIEs.
New YORK, May 1.-THE senate COM
mittee, which is investigating the work
ing of the interstate commerce law, re-
sumed its labors this morning. Chauncy
M. Depew was the first witness called.
Many of his statements agreed on several
points with the opinions of the two
previous sses-Commissioner Fink
and President John King, of the Erie
road. Mr.. Dspew gave his opinions on
this workings of the interstate law and to
questions as to what amendments he
could suggest to the present interstate
law in order to protect American roads.
Mr.. Depew said, roads doing business in
this country, whether Mexican or Cana
dian, should be made to comply with the
conditions of the law as American roads
must do. At present, he said, it was very
easy for the Canadian roads to get
large quantities of freight by means
of rebates. "Pooling," he con-
sidered good thing and should
have been permitted. The tendency of
all roads is to lower freight rates, and no
amount of pooling could effect this ten
dency. The interstate commerce bill, by
m aking the roads publish their rates, had
given the stronger roads more business
and taken it away from the weaker roads
proportionately. The interstate law will
u6V6E 10 uOE OpoEnViNo III
some form or other, you have legalized
pool"
Chairman Cullom questioned Mr.. De-
pew closely as to the practice OF using
Canadian cars on American roads and vice
| versa.
From Depew's answer it appears that
American and Canadian cars are used in
discriminatory on both sides of the line
without regard to the imposition of Gus
toms duties upon them, although the
Grand Trunk line uses ten American cars
on its line where the Central uses one OF
| the Grand Trunks.
Senator Platt-"Don't you think il
would have been better if goods destined
to points within the United States borders
had never been allowed to go through
| Canadaf"
Mr.. Depew-"If you go back to that
yes; but the thing is now an existing
| fact"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Depew's testi-
mony Senator Blair wished to know the
result of war between Canada and thu
United States.
"Well, it would last just two days,
said the Central's president.