Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-11-13
BONDED GOODS.
Their transportation by 0raud Trunk
Road Through the States.

The hearing at the treasury department
today on the general question of the privil
eges granted the Grand Trunk Co. in trans
portation of bonded goods through Ameri-
can territory. Those present were Secre-
tary Window, Assistant Secretary Spauld-
ing, Solicitor Hepburn. representing treas
ury department, and lawyers representing
railroad and other interests. Argument,
were made by Ex-senator Conger, Michi-
gan, and E. b. Conger, against the continu-
ance of the existing system, and by Judge
Day representing the Grand Trunk Road,
and A. C. RAYMOND, Detroit, and others in
opposition to any change in the system.
The hearing continued during the after
noon.
The argument was opened by Ex-senator
o. d. Copger, Michigan, and G. 2. Conger,
who said they sppeared '.in behalf of q
large number of American citizens, a vast
aggregation Of American labor and capital
and local and general interests in freight
and transportation of American products
and merchandise between the East and West
in transit either way through foreign or
Canadian territory also in the enforcement
of the inter. state commerce act, to induce
such a change of the present system as will
no longer permit cars or vehicles that
are laden with bonded freight for transit
through contiguous foreign territory to be
loaded, bonded, sealed and manifesto out
side Of American ports and within foreign
territory. They asked that the entire
system Of granting such permission te re-
voked and such permits be cancelled; that
in accordance with the general meaning
ar d unquestionable intent of the law, the
work and supervision Of the government
officials in this respect shall be performed
upon American territory and under full
aud direct American supervision, with
American labor and capital for American
wages and profit, where the American laws
have full local force and effect. They
presented statements to show that the
present system operates to e,danger
American revenue; throw unnecessary
temptations around American Off
GERS; build up gigantic systems
of foreign railroad corporations in compe-
titition with the American railroad without
any returning berefts to American citizens;
enable these foreign railroads to escape
the operation and restrictions OF the Ameri
can law to which our own railroads are
subjected, destroy or impair the value Of
a vast amount of property of American cit
liens; throw out of employment vast
amount of American capital; parslyze an
immense amount Of American labor and Sc
riously ipjure American merchants and
farmers; and affect ipjuriously American
vessels. They conte nded that the Grand
Trunk railway discriminated against Amer
lean interests.
Judge VIM. A. Day counsel for the
Grand Trunk railway defended the present
sys.fm al length, and contended that it was
based on the best of legal authority and
during its experience Of over quarter Of a
century never resulted in the least injury
TO the interests of the United States. He
| assentsd that the merchants of the United
States would certainly not be benefited
by the proposed change, since. having the
choice Of routes and ports of entry, they
do not select Montreal unless the tran'por-
tation charges BY that route are more ia
vorable to them and customers than other
routes. Judge Day said that the Grand
Trunk railway rested its rights under treaty
of Washington. argued article 20, that the
treaty fully justified the present system of
consular sealing of cars, and denied that
the road he represented vi'istsd in any way
provisions inter state commerce act. A.
c. Raymond of Detroit, who said he repre-
| sented American railroad interest desiring
retention of the present regulations, fol-
lowed 10 the same line argument He de-
MED that there was any discrimination on
the part of Canada roads against American
elevators, and quoted statistics TO show that
the American roads bad received more
| than their reciprocal share in the transpor-
tation of merchandise between Canada and
the United States. He argued in defense
Of the present consular sealing in Canada
of cars contaioing goods from Asiatic ports.
| Secretary Blaiue showed deep interest
| in this par. of Raymond's argument and
| frequently queslioned him to show that all
the eastern merchandise arriving At ports
| on the Pacific coast both British and Amer
| ican was intended for Canadian ports and
had diverted from American roads to Cana
dian roads With no corresponding diversion
of British freight arriving at Vancouver
and to American roads. Raymond argued
this vas the natural result OF the struggle
between the rival corporations On this
point and An informal discussion occurred
between Secretaries Blaine and Windom
and ex Collector Msgoun Of New York.
Secretary Blaine remarked that he was
simply . spectator, but he ~ished to say
in answer to Raymoud's susgestioR that
this might be the policy Of fe'alisfio1. that
he felt sure the government hsd no such
thought. "Mr- Raymond Mr.. Biaire
said, was himself . representative OF the
Canadian Pacific railway. II the govern
ment Of the United States had been desif-
Gus Of throwing obstacles in the way Of
developing that great road il would not
have given ii the privilege Of going through
/ tso States Of the North and Wess, crossing
af 500. nos would nv owa Stsse Of Maine
have given il the liberty Of crossing ifs en-
tire territory in order for it, connection
With the cities Of the Maritime Provinces Of
New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that il
). might be msde some 200 miles nearer
I Blaine suggested fhat the best mode for
resisting retaiission or unfrieudliness was
} to make . o stem Absolutely complete and
!. perfect. He satd il would be much more
satisfactory TO the section from which b.