The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-27
Tho Trunk Limo Meeting.

Tho Presidents OF the Trunk Lines meet to-
day and we presume they will devote some
attention to the Grand Trunk Railway OF
Canada, which, under the protection OF the
Government at Washington, has again been
stealing the business Of the American lines.
Through the operation OF the Interstate
Commerce act, tho Grand Trunk, which Is
exempt from the oppressive provisions OF
that unnecessary and unjust measure, Is
leaving nothing undone to destroy rates
and render business Insecure or worthless.
We do not know what the Presidents OF
our Trunk Lines intend to do about 1t. They
seem to us to be incapable OF organized re-
slstance and to hold each other either In
such mistrust or such jealous regard that
they arc unable to act in concert for their
own common protection. Their course
heretofore with regard to the Grand Trunk
brings forcibly to mind that remarkable
animal OF the African forest which Mr.. STAN
LEY has so signally failed to record, and
which. when attacked by an enemy, at once
retaliates by cutting its own throat. When
ever the Grand Trunk, in collision with dis
honest allies in Chicago and dishonest and
unworthy railroad managers In this city or
In Boston, has made a successful raid on tho
legitimate business OF the Trunk Lines, they
have promptly protected themselves and
retaliatcd upon the Grand Trunk by making
Improbable and worthless what business
remained to them. Their stockholders are
very tired OF this sort Of business, and the
general public Is tired Of it too. For the
former 1t has resulted in diminished Income
and frustrated expectations; and for the lat
- . u
and that instability OF rates and prices which
Is most prejudicial to commercial progress.
1t is about time, therefore, that the trus-
tees OF tho great railroads OF the country
should bury their private animostics, at
least long enough to take up arms against
this bankrupt and disrcputablc corporation,
which, backed by the unfriendliness Of the
Canadian Government toward all our
interests, robs aud pillages us at its
pleasure Our railroad men should bear
In mind that they aro between two
dangerous foes - the Canadian on the
one side and the Interstate Commerce
Commission on the other. II the Canadian
concern succeeds in reducing rates to a
wholly ruinous and Improbable point, the
Commission at Washington is, quite capable
OF joining hands with it and making those
ruinous rates permanent. This Is seriously
meant. and every railroad manager In the
country knows 1t Is true, and knows that the
Interstate Commission is at this very mo-
ment seeking in another but like direction |
to do this very thing.
1t is time therefore, that our railroad |
managers should adopt some adequate
measures for the exclusion OF the Canadian
roads, whether they seek to enforce the
licensing idea, already proposed as an
amendment to the Interstate law, or pro-
ceed as we have often urged, to shut them out
wholly from our territory. They can accom-
plish either II only they address themselves
properly to the task. 1t Is inconceivable
that the Government OF this country can al
ways remain blind to the situation and sure
ly never before was a spectacle presented to
bring people to their senses like that az
forded by tho condition OF our transconti-
mental traffic, held under foot by the Gov
ornment OF the United States, while an alien
and hostile freebooter loots it at his will.