The morning call., 1891-04-28
Is BLAINE THE MANY

Eastern papers attribute to Mr.. Blaine
the anticipated order depriving the Cana
dian Pacific Of the privilege of carrying mer-
ehandise into the United States under
Consular seal The New York Sun says
that " if the Consuls of the United States
at such points as Vancouver were not
practically the agents of the Canadian
Pacific Railroad it would not be practice
able for the Canadian Pacific to enter
the territory of the United States and
haul merchandise through the country in
defiance Of what should be the ordinary
rights and privileges of our own common
carriers" This statement implies that it is
the abuse rather than the legitimate use of
the Consular-sealing privilege that enables
he Canadian Pacific to carry freight be-
tween American cities at less than Ameri-
can rates. But the Consular bond privilege
in itself, without abuse, is enough to render
competition between Canadian and Ameri-
can roads unfair. If the American roads
were relieved from their obligation TO re-
turn to the Government moneys advanced
for their construction, and were also relieved
from the restraint imposed by the Inter-
state Commerce Act there would be some
thing like fairness in the competition be-
tween American and Canadian roads. But
the people of the United States 10 not pro-
pose TO make the constructors of the trans
continental roads present OF moneys adj
vanced. Neither will they consent to the re-
moval of restraints, which prevent the roads
from carrying goods between competing
points at nominal rates and making up Tor
the loss sustained by excessive charges on
goods between non competing points,
They prefer rather to cut off the privileges
the Canadian roads have enjoyed under the
Consular-sealing bond system. We trust
that the inference is true that Mr.. Blaine is
behind the anticipated order. He is a thor
ough man and will be satisfied with no half
way measures. An order designed merely
to protect the revenues will not receive his
sanction. he will go to the root of the mat
ter and place railroads on the same footing,
as far as trans portation between American
cities is concerned, that foreign vessels oe-
cupy. The Sun gives the best of reasons
why such policy should be adopted in the
following:
Powerful influences are concentrating the
most valuable and profitable part of The trans
continental carrying trade IN the hands OF the
Canadian Pacific lis own powerful vessels are
securing the ports of the Pacific Ocean, aud pres
entity. in the nature of things, they VIII deprive
San Francisco of its import tide. Merehan-
disc bound for Eastern markets cannot seek san
Francisco because the American transconIinen-
TAI lines cannot carry It to its destination ia COM
petition with their Canadian rivals. The inter
stale commerce law is In the nature OF letter
of marQue to all Canadian railroads empowering
them TO prey at their will upon the commerce OF
the American lines. They may do with impun-
lily and profit the things which that law expressly
prohibits tie American lines from DOING and,
as If this were not enough, the Consular aud
Custom-house regulations of the United States
are Interpreted In favor of Canadian railroads
and to the detrlment OF every American line that
wishes to participate in the transcontlnental
rarrvInp trade