The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-04-17
SECRETARY FOSTER AND DR.. DEPEW,
The Eloquent chauncey's Path Not
strewn With Roses Just Now,
Mr.. Foster Explains His Position Re-
spectlpg the Bonding Privilege.
It Threatens the Canadian Pacific
New York Central Alliance.

NEW YORK, April 16.-The Sun today
prints the following:
A crisis seems not far away In the New
York Central-C Canadian Pacific alliance
which was first described in the Sun couple
of weeks ago. The path OF President Chaun.
cey M. Depew has not been strewn with roses
since that event. He has found out that
there are other presidents of Vanderbilt lines
besides the head of the New York Central,
Cornelius Vanderbilt. Chauncey M. Depew
and 81. Walter Webb seemed to have had
chiefly the interests of the New York Cen
trail In mind when they made the alliance
with the Canadian Pacific. They didn't
reckon on the effect that 1t would have on the
Western Vanderbilt roads, but they ma ,e
heard from them since. A big family row
has been the result, and the presidents of the The
Lake Shore and Michigan Central companies
had sufficient independence, 1t Is said, to give
Mr.. Depew piece of their mind. They pro-
tested that the. Canadian Pacific would iniure
them irreparably. It has an entrance into
Chicago over the Wabash, and already 1t has
made hole In the tonnage of the other lines
while, In connection with the New York Gen.
trail, the Canadian road would gain a pres
tige that would insure 1t big share of high
class freight.
Where the Vanderbilt family row would
have ended Is question, but Secretary of
the Treasury. Foster has added the last straw
that will no doubt result In breaking up the
New York Central Canadian Pacific alliance.
Secretary Foster himself verified yesterday
the Suns despatch from Washington that an
order would shortly be issued abolishing
consular seals, prohibiting the transit Of
freight In bond from Canadian points to its
destination In the United States, When a
reporter interviewed Chauncey M. Depew
about the matter last week he replied that he
did not believe the Secretary wouldlthink Of
issuing such an order.
"It would paralyze the interchange of bus
iness between the two countries" he said,
"and it would be unfair to the Canadian
roads. Besides, the shippers in the great
West would protest against such an order,
and demand its recall. 1t would kill the in
the Canadian Southern branch Of the Micni-
gan Central. They couldn't think of COM
peting with the other trunk lines on through
business. A train might be stopped all day
on the border while the customs officials
emptied out the cars OF wheat In search of a
diamond ring. Meanwhile the competing
roads get their freight to its destination"
Secretary Foster did not have much to say
yesterday about the proposed order which
he said would probably be issued In a couple
OF weeks. He said 1t was not aimed at the
Canadian roads, to rob tn h,m of the advan-
tage which they now have over the domestic
roads. The purpose was to administer fair
ross to all concerned and to help the reve.
nues of the federal government. He did not
explain just what he meant by this last
point. But the inference was that foreign
cars were to be taxed for entrance into this
country. Secretary Foster said that the
business Of the Canadian roads in the United
States, had become so great that the time of
up in furnishing seals for the cars crossing
the border. They didn't have time. he said,
to examine into particular cases to find out
whether 1t was proper to seal them. Every
thing passed. The Secretary proposes to
have everything carefully examined here.
after On the border by properly constituted
customs officers. He said further:
"We propose to treat all goods coming into
this country on the same basis where they
enter our borders. The consular seal sys-
TEN TEN viii bs 1jffRspsasq bY Yith hha
as is in operation in New York. For in
stance, goods enter by way of New York des-
to be sent on to their destination under
Treasury lock. The adoption of the same
system on the Canadian border does not
mean that there will have to be reshipment
or change of cars. The abolishment of the
consular seal system Is not aimed at the
Canadian roads, or at anybody, We pro-
pose to enforce the new rules with as little
friction and as little trouble as possible to
the railroads. The Treasury officials are at
work on the necessary rules ard regulations.
The requirements will substantially be the
York and going inland under Treasury lock"
So many influences have been brought to
bear upon Secretary Foster that it is mys-
terry whose advice he followed. He has been
in frequent communication with Gen. Thom-
as a friend Of long standing, with whom he
Is jointly interested in various business en-
terprises, and 1t was thought that he would
not undertake so important a railroad policy
without consulting the latter. Gen. Thomas
is the President of the Duluth, South Shore
ests in the Canadian Pacific, He would nat
urally be opposed to an order which Mr.. De-
pew says will ruin the business Of the Cana
dian roads In the United States. Secretary
Foster spent most of yesterday In company
Ss Insu
mentioned.
1t is believed Mr.. Depew brought influence
to bear upon Secretary Foster through Gen.
Thomas, or otherwise, and this may account
for the delay in issuing the order. But Sec
retary Foster did not take Mr.. Depew's ad-
vice. Who. then, prevailed upon the Secre-
tary to decide upon the most drastic step
that was ever taken against the Canadian
roads? 1t Is commonly believed that Mr..
Blaine was the man, although Secretary Fos-
cent conversations with that gentlemano on
the subject. Mr.. Foster denied outright
that there was any politics In the measure.
Secretary Foster did not meet Mr.. Depew
yesterday. The later had left on western
tour with Cornelius Vanderbilt and others at
7.30 am. in a special train. The party attend
ed the annual meeting of the New York Cen
Il al at Albany, ,and was expected to be in Buff
falo last night. 1t was believed that Messrs.
Depew and Vanderbilt arranged conferences
with President Newell of the Lake shore
and President Ledyard of the Michigan Cen
tral, en- route, In order to discuss the effect
OF the New York Canadian-Pacifc agree
ment, and try to prevent injury to the West
ern Vanderbilt lines, which had been openly
complained of. III Secretary Fosters order
has the effect that Mr.. Depew alleged on the
business of the Candian Southern, they will
have something more serious to talk about
The Michigan Central now stands In the
front rank as a. freight. carrier. and it makes
a speciality Of through business. II all this
freight were delayed on the border at Detroit
and again at Suspension Bridge, the ship.
pers would forsake 1t for another road.
Senator CuIIom and Mr.. Blaine.
New YORK, April 16-A special from
Washington says that Senator Cullom con-
firms the news that Secretary Blaine Is driy-
at the question Of subjecting Canadian rail-
roads to the transportation laws of the Uni
ted States. "lf Mr.. Blaine has taken up
this subject in earnest, as have reason t to
believe that he has," said the Senator last
night, II shall have hope of Something be-
ing accomplished. No other internafiona1
question now occupying attention is as i'm
portant as this. Trade reciprocity with
Canada is nothing If Canadian RAILWAYS are
permitted to go on cutting the throats Of our
transportation lines, discriminating against
our cities, and diverting traffic from its iegit-
innate channels. We must make war on
Canada all along the line. We must adont
her own policy Of selfshness In every phase