The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-18
Politics and Commsrce.

A question Of immense magnitude Is now
occupying the attention of the government.
/ 1t is the ACCESSIBILITY of abolishiDg the sys-
tenn of consular sealing Of merchandise
passing through Canada for points in the
United States.
The Canadian railroads have a great
advantage over the railroads of this coun-
try Tor the reason that they are not subject
to our interstate c'mmerce regulations.
The Canadian Pacific, for instance. with
its magnificent feet Of steamers on
the Pacific ocean, can monopolize the
transcontineutaI carrying trade Of this
country. The merchandise from oriental
countries intended for points in this coun-
try is landed in Vsnc uver, loaded into
Canadian Pacific cars, which are sealed by
our consul, and delivered at New York or
any other city in this country without being
inspected ut the custom houses on the
border, and the Canadian Pacific, not being
subject to our interstate com
merce laws, can charge for trans
portation whatever 1t pleases. 1t
is apparent that in little while all the i'm
ports can be drawn from San Francisco
transferred to Vancouver. Thus an i'm
mense business can be taken away from our
transcontineEtal railroads by the Canadian
Pacific. Aud there are other ways in which
the system of consular sealing of merchan-
disc operates against our railroads.
Some time ago Secretary Blaine proposed
to abolish the consular sealing system, but
was prevented, it is alleged, by the Presi-
dent. And why did the President inter
fere? The reason is said to be that the Van
derbilt roads, of which Mr.. Depew is presi-
dent would suffer a loss of business if the
consular system of sealing were abolished.
Those roads take the loaded cars of the
Canadian Pacific at the border and carry
them to their destination. Between the
Vanderbilt roads and the Canadian Pacific
there exists a traffic arrangement which is
exceedingly profitable to the former.
Mr.. Depew is a power in New York poll
tics, and the President wants the New York
delegation in tho next national convention
Of his party. Mr.. Depew can come nearer
giving it to him than any other man. 1t is
asserted that Mr. Depew has enough influ-
ence with the President to secure a delay Of
the order abolishing the consular sealing
system.
II this statement OF the position of the
President in this matter is correct, he is
not nearly so deeply interested in the
promotion Of the welfare of the country
as he is in getting a denomination. In his
speech at Birmingham on Thursday he
stated that he had but one object in view,
and that was the advancement of the in
terests of the whole people. This story Of
his interference with Mr. Blaine's plan to
stop determinations against American rail-
roads cOntradicts that statement. Politics
and political ambition interfere in remark
able ways with business interests.
But the time must come very soon when
something will be done to protect our inter
ests against Canadian selfshness. The
Canadian Pacific and other Canadian rail
roads will not be permitted, with our as
sistance, to take from our railroads their
legitimate share Of business. If they will
not consent to submit to our interstate COM
merce laws under the direction of an inter-
national commission the pressure to protect
our railroads and carrying trade with the
means at our command will be too great to
be resisted. Politics and political ambition
will have to yield to the demands of COM
merce.