The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-15
Abolish the BONDING system.

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Abolish the Bonding System.
There Is an adage which says that no
problem is solved permanently until it
is solved correctly. This is signally
true of what is known to shippers as
the bonding system, by means of which
cars of merchandise shipped from Bos-
ton or New York to Chicago or San
Francisco are permitted, under con-
sular seal, to pass part of the way over
Canadian railroads out and in the coun-
try without customs inspection. 1t has
recently been brought out In the course
of an investigation at Washington that
last year over 100000 cars of freight
were shipped from American to Ameri-
can points via Canadian lines, repre-
senting $37,5OO,O00 in freight charges.
more than half of which would be kept
in this country and go into the Golfers
of American railroads IL the consular
sealing system were abolished. How
much money we have lost through
smuggling in this way, by means of
broken seals and substituted goods, it
would be difficult to tell, but the aggre-
gate Is believed to be great.
This bonding privilege was provided
for In the treaty Of 1871, before the Ca
madam Pacific road was built. 1t was
intended simply to facilitate transpor-
tation between the North Atlantic sea-
board and Chicago, and was expected
to be of reciprocal benefit. 1t has, how
ever, since been broadened until it en-
braces American trade with the Ori-
ent. AS Senator Elkins recently said.
on this subject, with special reference
to the Canadian Pacific railroad, which
is today the chief beneficiary of the
bonding system: 1T violates our In
terstate commerce law with compla-
cent Indifference. 1T cuts rates and
takes freight from our Pacific roads, in
which the United States has a direct
interest. 1t hauls more cheaply from
st. Louis and other interior points Of
this country, by way Of Canada, to Ore
gon and San Francisco, than the Pacific
roads can do, though the distance Is
much shorter 1t is a sharp competi-
ton now for all business with all the
roads to and from California. For 1000
miles the Canadian Pacific traverses q
non-producing country. one not able TO
support railroad, and lives off its sub
ventions and the business it takes from
the railroads Of the United States"
That this is not an exaggeration Will
readily be conceded by American rail-
road officials. AS Walter Wellman,
writing from Washington to the Chi
cago Times-Herald on this subject,
says:
All this is true, and more. The Cam
adian Pacific road is the most richly sub
sidized transportation line in the world.
1t has had in all SlS5,0 900 In cash and
bonds from the dominion government 1t
has corrupted the politics and the public
life Of the dominion to an extent that
is not understood in the United States,
but which is we'll known in Canada to
have formed one of the most fragrant
chapters of governmental history in the
annals of the world. 1t would be inter-
esting to know to what extent the same
system Of corruption or Of improper intiu.
ence has been employed In the city of
Washington Certain 1t Is that the Can
adian Pacific has its friends in every cor
ridor. Of the capitol. They are numerous
on the floor of the senate and house.
They are In high places and executive de-
partments. 1t is common gossip here that
the smartest and most successful legis-
lative agents in the American capital are
in the employ of the subsidized Canadian
line. They boast that they have power
here which makes 1t impossible to strike
down their precious bonding privileges
Six or seven years ago we narrowly eS-
capped big scandal when the dominion
line played too strong hand in the elec-
ton Of a speaker Of the house. From that
day to this its influence has been fel;
in our politics and our legislation.
In view Of the fact that the Cana
dians now propose to complete chain
Of subsidized railroad and boat ship
ping lines until English manufacturers
can. under the bonding system, ship
directly to Asia through the United
States at cheaper rates than Ameri-
cans themselves can get, Senator E!klns
Auc AhtAOuuSCu q Olll IcVSdllIlS luul w.
noxious system and imposing a 10 per
cent. discriminating duty .on goods
shipped via Canadian lines under con-
sular seal. This matter is of more
Importance to our people," says he,
than dispute about boundary line
down in South America. To protect
the interests Of the United States
against this encroachment is the kind
of Monroe doctrine am in favor Of"
We guess he is pretty near right
The Philadelphia Inquirer is stanch,
almost q rabid, advocate Of the gold
single standard, yet 1t has the frank
ness to say: 1T will certainly cause
serious alarm II there Is to be any
further contraction of the currency.
In spite of the steady increase In our
population, there is less money in clrcu-
lation by $16O OO0. .0CO than there was two