St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-18
CAPTURED ALL THE HONORS I'm
THE INTERSTATE ORATORI-
CAL CONTEST.
KALAHER, BOWLER AND EVANS
THEIR ARGUMENTS IN DEFENSE
OF RAILWAY PO0LINIG UP
HELD BY JUDGES.
SALVATION ARMY
CHANGES.
Promotions and Details Published
BOOth-Tucker at the Swedish
Tabernacle.

The third annual debate between the Uni
versities of Wisconsin and Minnesota oc-
CURED last evening in the university library
building, and resulted In an easy victory for
the Badgers. The question discussed was
that of railroad pooling.
The affirmative was supported by the local
institution, which was represented by A. H.
Lee, E. A. Snow and j. Burt Miner, all mem
bers Of the academic department. The Madi-
son speakers were M. w. Kalaher, E. R.
Bowler and E. H. Evans. The visitors had
the advantage of more experience in debate
They had the subject most thoroughly in
hand, and were able to answer arguments
and express themselves on hand in a credit
able manner. The local speakers all did well,
but have not had the practice in debate that
their opponents have had. They manifested
a disposition to be fair, but none of them
had the fire necessary to carry conviction in
what they were saying.
The judges were Judge William Mitchell,
Of the Minnesota supreme court; Rev. J. L.
Jones, of Chicago, and Judge ]. D. Williams,
Of Grand Rapids, Mich. The debate was
listened to by an audience of nearly 800 stu
dents and professors. ]. M. Davies, of Delta
Sigma literary society, presided.
All. Lee opened the debate for Minnesota.
He read his speech frCm manuscript largely,
giving in detail the history of pooling in
this country. He spoke Of the pooling bill
passed by the house. Of representatives on
Dec. 2, 1894, which was defeated by the Scu-
ate. He stated that there were principally
two evils which the bill was expected to
remedy: Exorbitant freight rates and un-
just discrimination in favor of large shippers
The idea Of the bill was to fix proportionate
share of profits earned by all roads carry
ing freight between competing points
each road to receive it's full share of the
profits, whether it carried any freight or
not Under former pooling agreements the
contracts were not obligatory upon the roads
and could not be enforced in the courts The
plan thus lost its efficacy and still the
speaker maintained that rates were lower
than at present and that there was less
discrimination, the motive for discrimina-
tion being removed II legalized by con-
gress and enforced in the courts, especially
when under the absolute control Of the in
terstate commerce commission, the result of
pooling could not fail Of being beneficial
M. w. Kalaher led of for Wisconsin. and
began by answering the points made by his
opponent The history of pooling, he said,
had been marked by the rise of trusts such as
the Standard Oil company and the Anthracite
coal combine. Many attempts had been made
prior to 1887 to abolish, by law, the pooling
contracts, but all such attempts had been de-
feated by the roads Themselves The speaker
then showed that with 1900 railroads, 180 900
miles of road in the United States, the inter-
state commission would not be able to attend
to all the lines. Under the present system he
tnought rates were more stable than under
the pooling system, which had been marked
oy numerous rate wars, The pooling system
did not and would not stop discrimination. as
the roads would feel like getting all the bust
ness possible, so that in the periodic adjust
ment OF the percentages they would not lose
ground In favor Of any other roads, He main
talned that there Is at present no call for
change. Turned to England where legalized
pooling exists, and showed that rates were
twice as high as in America, that accommoda
tions are inferior, and that discrimination also
exists.
E. A. Snow followed for the affirmative pei
He spoke with considerable emphasis. and
frequently turned good point in favor of
MS side. He took Minneapolis flour shippers
as an illustration of how the discrimination
WORKS. He claimed that on every barrel of
nour that the large shippers send out they re-
ceiVe from 10 to 20 cents rebate The contract
is verbal, and between the agent and simmer
alone, with no record made OF the amount
rebated. He read quotations, attempting to
show that railroads themselves, the inter-
state commerce commission, leading SINNERS
OF the country are IN favor of the pooling
system Out Of thirty-four state commits
sions that had spoken on the question, thirty
two were said to favor the pooling system.
E. K. Bowler responded for the negative.
He went minutely into the organization of
the Standard Oil trust and Anthracite coal
combine, showing that only by means of the
pooling system, the companies working to-
gether with the railroads, had the creation of
such gigantic combinations been possible.
j. Burt Miner was the last speaker for
Minnesota, and he went carefully into the
effect Of the pooling law should It ever be
placed upon the statute books. He main
tanned that rates would be lower, and showed
that the Interstate commission would ac-
quire still greater control over the roads.
Discrimination. he thought, would soon be
done away with.
e. H. Evans, for Madison, was by far the
best speaker Of the evening. He has a
pleasing address, and has also the power
Of expression. After adding several good
arguments for his side, he summed I'D the
points made. Mr.. Kalaher concluded the de-
bate for the negative and Miner for the af-
frmative
Rev. ]. L. Jones delivered the opinion of
the judges, and congratulated the institu-
lions upon the showing made. The decision
was unanimously in favor of Wisconsin.
SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKERS.
Those of Hennenfu aud p,~S