Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-08

CANtDLiN RATbU-tr COMPETITION.
in the course OF the debate In the
senate on the postofiice appropriation
bill. Senator Elkins referred to the Ca
madam Pacific railroad as the natural
enemy of the transportation interests
Of the United States, declaring that it
stands today us Our greatest commercial
antagonist. He said this corpora
ton violates our interstate commerce
law with complacent Indifference, cuts
rates and takes freights from on Pacific
railroads, in which the United States
has n direct interest. at hauls more
%cheaply," said Mr.. Elkins, "from St.
Louis and other interior points in our
country. by way of Canada to Oregon
and San Francisco, than the Pacific
roads can do. though the distance Is
much shorter. 1t is II sharp competi-
tor now for business with all the Pacific
roads from and to California. For 1000
miles the Canadian Pacific traverses
q non-productive country, one not able
W NNiIIIpll d CIV - h'N' "a w.
srbventions and the business it takes
from the railroads of the United States
senator lIlkins urged that this cutting
of rates. this violation of our Interstate
commerce law. this invasion of our trade
should be stopped and the power to
stop ii is in Il own hands. The rem
edy would be found in disseminating
tle bonding privilege under which the
Canadian Pacific carries goods in bond,
starting from Vancouver, TO EUROPE
and points in the United States. He
suggested that we stop every car and
break every consular seal at our from
tiers beyond Chicago and the 500. This
would throw the trade from Asia to
San Francisco and pass 1t over the Pa
cific railroad lines. 1t would break up
in part, or largely, the violation of the
interstate law and stop the
giving Of rebates and the cutting Of
rates. ''The United States said Mr..
Elkins, SHOULD at once withdraw this
bonding privilege to the Canadian Pa
ciic."
IIllS SllDltCl HIS EtCtiNtu ltttlillOI
from time to time for a number of
years. 1t was carefully considered by
the last republican administration. with
ont any practical result. Several years
ago q congressional committee inveSti-
gated public sentiment regarding it,
getting the views of business men and
producers in New England and the
northwest, which were found to be very
generally opposed to any interference
with the bonding privilege granted by
II government to the Canadian
road. There is no question ms to
the great value of this privilege. 1t
has been said that if it were taken
away the Canadian Pacific would 'be-
come two streaks of rust in n bowling
Wilderness" 1t Is true that this alien
corporation violates the interstate COM
merce law, that it cuts rates and that
its competition is damaging to the
American railroads with which 1t COM
petes. But on the other hand it is urged
that this competition is of great i'm
portance to the producers of the north
west and to the manufacturers of New
England in keeping down transporta-
ton rates and that the number of our
people who are benefited in this way
is very much larger than the number
injured by the competition.
The Canadian Pacific has been styled
the Canadian government on wheels.
oiled and pushed by England. 1t is
also termed "England's military high
way and it is not questionable that
military considerations had much to do
with it's construction. 1t has received
s~ubventions of various kinds amount
ing to more than 5000. 100000. 1t is an
aggressive corporation, that IS con-
stantly reaching out for business in
all directions. The privilege 1t enjoys
from this government is a great help
to it. If not, indeed, essential to its X
%istence, but in spite of all the objections
that are raised to the competition of the
Canadian Pacific the proposed rem
edy is not likely to be applied so long as
the people of the northwest and New
England believe the competition is adj
vantagdous to them.