New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-10
FIGHT OVER CANAL TRAFFIC.
ANOTHER LIVELY HEARING on THE PAR
SHALLWIMAN BILL.
BoAT-oWNERs AND THEIR FRIENDS OPPOSE IT
on VARIOUS GROUNDS ARGUMENTS or
Mr.. WIMAN AND OTHERS IN

/
on VARIOUS GROUNDS ARGUMENTS or
MR. wGMAN AND OTHERS IN
Albany. Feb. s-The Canal Committees o. both
houses gave joint hearing this afternoon on the
Parshall-Wiman bill permitting canal navigation
companies 10 incorporate with a capital stock OF
100000. which was discussed at length before the
Assembly Committee last week Erastus wiman.
G. II. Raymond r NJ Clarkson. secretary OF the
boatmens Protective Association: A. r. Smith. Sec
rotary OF the Canal Executive Committee OF New
YORK and Frank Beade, ot Buffalo, appeared IN
favor OF the bill The opposition included
Senator LauEhlin. OF Buffalo: A. r. James. presi-
dent o. the Merchants Exchange o. Buffalo. Cap
tain Clark. l. p Smith. o. F. Potter. West Troy:
Robert r. Sherman and Parker Roman, OF Albany.
In addition to this delegation there we're twenty
Hudson River boatmen. headed by Robert Walker.
Peter Driscoll and J. L. Carln. who appeared In
opposition 70 the bill.
A. r. James in opposing the bin said that tho
arguments already presented for it did not disclose
the real purposes OF the He called alton
ton to the fact that G. II. Raymond. who was
faherng the bill. engineered tho scheme Tor the
widening OF canal locks under the 100000 canal
act. osensbly for tho purpose Of allowing torpedo
boats 70 get to the Great Lakes. but" said Mr..
James, the real purpose OF the widening Of the
locks was for the benefit OF the Consolidated Lake
II the bill. he continued. became a Jaw. the -four
and grain dealers back OF this company. which Mr..
Win1an organized. would hold Il over the heads o.
the railroad companies until those companies gave
them greater privileges and lower rates. II they
did not get their demands from the railroad COM
panes they would construct their boats and II
would mean nothing more than another railroad
carrying freight from the lakes to New-York CITY
because the railroad companies would undoubtedly
control this corporation. lie said il the bill was
passed. 1900 canalmen would be thrown out OF
work and driven to the poorhouses.
Ex-senator Iaughlin the next 10 oppose the
measure lie said the bill unwise because ii
organized a company which would absorb all the
rights OF individual canalmen. This company
would carry freight from all places on the Great
Lakes right through Buffalo to NewYork city. and
in time the boats would 90 direct from New-York
for the benefit OF a corporation which would not
turn in a cent OF money to the State or spend any
money here He suggested that the Legislature
should not pass such a measure until the 100000
70 improve the canals had been spent when II
could be seen whether traffic on the canals would
be improved The strongest argument against the
bill he said was the combination between the
railroad companies and the corporation behind the
bill because the canal was now recognized as the
natural regulator % freight rates
O F Potter OF West Troy. canal captain, next
spoke and he reiterated the arguments he presented
against the bill before the Assembly committee
for individual canamen to compete with the cor
poration back OF the bill.
Erastus Wiman introduced Captain FRANK bea-
die OF Buffalo. who said there was not man On
the canal who owned more than one steam cal"l-
boat besides himself He not afraid OF TINS
trust Ex-senator Loughlin said That IL was uil-
derstood in Buffalo that Captain BeadIe hau "l'UT
an ARRANGEMENT with this proposed company 10 sell
his boats at q greatly increased price over ther
real value This Captain Beadle denied
Alexander Il. smith. Editor OF The Scaboara,
reminded the opposition that the canals were ho'
constructed for the boatmen but for the ,raiSirJ.
tation Of freight for the benent OF an thr p-ol;
lie called attention 10 the asi laIV., loi ~. Il, -,
OF tolls the enhancement OF the locks anu ,l4i u.'-
sn;hg on 5n9 Saq but az d T his egaaton the
commerce the canal had not ihcreascn' Ht.d
proposed we're organized to cheaper the rates and
be able compete with the RAILROADS ne salu l'at
70 dgX aS f SOM The mToyoment Of he canals In
regard 20 the charge that This was creating
his back the millionaire millcrs of me Northwest
and was WORKING in the Interests Of the railroads
IL would not have been necessary for him 10 devote
poration. liz said that under existng circum-
spent at terminals. Instead OF making seven trips
in the season, boats might just a. We'll make len
senator Foley asked Z the same saving would
not result the State building these terminals.
Erastus Wimau treated the question Of revived
commerce on the Erie Canal mainly from m point
York He gave many statistics 10 show the rapid
fly OF the decline IN the commerce Of Tho port OF
New-YOrk and in citing The increase of the outly-
ing ports mentioned the fact that the cearar, "s ~
Newport News IN November last were thtrty-twO
IN number. against four clearauccs three years
ago He asked what was the attraction which
made this increase at the expense OF NrY-1ork pos
siblc. and answered the question by stating That
Il was immediate transfer from III" freight car
10 the steamship. which Is impossible in Ney York
II impossible because Of the shape OF the lar-
Dor and the complete separation between tho place
Of receipt in Jersey CITY and the place Of storage
IN Brooklyn or the place OF shipment I'm New York
Canal commerce. however. being anOat. could be-
transferred he ships side and would thus enable
New-York TO compete with her rivals. who now OK
tend from the Giuf OF Mexico 20 the Bay OF Fundy
Unless the lina tOn OF $4,000 for canal companies
engaged in interstate commerce should be removed.
"a proposed I'm this bill New-iOrk would gain
advantage from the greatest system Of water
WAYS the world had ever seen.
This closed the hearing and the committee took