The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-17
POOLING BILL ENDORSED
RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE Ma
TIONAL BOARD OF TRADE.
Congress Asked to Amend the Inter-
state-Commerce Law and to Pass
the Anti-ScaIping BILL.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE National
Board of Trade to-day adjourned after q
three days session. The most important
action of to-day's session was the indorse-
ment of a pooling measure which would
place this question under the supervision of
the Interstate-commerce Commission. There
was strong sectional division on the ques-
ton. the East for and West against the
measure. In this connection Mr.. Henry t
Thurber of New York. chairman of the
committee to which the matter had been re-
ferred said: while there has been earnest
opposition to pooling bill by the Western
forces, 1t is gratifying to note such a growth
of intelligent sentiment in favor of the
measure during the past two years as to
permit the Endorsement Of the bill to-day
by Il two-thirds vote. Pooling under the
careful supervision of the Interstate-com-
merce Commission is the only way to bring
order and equality out of the present
chaotic condition of railroad affairs and to
secure what no just and disinterested party
could object to, namely, equal compensation
for services under equal conditions all over
the country. 1t is to the best interests of
the majority of both shippers and the rail-
roads themselves.
At the morning session of the board Mr.
Elliott of Philadelphia, read paper in ia
vor of the establishment of a permanent
tariff commission. A resolution urging on
Congress the creation of such commission
was adopted
Mr.. Eckert, of Chicago, on behalf of his
committee presented a report intended to
correct the evils of the sale of mixed flour.
The report favored the adoption of such
legislation as will define the manufacture,
sale, importation and export and eXporta-
ton of flour The report was adopted.
Mr.. Thurber, of New York, presented a
report on railroad transportation and kin
dred subjects which contained the follow
ing resolution: That the National Board of
Trade earnestly advocates legislation by
Congress to amend the interstate-commerce
law so as to permit pooling by railroads
under the supervision and control of the
Interstate-commerce Commission, to the
end that unjust discrimination may be pre-
vented and reasonable, uniform and stable
rates be established" A minority report on
this resolution was presented by Mr.. Val
landingham, of st. Louis, in behalf of the
four members of the committee strongly
opposing the pooling proposition. The reso-
lasted an hour or more under the ten-mn-
ute rule but Mr.. Thurbers resolution was
finally adopted py two-thirds vote.
The remaining resolutions offered by Mr..
Thurber were also adopted. They are as
THAT as a step towards justice in trans
pOrtation rates greater uniformity in the
classification of freight is necessary and
should the railroad companies fail to for
mulate and put into effect uniform claSSi-
fication of freight within reasonable time,
that the Interstate-commerce Commission
should be empowered to formulate and
make effective such classification
THAT the National Board of Trade depre-
Gates all movements looking to the govern
ment ownership of railway lines, but advo-
Gates a wise firm and continuous super
vision over the operation and management
of these great agencies in all matters af-
fecting their relations with the public in
the conduct of interstate commerce.
THAT the National Board of Trade reaf-
firms its approval of the bill known as the
anti-scalper BILL now pending in Congress,
riers against fraudulent and irregular prac-
tees in passenger traffic.
That as the decisions of the United
States Supreme Court have so weakened
the power of the Interstate-commerce Com
mission to perform the duties originally
outlined for it, we petition Congress to
so amend the interstate-commerce law as
to clothe the commission with the power
to carry out the original intentions of the
act"
was short session of the board, at which
the report of the committee on reform in the
consular service was adopted. The report
recommends such changes in the admins
tratiOn of this service as will secure per-
manency, judicious promotion in accord
ance with merit and adequate cOmpenSa-
ton.
The report from the committee on for
eStry was adopted, providing for the con-
Servation of forest lands and the encour-
agement of timber culture over denuded
areas.
was the passage of a general law to SUBJ
stitute weight for measure in the sale of
all commodities to which this regulation
could conveniently apply.