New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-28
RAILROAD INTERESTS.
RADICAL AND REVOLUTIONARY
PRESIDENT SMITH OF THE LOUISVILLE AND
NASHVILLE vEHEMENTLY OPPOSES RAIL

pprstnrNr SMITH OF THE LOUISVILLE AND
NASHVILLE vEHEMENTLY OPPOSES RAIL
WAY MEASURES NOW BEFORE CONGRESS-
Louisville. KY. Nov. 27-Mllton H. smith, presl-
dent Of the Louisville and Nashville Raiiroau 49,, =,
covo ont an interview to THE Evening POST III
which he vehementy opposes the pendlhs ram oau
legislation before Congress. Before leaving inv
CITY he was seen and asked to give 10 lie P"D
a statement of his position in regard 10 'he pi'
posed measures - :, ,o,,,
AS TO scalping" said Mr.. Smith that is largely
a moral question, and immoral practice "hI'
the law as It stands, should suppress ana the IAN
roads must suppress.
''As to the pooling privileges proposed the! "''
mot NJ sufficient importance to require much atteh-
ton from railroad managers. Pooling VIII ho' oe
obligatory and pooling rates nave u oe app ~,
by the Interstate Commerce Commission
whole thing is delusve. should not IKE 10 say
and The railroads as the revolutionary eharaciivr
of proposed legislation. use the W W. one which
tionary advisedly, and the movement Is one VIII
should arouse public attention and secure MOI pun
lie approval but public condemnati Circulated con-
corning the effect of recent judicial deflsiOs The
corning the Interstate and through
The press that these decisions have f 49,
n,Ipessi Thai il has been deprived of power con
ferred on It by Congress TO fix rates; ana hat Ine
power thus taken away must be conferred by oo,I
ppess IN language not subject to misinterpretaton
There is evidently an organzed confse the whole
matter. ,,, c..,,a,on ba .
Every assumption is false The Commission mas
been deprived of power ever given IL oy III III
gress: all the usefulness II ever possessed II Poo
sesses to-day All that the courts have dotH , maj
been TO check tendency OF all organized poHtIC,al
| agencies to extend their power In new nelds. me
| public should no longer be deceived Inc purPose
of the proposed legislation is not 10 restore 70 tne
| Commission something it has lost; but TO give IL
| something II has possessed, something ~
could not use safely and something that never
should be given IL. wish to state the factS WIN an
| the emphasis OF which am capable. The PROPOSED
| changes are radical and revolutionary, aHecuhe
not simply the railroads. but the whole characte'
| OF government
10 settle the innumerable controversies arising pc
tween lines between shippers between cities; Sucl
| a mower should not exist anywhere to-day TO give
! II to A single Commission or 10 endow II with az
| influence over the lives. the prosperity and tht
futures of private citizens, such as no GoVerhtneh
| here and few governments abroad nave ever trleo
| 10 assume in times Of peace. would be wrong
| Yet this feature OF the proposed bill s ignored
| in all public discussions We hear much or poOllns
and scalping: hear nothing OF this other schemt
| stalking into Congress. behind the pooling ano
| i-scalp ng measures, claiming the approval ol
| the public upon palpably false pretences Thest
| false pretences should be at once exposed and tht
people should not be kept in ignorance OF the ef
feet Of such a revolutionary measure upon the Whol
| character OF the Government