New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-19
Mr.. THTRBER Quotes POETRY.
4 BALLAD on BUGS USED AS An ILLUSTRATION
BEFORE THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION

BEFORE THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE
COMMISSION.
7-b. Interstate Commerce Commission met again
Yesterday morning tn the Boardroom OF the Froh-
nee Exchange. and resumed the investigation Of
the charges against forty-four railroads FORMING
the Joint Traffic Association. The complaint -
that these roads maintain from Interior Western
i-,s 70 tho Atlantic seaboard certain differences
IN freigh, rates called "dlforentals.' which are
entirely arbitrary and give 70 rival ports unjust
,d,.antages over New-York. Il IS alleged that az
result Of this discr minatlon the shipping inter-
as,s Of the port Of NeN-York have suffered "hHc
,bo.o of Baltimore and Philadelphia have pros
80 exceedingly The Produce Exchange has
asked for an Investigation OF the charges by the
commission and the establishment of Uniform
rates.
Francis 3 Thurber. chairman OF the Committee
on Railroad Transportation OF the New-fork BOARD
Of Trade and Transportation, was the first witness
yesterday.
He road a statement IN which he said that, what
over ma, be the equities Of long and short hauls
grades etc IL was perfectly evident 10 an expert
enced observer that trunk line OF railroad repre-
senting millions OF dollars Of investment was gong
n do business even II II didn't earn dollar OF
interest or dividends for the capital invested
when this state Of things exists said Mr. Thur
her 81. IS A. commercial calamity. innocent In
,astors yho provided this great industrial neces-
Observation-Disclosures distressed, an army OF
er7ploves impoverished and safety. speed ana COM
for, are sacrificed. With an excess OF transpor'a-
ton facilities even in good times. II IS a great
nroblar when lean years come how TO keep peace
., tho Family shippers do not need lower rates.
pa-es In this country already too low-less
than half those prevailing IN other countries-pu'
tbev do want uniform and stable rates and these
can only be- allowed by repeating the ant-poohhs
clause in the Interstate Commerce law. ana giving
railroads tho same right OF contract which IL en-
loved by all other corporations and indlVidual7'
when the interstate law enacted favored the
prohbition Of pooling but experience mas SHOWN
that this was unwise Since the adjustment OF the
dnorential- between the Atlantic ports by the AT
bltration Committee. Of which Judge 'ooley was
chairman circumstances have changed so as 10
demand a readjustment Prices OF staples III '"e
worlds markets have changed, the Gulf ports have
become a factor ard the situation demands al
vour hands a readilstment on the principle indl-
Gated bv Alice Carey's poem Bugs in a Basket.
Mr. Thurber then read the poem, and when he
had finished Hugh Bond. who represents the
Baltimore and Ohio Raroad reminded nun tnal
bugs had no brains ana that me subject 81 .iu''S
not about bug but ABOUT fright and sns
with this inquiry have lots OF brain repheu MT.
Thurber consolingly .,, .A..
Mr o TaurbSr n IN NewY e and the Elevator
charges In Boston were excessive ana neIPea 70
,o-day he said remained the same as they were
I'm lSN2 and they should be readjusted. "
Trafit Association. testified thar the dinerentials
had existed before the association was formed ana
maj he organization had not changed them. He
said that the first work Of me association vas 10
80, ka Uniform at all competing points all the
charpes that entered into freight rates. The
mstter OF dlfferentials had been brought before
the sssocia,on but no action had been taken.
others who were heard by the Commission were
rohn q Seager r l.. Hadry. an exporter OF grain.
= ,-,,e n ylor ir secretary OF the Brooklyn
&c. nj Warehouse Company Henry Roper. OF
the arm of Grinnell Minturn co. -four exporters,
f'l' II lnsnra charles T. sumner Of the Sumner
line. John p Truesdeil and Captain Du puy. an
h' TSe Smmmission viii NEE. again on May 10 In
Philadelphia.