The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-07-29

spain claims SHe Sueu IOr peace De-
fore Uncle Sans troops landed in
Porto Rico. Is there anything ridicu-
lous Spain hasn't claimed since this
war began?
Retaliate Upon the Canadian Pacific.
The discrimination practiced by the
Canadian government against Ameri-
can railroads is a subject which may
well be weighed by the American men,
bers. of the Canadian-American COM
mission appointed to take up matters
in dispute between the United States
and Canada. 1t is also subject which
may be considered by the interstate
commerce commission in its forthcom-
ing investigation Of the causes of the
rate war precipitated by the Canadian
Pacific railroad and now in full and
destructive progress.
In speaking of the Canadian Pacific
railroad, it should always be borne in
mind that this corporation is synony-
nous with the Canadian government.
The late Jay Gould once testified be-
fore New York legislative committee
that he was a Republican in Republi-
can counties, a Democrat in Democratic
counties and an Independent always.
That is to say, his money and his in
fluence were always contributed to that
party which could render the Erie rail-
road the most support in the legisla-
ture. No such frankness of declaration
has ever been eXtorted from the Cana
dian Pacific officials. 1t has never been
To oly +
has ever been a recognized rule of
their political conduct that no admin
istration could change any quicker
than they could. And so, whether Con-
sentative or Liberal was on top, he
found the Canadian Pacific a ready
sympathizer and supporter The Ca
madam Pacific railroad has, in fact,
come to be recognized as the Canadian
government-the only instance that we
recall in the history of the world of a
government on wheels.
1t has been the policy of the Cana
dian government ]. e., the Canadian
Pacific railroad, to carefully watch the
movements Of American railroads and
thrust every obstacle in the way of
their development and business prog
ress. This Canadian corporation, it is
always to be remembered is subsidized
by the British and the Dominion gov
eminent. 1t bears none of those re-
spOnsibilities which by the laws of the
United States devolve upon American
railroads. 1t has no stockholders, as
we understand the word. The Cana
dian Pacific is a military railroad, con-
q q nr~tn f ho ISui+t cl,
mental scheme of girdiing the globe
and giving the English war office the
fullest facilities for transporting Eng
lish troops to any threatened point,
either OF the Canadian-American Dor
der or on the Asiatic frontier.
The subsidy granted to this railroad
by Great Britain and Canada, includ-
ing gifts and concessions, amounted to
the princeIy sum of $215 900, 900. No such
restrictions are imposed upon it as upon
American railroads. The long and the
short haul are unknown to it. in so
far as carriers rates and the public are
concerned No interstate commerce
law such as regulates the operations of
American railroads applies to the Cana
dian Pacific. 1t is at liberty to do bust
ness in the United States in defiance Of
the wholesome regulations which gov
ern cur own roads. It is as much Of a.
freebooter as was ever the rover of the
Spanish Main.
If either the Canadian-American
commission or the interstate commerce
commission will busy themselves-and
we assume they villa bit with exist
will
anomalies that demand immediate SUD-
preston. If it is good policy for the
Canadian Pacific to defend it's revenues
by prohibiting the use of American
cars between local points on its rails,
it would seem to be equally good pol
icy to prohibit the use of Canadian Pa
cific cars between local points on
American rails
A car of an American railroad may
load at Duluth or st. Paul, or any 9TH
err American point, With American
goods destined for some point in the
Dominion. say, for the purpose of il
lustration, 200 miles from the interna-
tional line. That car cannot discharge
its freight and reload with freight des-
tined for some other point within Ca
madam territory. 1t must be hauled
back to the international line empty.
The Canadian Pacific demands the
right, and is upheld in it by the Ca
madam government of transporting To-
cal freight between point and point
within Canadian territory in its own
cars. Apply that same principle to
traffic on American roads and thus shut
out the Canadian Pacific from partici-
patton in point to point traffic on the
American side Of the line, and Ameri-
can roads would receive a measure Of
the protection against their Canadian
neighbor to which they are entitled.
We are not prepared to argue wheth-
er that is a sound principle or not The
fact itself is sufficient to deal with,
and the fact Is that in practice the
American roads are worsted in their eff
forts to compete with their subsidized
neigthbor, both on American and on
Canadian soil. Herein is found food
for reflection by American commission
ers and lawgivers.