The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-24
70 STOP RATE CUTTING.
COMPETITION OF CANADIAN PACIF.
&c INJURIES THIS COAST.
shippers to Aid In Restralntng
the RuinOus War Against Amer
icaa Transcontinental Railroads.

The Seattle Chamber OF Commerce has
been asked to take action to help in re-
straining the present destructive compe-
tition OF the Canadian Pacinc railroad.
The Pacific Coast Hardware and Metal
Association Is urging the fight against the
railroad. and has written to A. S. Bur-
well. of this city. asking him to lay tho
matter before tbs local chamber and other
commercial organizations. The Importance
Of the subject is thoroughly recognized
here and L viii be taken up at the next
meeting of the executive committee OF
the chamber.
In the letter received by Mr.. Burweu
was said: I'VE feel we are not stating
the case too strongly when we say that
the very existence OF our Pacific coast
manufacturing and jobbing interests -
in the balance at the present time. Unless
We can secure reasonable protection In
the transcont.nenial freight between car
loads and less than car load rates, there
will be no occasion for the distribution OF
our products from any Pacific coast ter
minal, nor VIII there be opportunity for
the manufacturing and distributing of
any products in large volume from the
Pacific coast cities. No matter how great
may be our capital or resources. we are
practically powerless unless We have the
active help and cooperation OF the great
transconsinental roads in our efforts to
secure proper protection in this regard"
Action has already been taken by the
Portland Chamber of Commerce which, on
February 9. telegraphed the following
memorial to Senator Mcbride with the re-
quest that he confer with other members
Of the Oregon delegation and introduce it
in congress:
Whereas. The Canadian Pacific rail-
way. BY reason Of the aid. received from
from the restraints and restrictions of the
interstate commerce law of the United
States. has an advantage over the purely
American railroads which enables ii to de-
prive them of large part OF the carrying
trade OF the country, which of right be-
longs to them. and which the interests
OF the country at large require should be
done by them: and
"Whereas. the Canadian Pacific railway
Is at this time and has at all times since
its compietion, made use of the advantage
so enjoyed by 1t to aid the commerce and
forward the interests of Canada. as
against those Of the United States. and
especially OF the Pacific coast states, and
T has heretofore and is now working great
damage to the commercial and other in
terests of the country at large.
Now, therefore. we. your petitioners,
do humbly pray you to, without delay, and
in such plain and explicit terms as that
neither the attorney general nor any court
may be able to misunderstood or miscor-
strue the same. pass law which shall
take away from and deprive the Canadian
Pacific railway and all other foreign rail-
ways or transportation lines OF any sort
Of nature. of any and all right to trans
port goods or passengers from any one
part of the United States to any other. or
any other or further terms of re-entry
into the United States than those which
exist and are applicable to passengers and
goods coming into the United States from
a foreign country"
1t is contended by those interested in
the subject that If the policy Of prohibit
ing the transportation of freight In foreign
vessels from one American port to an
other is 1ustifiable. ii Is equally proper to
prohibit the transportation of freight by
rail from one American port to another by
a foreign railroad. more especially as
American roads are controlled by the ILL.,
terstate commerce law, and are conse-
quentiy prohibited from properly protect
ing their own interests or the interests Of
large shippers on the Pacific coast.