The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1899-05-13
ILLHITS THETRUSTS
GREAT NoRTHKaM'S PRESIDENT
ON PRESENT CONDITIONS.

That tho Formation of Combines
Threatens the Independence Of hi
Iudividual-After the Iuterstate Com
merce Act Repealsrs. .
The following letter has been adj
dressed by James ]. Hill, president Of
the Great Northern Railway Company,
to every member of the present Con-
gress:
My Dear Sir:
Some of the Eastern railways, which
claim, without any authority, to repre-
sent the railway interests of the Unit
ed States, are again undertaking to
an amendment to the present
Interstate Commerce act authorizing
the making Of pools between railroads,
on. the ground that they are unable to
avoid. discrimination for or against
shippers or localities without perm1s-
sion. To admit such a condition OF
things is to admit that they are IN
able to maintain their own contracts
with each other. II the Interstate
Commerce law, which now forbids un-
der strong penalties all discrimina-
lions, is not strong enough to compel
these gentlemen to observe its condi-
lions, I do not see how the discrim-
lnation can be avoided by enacting a
law to permit pooling.
Tn tho Gvek -1oo1 n nal &c on in.
reference with the free, unrestrained
and natural conditions of trade. 1t
is made to allow a division of traf1c,
so as to avoid a reduction of rates. I
do not understand how the public can
suffer by a reduction in rates of trans
portation, neither can I see how the
legal authorization of pools will pre-
vent determinations in favor of ship
pers or of localities. The present
penalty of Imprisonment of the officer
or company granting such rebate, or
the party receiving the same, is so
heavy that it is difficult, I may say
impossible, to secure the evidence to
convict either Of the offenders. II,
however, the Imprisonment penalty
was changed into a fine of from two
to ten thousand dollars, to be collected
from the railway and the party receiv-
ing the rebate, one-half the sum going
to the person who furnished the in
formation for conviction, it would do
more to prevent this discrimination
than all the laws heretofore passed.
There is no relief afforded the public
through the interstate law that is not
provided for under the conditions of
the common law. The Interstate Com
mission cannot make a rate, and they
should not be permitted to exercise
this authority. Their greatest use will
always be an advisory board, Dr. as
witnesses in behalf of the public. II
the five men constituting the commits
sion were allowed to make rates, they
would exercise more power than any
other five men in the world. I am
sure that you will agree with me that
it would never answer for the Inter-
state Commerce Commission to be
prosecuting attorney, witness, grand
jury and presiding judge all in the
same case
The past year has been an unusual
one in the history Of this country. The
number Of trusts and combinations
which have been made and are ap-
parently accepted or tolerated much
greater than in any former year. The
amount of authorized capital in such
institutions is simply stupendous, and
I think that a close Investigation
would show that a large portion of this
is entirely fictitious. The peo-
pie, regardless of party, are becoming
highly incensed owe these matters,
and in place. of extending pools
through acts of congress legalizing
such conditions, I am sure that the
general sentiment Of the public, high
and low, is decidedly against such pol
icy.
While my chief interest is in the
Great Northern railway, I also repre-
sent some interests in lines east of
Chicago, and I should sincerely regret
the passage Of any such legislation,
for I am reasonably certain that, SOON
er or later, it will create a public senti-
ment among the people which will re-
suit in wiping of all such legislation
from the statute books of the nation
of the states. This country has
had enough anti-railroad and anti
discussions, some of which
were without reason, and most of
which had some reason for such dis
cussion. Now, when the railroads Of the
country are rendering better service
than ever before, at lower rates, and
the people are beginning to accept the
fairness of these rates, it seems to me
unwise and unjust to reopen the rail-
question through legislation that
will be looked upon by the public as
hostile to their interests, and, in that
way, inflame public feeling against
combinations seeking to control inter-
ests which are national in their ex-
tent and formed to control the free
competition of trade. All these mo-
tives are wrong and I hope will not
prevail. 1 think the representatives
of all our western states realize the
force Of what I have said. and that 1t
is not necessary for me to enlarge on
the subject. At the same time, I sin
.a@s 2faEEHZ--N -