The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-06-17
|uLHITS THETRUSTS'
GREAT NORTHERN,S PRESIDENT.
ION PRESENT CONDITIONS. e

ION PRESENT CONDITIONS.
sRs That the Fornation Of Combines.
Fhreatens the Independence Of the
Andividual-After the Interstate Com
= anerce Act Repealers. -.>,s 20 IlI
The following letter has been 3D.
.dRssed by James J. Hill, president Iof
TIP Great Northern Railway Company,
.tq every member Of the present Con-
gnss: .. - - i
nv Dear Sir: : i
Some of the Eastern railways, viii ch
chin, without any authority, to repie-
=sent the railway interests of the Unit
el States, are again undertaking to
stcure an amendment to the present
Interstate Commerce act authorizing
tie making of pools between railroads,
of the ground that they are unable to
aHold discrimination for or against
slippers or localities without permis,-
son. To admit such a condition of
things is to admit that they are un-
ale to maintain their own contracts
With each other. If the Interstate
pmmerce law, which now forbids un-
OR strong penalties all discrimina-
tpns, is not strong enough to compel
tiese gentlemen to observe it's condi-
tpns, do not see how the discf i'm
ss11ation can be avoided by enactin ng a
ldRs to- permit pooling.
Fn the first place, a pool is an in
difference with the free, unrestraip ned
AID natural conditions of trade 1t
> smade to allow division of traffic,
sd#as to avoid reduction of rates. I
fdl not understand how the public dan
st4fer by a reduction in rates of trans
pfta ation, neither can I see how the
lefal authorization of pools will pre-
vdnt determinations in favor of ship
pes or OF localities. The present
pfaalty of Imprisonment of the officer
:of company granting such rebate, or
TIE party receiving the same, is so
hllEayy that it is difficult, I may say
impossible, to secure the evidence to
cmvict either of the: offenders. If,
hpWever, 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-
ingt the rebate, one-half the sum going
.stoAtthe eA person who furnished the in
4 t|forsn S'e. alton for conviction, it would do
p " KY ~
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 rate, and they
should not be permitted to exercise
this authority. Their greatest use will
always be an advisory board, or as
witnesses in behalf of the public. If
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
1t 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 close investigation
would show that a large portion of this
capital is entirely fictitious. The peo-.
pie, regardless of party, are becoming
highly incensed over these matters,
and in splace 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. ~ AIT
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 off all such legislation
from the statute books Of the nation
or. Of the states. This country has
had enough anti-railroad and anti
monopoly 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-
way question through legislation that
will be looked upon by the public as
hostile to their interests, and. in that
way, iRflame public feeling against
combi nations seeking to control inter
=ests which are national in their. ex-.
tent tand formed to control the free
competition Of trade. All these mo-
tives are wrong and | hope vii, not
prevail think the representatives