The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-22

LIKE INGALLS,, HE THINKS THEY
WOULD PREVENT DISCRIMINATION.
President Of the ID. s. o. Gives His
Views ON Sunday Trains, Passes
and Other Railway Matters.

X. Cowen, of the Baltimore & Ohio Rail-
road. was before the industrial commission
to-day. In the course of his testimony he
expressed himself as opposed 10 state laws
restricting the running of railway trains On
Sunday. Said he: II don't think Sunday
laws amount to anything or benefit any
body" He said the tendency of companies
was towards curtailing the Sunday business
as much as possible, but there was som
business that could not be stopped. such.
for instance, as through traffic. He said
his road traversed some States having laws
prohibiting Sunday traffic. but that there
had been no cessation Of business on ac-
count Of It.
Mr.. Cowen said there were twenty-five
thousand employees on the Baltimore & Ohio
proper. and that since the establishment of
q relief fund, to which both the company
and the employees contributed, for the bene-
Mt of injured men, there had been compare
lively few suits for damages in cases OF
accident. Mr.. Cowen said he did not be-
lieve the arbitration law of the last Con-
gress would have any effect, for the reason
that no railroad would allow an outsider
TO fix the wage rate of it's employees.
Referring to the pass system. Mr.. Cowen
said It was greatly abused, and that rail-
roads would like to get rid OF 1t, but that
would be difficult. While he would like to
see the pass system ~supplanted by pay
business. the change would not result in
lowering rates. Il do not believe that a law
on the subject would be effective" he said.
land therefore consider 1t unnecessary to
burden the statutes with it." Mr.. Cowen
advocated the authorization of pooling con-
tracts as the very best means of preventing
discrimination on the part Of the railroads,
and said there was less discrimination now
than formerly. Speaking of the articles on
which rebates were given a year ago, he
said that all the products of the packing
houses and of iron and steel manufactures
We're generally included in the list. No re-
bates were given these articles now. but on
the contrary the railroad companies were
trying and expected TO be able TO effect an
increase in the price OF transportation of
iron and steel products. Mr.. Cowen said
pany last year amounted to only 5 9-10 mills
per ton per mile, and that TO reduce 1t
more would soon bring 1t to the vanishing
point. He thought the government owner
ship of railroads would be sublime folly.
Mr.. %Stuyvesant Fish, president OF the ILL.,
mission during its afternoon session. He
pade an argument for the shipment of the
products of the Mississippi valley States In
the advantage of a descending grade. With
equal tonnage. he said, freight could be car
ried more cheaoly from Chicago to New
Orleans than from Chicago to New York.
Speaking OF the competition of the river
transportation, he said rates had become so
low In recent years that 1t was no longer
formidable. In three years not a bale of
cotton had been carried into New Orleans
by boat. He presented a table showing that
there were six systems of railroads repre-
sentfng over 1900 miles terminating in New
Orleans.
He said the capital stock of the Illinois
50. 100000. and declared that railroads gen.
orally. instead of being overcapitalized.
were really und~ercapitalized. The road had
never failed TO pay dividends, but during the
dull times succeeding the panic of 1893 IL had
been necessary to reduce the force. . He
thought II would have been more satisfac-
tory to reduce wages than TO curtail the
force. but this had been found impracticable
because of the danger OF a strike. He ex-
ways be controlled by the law OF supply and
demand. except as its operation may be
iniuenced by labor trusts seeking to pre-
In the best market" He FASTENED 10 say
after this remark that by labor trusts he
did not refer TO such labor organizations as
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers or
the Order OF Railroad Conductors and
Others OF the same kind, but TO professional
Mr.. Fish advocated the taxation of rail-
roads by taxing their gross receipts, the
abolition or the ticket brokerage system and
Senator Mallory asked II Ii was UNDER
STOOD that value was 10 be received when
passes We're issued to members OF Congress.
II have been told that such is the case"
the witness replied. but 1 don't know" He
28A4 VIZ IdW DenR0 "A
loophole for the granting OF passes by MAX
Il don't know, he said. why a pass
should be given TO a minister rather than
a shoemaker. Both do business I'm the COM
munity n both do good t~here-possibIy the
shoemaker does the most. II is a discrimi-
nation"
Mr.. Fish said there was a commercial
necessity for lower rates for exports than
for articles intended for domestic consump-
ton. and that IL not permitted to make this
difference the export business could not
be held. He did not believe I'm government
government and a good day for the rail-
roads when the government should take
charge or the roads. and he did not think
they could be managed as cheaply by the
government as under the present system.
sale Proposition To He Discussed.
Special 20 the Indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. Oct. IA cali has
been made for a special meeting OF the
Evansville. Terre Haute & Chicago Rail-
read Company stockholders in this city,
Dec. q. when a proposition will be sub
mitted TO sell TO the Chicago * Eastern
Illinois Railroad Company the railroad prop
erty, corporate right and franchises" The
evansville, Terre Hante & Chicago prop
erty Is The road from otter Greek Junction.
I'VE miles north OF Terre Haute, TO Dan
vile Junction, a few miles from DanvilIe
II was built by the late Josephus coIIett.