The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-05-19

70 every member ui tue present 20"
grcss
Ny Dear Sir.
Some Of the Eastern railways which
claim, without any authority. To repre-
sent the railway interests Of the Unit
Cd States. are again undertaking 10
secure an amendment 10 the present
Interstate Commerce act authorizing
the making Of pools between railroads
on the ground that they are unable 10
avoid determination for or against
shippers or localities without pcrmis-
sion. To admit such condition Of
things Is 10 admit that they are I'M
able 10 maintain their own contracts
with each other II the Interstate
Commerce law. which now fnrbids I'M
der strong penalties all discrlmina-
lions a. not strong enough 10 compel
those gentlemen to observe ~ condi-
tlons. do no, see how the diHcrlm-
ination can be- avoided by cnactlng a
law TO permit pooling.
In the hrst place. pool o. an In
reference with the free. unrcstrained
and natural conditions Of trade II
"a made 10 allow a division Of traiilc.
10 az TO avoid reduction Of rates. /
do not understand how the public can
suffer by reduction In rates ~ trans
pOrtation. neither can I see how the
legal authorization Of pools viii pre-
vent discrimination In favor Of ship
pera or " localities The present
penalty of imprisonment of the officer
or company granting such rebate. or
the party receiving the same. ~ 80
heavy that Il Is dlnlcult. / may say
impossible. to secure the evidence 10
convict either Of the offenders. n.
however. the imprisonment penalty
was changed into nne Of from two
90 ten thousand dollars. 10 De- collected
from the railway and the party rocely-
ing the rebate. 0nc-haif the sum going
20 the person who furnished the In
formation Tor conviction. u would do
more 10 prevent this discrimination
than all the laws heretofore passed.
There is no relief afforded the public
through the interstate law that IN not
provided for uudcr the conditions Of
the common law. The Interstate Com
mission cannot make rate. and they
should not be permitted To exercise
THU authority Their greatest use will
always be an advisory board or as
witnesses In behalf Of the public. II
the Eve men constituting the commits
sion were allowed TO make rates. they
would exercise more power than any
other i've men In the world am
sure that you viii agree with me that
Il would never answer for the Inter
state Commerce Commission TO be
prosecuting attorney, witness. grand
jury aud 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 combination
which have been made and are ap.
purcutly accepted or tolerated much
greater than la any former year. Tn,
amount OF authorized capital In sucl
institutions ID simply stupendous. anC
think that a close investigation
would show that large portion OF THU
capital ~ entirely fictitious The PEG
pie. regardless OF party. are becoming
highly inoensed over these matters
and In place Of extending pool
through acts Of congress legallzinj
such conditions. ! am sure that IA,
general sentiment Of the public. hlgl
and low. Is decidedly against such pol
icy
While my chief interest IN In the
Great Northern railway. also repre-
sent some interests In lines east o
Chicago. aud should sincerely regret
the passage ~ any such legislation
for | am reasonably certain that. soon,
ar or later, Il viii create public sonti
mont among the people which will re-
suit In wlplng on all such legislation
from the statute books OF the natloI
or OF the states This country hai
had enough anti-railroad and anti
monopoly discussions. some OF which
were without reason. aud most o
which had some reason for such dis
Cusslon Now, when the railroads OF thl
country are rendering better service
than ever before at lower rates, an,
the people are beginning to accept tn
fairness NJ these rates. Il seems To m
unwise aud unjust to reopen the rail
way question through legislation tina
will DO looked upon by the public a
hostile To their interests. aud. in tina
way. inname public feeling agalns
combinations seeking TO control inter
ests which are national In their OK
tent and formed 10 control the IRE
competition OF trade. All these mo
tiyes are wrong and l hope will no
prevail / think the representative
of all our western states realize tn
force of what have said and that
is not necessary for me 10 enlarge OF
the subject AZ the same tune ! sin
ceroly hope that no such Legislation
will be- permitted 20 pass
White the matter OF pooling Is OF far
reaching Importance. no doubt thes
gentlemen will say it ls very harm
less 81 the same time. 1 would lll1
20 ask 10 it Is not simply an opeuin
wedge which would practically resul
81 turning over the entire rate-makln
power TO a commission Of Ave moI