The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1900-01-27
ASK A FAIR DEAL
Senate Committee on Commerce
Gives a Hearing to the
Shippers.
Pending Bill Favored by the Ma
tional ,!iIIers' ncpre-
sentative.
Some Would Rcslscitatp the Old
Joint Traffic Associa.
ton.

WASHINGTON. Jan 27.-The senate
committee on commerce gave a hearing
10 the representatives Of n number Of
business organizations throughout the
country III support Of the bill to amend
the interstate commerce law. The first
statement was made by Mr.. Frank Barry
OF milwaukee,. He is secretary Of the
Nationn! Millers' association, and the
accredited representative Of the National
League Of Industrial Associations. He
commended the pending bill, saving
thnt 1t had been framed with view to
dong justice TO both the shipper and
carrier He condemned the present law,
saying that it had become inpotent and
valucless. and the interstate commerce
commission was nothing more than a
moot court.
I3ig Ones Not In This.
In reply to questions from Senator
Tillman, Mr.. Barry said the Standard
OH. the sugar trust and the large -four
ing mills Of the Northwest and grain
elevator Interests We're not cooperating
III this movement He had no direct
information on the subject Of favorit.
ism. but he called attention to the re-.
cent change Of freight classification
made by the railroads, which, he said
lett carload rates on oil practically whcr,
they were. while it raised the rate on
fractional carloads from 200 TO 800 pei
cent. II was not difficult to see that thi.
was III the interest of the Standard OH
company Mr.. Barry expressed tn,
opinion that the Minneapolis miller.
were receiving discriminatory rate.
from the railroads
Discrimination Against Flour.
Mr.. Barry also mad" com plaint again =
the railroads for discrimination il
favor OF wheat for export. a
against flour for export. He though
| the discrimination was due 10 the fac
| that many of the railroad men wer.
large owners in the elevators. Augustir
Gallagh,x of ST. Louis, commissioner o
the Millcrs' National association. spok,
especially of the interests Of the miller
in the proposed legislation. He said tina
the railroads Were not content with con
trolling the mines and forest: they wer,
now attempting to control the neccS
| Slrics Of life along their lines. He con
tended that the railroads of the Middl,
West. so far as the grain interests ar,
concerned. are practically parceled on
by large firms III Chicago and 9TH,
cities.
Would BE Very Beneficial.
Mr.. Gallagher. i'll response 20 an II
uuirv Of Chairman Cullom. said Ii,
| firmly believed the adoption of tn,
| amendment proposed by the Nationa
Board of Trade would produce result
immensely beneficial IL the whole peo
pie
Further along Mr.. Gallagher said tn,
exportation Of wheat from the Unite,
States last Year was about lis.Oo0.W
bushels. possibly 60 per cent of which
went to the British isles. The labo
cost of producing -four, he said. wa
something more than 20 cents n barrel
and Of course that amount was lost Z
| the labor Of this country on the exported
wheat. In answer to Il question OF Mr.
| Chandler, Mr. Gallagher said that tn
| National Millers Association and tn
National Board Of Trade We're favorable
to such legislation as would restor
practically M organization similar (
the recent Joint Traffic Association.
.You are here today. then. said Mr.
Chandler, "to anvocate railroad trus
with 81. 100. .Ooo, 900 capital. Is it not il
effect fact that you propose to organic
gigantic railroad trust which is t
abolish all competition III traffi
rates"
"As member Of the n ational Millin
assnrintion and of the National Board q
Trade. l deny that have any such in
tention. do not and they do not advc
cate ANYTHING of the kind" replied MI
Gallagher.
| Another Name for the Same Thing.
"You understand, l take it," said MI
Chandler, THAT the great mass OF ship
ners want an organization similar to tn
old Joint Traffic associntion:"
..Thcy do. replied Mr.. Gallagher. 81
the resolution adopted by the Nationa
Roard of Trade does not convey tina
idea. 1 ask this committee to prepar
one that will. -
well" said Mr.. Chandler. 'some .
80, ,x,,;,;ciaus cannot understand VIII
the National Board of Trade and NJ
t;,,.l Nillcrs association should desir
~. establishment of railroad trust
the idea Of which Is to crush railwa
competition.