The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-27
VIEWS Of BUSINESS MEN.
PRESENT REASONS ron CHANGE IN
INTERsrATE COMMERCE. LAW.
Are Inclined to Advocate Allowing
Railroads 10 Hold UD Rates 20
Fixed Figure by Agreement, Thus
Avoiding Cuts ana Favoritism.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2s.-The senate
committee on commerce today gave hear
ings to representatives Of u number OF
business organizations throughout the
country In support Of the bill to amend
the interstate commerce law.
The first statement was made by Frank
Barry, of Milwaukee. He IL secretary
Of the National Millers' Association and
accredited representative OF the National
League of Industrial Associations. sst
He commended the pending bill. saying
1t had been framed with view to do
ing justice to both shipper and carrier.
He condemned the present law, saying
II had become irnpbtent and valueless and
the interstate commerce commission was
nothing more than a moot court
In reply TO questions from Senator Till
man. Barry said the Standard Oil, sugar
trust, large Touring mills of the North
west, and grain elevator interests were
not. cooperating In, this novefneiit,sl
lie had no direct Information on the
subject Of fav6fitism, butt he called at
tefitioh to the recent change of freight
classification made by the railroads.
which. he said. left car load rates on oil
practically where they were, while II
raised the rate on fractional car load rates
from 200 to 800 per cent: II was not diffl.
OF the Standard Oil Company. Mr.. Barry
expressed the opinion that the Minne-
apolis millers were receiving discrim-
. Augistine Galiagher. Of St. Louis, COM
missioner of the Millers' National Assoc
citation. spoke especially of the interests
He said the railroads were not content
with controlling the mines and the for
ests of the country, but they, were now
attempting to control the ballots Of the he
that the railroad system of the Middle
West. so. far as the grain interests are
CONCERNED, are practically parsseled ,, out
MIR. Gallagher, In response to an IN
CURRY from Chairman Cullom said he
firmly, believed the adoption of the
Board OF Trade would produce results
immensely beneficial to the whole people.
You are here, today, then,', said Mr..
with S1,10o000,00O capital. is 1t not in
effect a fact that you propose. to organize
q gigantic railroad trust which Is to abol-
ish all competition in traffic rates?"
las member of the National Millers'
Association and of the National Board of
Trade, l deny that / have any such in
tention do not and they. do not ad-
Gallagher.
'Yon understand, take it." said Mr..
pers want an organization similar to the
old Joint Traffic Association
'They do replied Mr.. Gallagher. IF
the resolution adopted by the Mat9 1a
will" "a
National Board of Trade and the Nation-
al NIillers' Association should desire the
establishment of railroad trust, the idea
cf which is to crush railway compete
ton"
1--WE do not want to crush competition"
replied Mr.. Gallagher. ''and what we ask
wiz not v accomplish such ,na an e Senator
len, ito authorize the railroads to main
tain rates without the pooling of rail-
roads?'
That's it." replied Mr.. Gallagher.
'Wel' said Mr.. Allen, that's another
name for the same thing"
Il. o. Stannard. of st. Louis. a flour
had been giving rates to wheat shippers
in discrimination against the -four manu-
facturers. This discrimination is so
great" he said, "that the British -four
wheat at least Is cents a barrel cheaper
than the same flour could be made here"
In conclusion, Mr.. STANDARD stated there
which would enable the railroads to con-
solidate or pool their interests.
70. p Wilson, OF Cincinnati, secretary
of the National Association of Manufac-
turers, said it was essential that the in
terstate commerce law be amended so that
the interstate commerce commission would
have some vitality and be able to do some
thing definite.
l.. b. Boswell, of Quincy, Ill. represent
ing the Quincy Chamber of Commerce and
Quincy freight bureau, urged congress to
come to the relief of shippers and rail-
roads whose action would be equitable and
fair
IL. w. Noyes. representing the National
Business League of Chicago, urged the
proposed legislation.
Edward p Bacon. of Milwaukee, a mem
Der of the finance committee of the
National Board Of Trade. said that, while
the railroads were anxious to pool their
interests, the National Board of Trade
was not in favor of pooling.
Mr.. Bacon maintained that while the
railroad companies might be afforded
some advantages, the proposed law would
be of vast advantage to the people,
C. B. Cole, of Chicago, H., miller, said:
"If this bill Is passed 1t will stop the dis
elimination in freight rates and 1t will
strike trusts a harder blow than any other
kind OF legislation"