Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1900-01-27
Senate Committee on Commerce
Gives a Hearing to the
Shippers. 81
Pending Bill Favored by the Ma
tional Millers' Repre-.
sentative.
Some Would Resuscitate the Old
.- .-. d.. .-...... .., .fritff ~
Joint Traffic Associa-
tiOn.

WASHINGTON, Jan, 27.-The senate
committee on commerce gave a hearing
to the representatives Of number of
business organizations throughout the
country in 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
National Millers'' association, and the
accredited representative Of the National
League Of Industrial Associations. He
commended the pending bill, saying
that it had been framed with view to
doing justice to both the shipper and
carrier. He condemned the present law,
saying that it had become impotent and
valueless, and the interstate commerce
commission was nothing more than a
moot court.
Big Ones Not in This.
In reply to questions from Senator
Tillman, Mr.. Barry said the Standard
oil, the sugar trust and the large -four
ing mills Of the Northwest and grain
elevator interests were not cooperating
in this movement. He had no direct
information on the subject of favorit-
ism, bnt he called attention to the re-
cent change of freight classiications
made by the railroads, which, he said,
left carload rates on oil practically where
they were, while it raised the rate on
fractional carloads from 200 to 300 per
cent. 1t was not difficult to see that this
was in the interest Of the Standard Oil
company. Mr. Barry expressed the
opinion that the Minneapolis millers
were receiving discriminatory rates
from the railroads.
Discrimination Against Flour.
Mr.. Barry also made complaint against
the railroads for discrimination in
favor Of wheat for export, as
against -four for export. He thought
the discrimination was due to the fact
that many of the railroad men were
large owners in the elevators Augustin
Gallagher of St. Louis, commissioner of
the Millers' National association, spoke
especially of the interests of the millers
in the proposed legislation. He said that
the railroads were not content with con-
trolling the mines and forest; they were
now attempting to control the neces-
saries Of life along their lines. He con-
tended that the railroads of the Middle
West, SO far as the grain interests are
concerned, are practically parceled out
by large firms in Chicago and other
cities.
Would Be Very Beneficial.
Mr.. Gallagher, in response to an in
quiry of Chairman Cullom, said he
firmly believed the adoption of the
amendment proposed by the National
Board Of Trade would produce results
immensely beneficial to the whole peo-
pie.
Further along Mr.. Gallagher said the
expectation Of wheat from the United
States last year was about 148,O0O, 900
bushels, possibly 60 per cent of which
went to the British isles The labor
cost of producing -four, he said, was
something more than 20 cents barrel,
and of course that amount was lost to
the labor Of this country on the exported
wheat. In answer to question of Ny.
Chandler, Mr.. Gallagher said that the
National Millers Association and the
National Board of Trade were favorable
to such legislation as would restore
practically an organization similar to
the recent Joint Traffic Association.
Z "You are here today, then," said Mr..
Chandler, "to anvocate railroad trust
with 81, 100, 100000 capital. Is it not in
effect a fact that you propose to organize
a gigantic railroad trust which is to
abolish all competition in traffic
rates.?' 5 ~,
''As member Of the N ational Milling
association and Of the National Board of
Trade, deny that I have any such in
tention. lido not and they do not advo-
cate anything Of the kind" replied Mr.
Gallagher. a' e<@=+
Another Name for the Same Thing.
"You understand, take it, said Mr..
Chandler, '.that the great mass of ship
pers want an organization similar to the
old Joint Traffic association"
t.They do,' replied Mr.. Gallagher. eff
the resolution adopted by the National
Board of Trade does not convey that
idea, I ask this committee to prepare
one that win. !"
."Well, said Mr.. Chandler, .ssome Of
us politicians cannot understand why
the National Board of Trade and Ma
tienal Millers association should desire
the establishment of q railroad trust,
the idea Of which is to crush railway
competition.
We do not want to crush competi-
t;au !, ranlif,d Mr. CyaJlaphar gtand xrbat