Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-25

new CABLE SERVICE
Competing Line 10 Cuba Favored by
Business Men.
ACTION OF NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE
Discussion Of Railway Rates for
Carrying the Mails.
PROC FEE DING OF TODAY
CTION OF NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE
CEEDING OF TODAY

The third days session of the national
board of trade was held today in the BAN
quet hall of the Shoreham Hotel. The
delegates were rather prompt in arriving,
and at 10 o'clock, the hour named for open
ing the proceedings, the attendance was
good. A good deal was accomplished yes
terday, when final action was reached on
the important matters of one cent postage
and the merchant marine, and those who
have attended previous meetings consider
that good progress has been made thus far
in disposing of the business before the
board.
The first subject that came up today was
report from the committee in regard
to additional cable service to Cuba,
presented by Mr.. E. G. Preston of Bos-
ton. He stated that the service was
now exclusively in the hands of the West
ern Unicn Company. and additional facil-
tiles We're needed. A resolution was re-
ported Urging upon Congress the passage
of legislation which will allow the laying
of competing line between Cuba and the
United States. Mr.. Preston stated that
since competition had been threatened the
rates had been reduced from 40 cents a
word for messages from New York to Ha-
vana to 10 cents per word. 1t was also
stated that the business between these
countries ought not to depend on one line.
The report was adopted.
Railway Transportation.
A report from the committee on railroad
transportation was submitted by Mr.. F. B.
Thurber of New York. 1t was pointed out
that an adjustment of rates advantageous
both to shippers and to the railroads could
be made if the law permitted tine railroads
to make agreements under the supervision
of the interstate commerce commission.
While the committee believed that ma
1or1ty of the shippers desired stable ra ties,
yet there was d selfish minority that found
an advantage In maintaining the present
chaos in freight charges.
The committee further expressed the
opinion that there should be some system
for the classification of freight Mr. Thur
Der stated that this was the report of the
committee of last year and no further ac-
ton was asked than that it should be made
a part OF the proceedings of the board,
which was SO ordered.
He then submitted the report of the COM
mittee appointed at this meeting, which in
dorsed Senate bill No. 1889 introduced by
Mr. Cullom, with an amendment allowing
railroads to have associations for the
maintenance of fair rates for the trans
portation of persons and property, which
rates are to be filed with the interstate
commerce commission. Mr.. Thurber stated
that this report was signed by all the mem
beers of the committee with the exception
or Mr.. Coates of Philadelphia, who desired
to be heard.
Mr. Coates then took the floor and said
that he favored the Cullom bill in so far as
II allowed railroads to make rates under the
supervision of the interstate commerce
commission, but he objected 20 comforting
upon the interstate commerce commission
the power of passing upon all questions of
disagreement in regard to such rates He
believed this latter provision would result
either in government ownership of railroads
or the repeal of the interstate commerce
commission law.
Substitute offered.
He offered as a substitute for the major
ity report the resolutions adopted at the
meeting of the board of last year. which
proposed to amend the interstate commerce
law by making the findings of the commits
sion enforceable unless upon appeal to the
courts they are found to be unjust or I'M
lawful; by enforcing absolute publicity of
all rates, rules and regulations affecting
transportation of persons or property; by
the infiiction of several money penalties for
violation of the rates, by enabling carriers
to make regulations and by providing
classification of freight.
1t was pointed out in the course of the
discussion which followed that the ma ority
report indorsing the Cullom bill was the
outcome of a compromise, as was the bill.
There We're features which We're objection
able to many but 1t was maintained that
the situation would be SO much improved
by the passage of the proposed measure
that the different interests had concluded
to yield something in order to secure the
proposed legislation. 1t was also thought
that the power now vested in the railroads
of appealing from the decision of the COM
mission. and thus holding that decision in
allegiance for years until the opinion of the
court of last resort was made, affected in
juriously the interests of the people of the
country.
For this reason, 1t was argued, the decis-
icns of the commission, as soon as reached,
should be made enforceable and only set
aside when the courts had so decided.
An appeal was made for united action
in support of the Cullom BILL as it was
claimed 1t represented the outcome of the
discussion and work Of the board for years
past, and promised a settlement of many
% the difficulties which beSet the business
men of the country. 1t was asserted that
the commission is now powerleSs to en-
force it's decisions, and its conclusions have
no more practical force than those of a
debating society.
Upon the conclusion of the discussion,
which was quite lengthy, the substitute Of
fered by the minority of the committee was
lost by an overwhelming vote, and the ma
jCrity report was then adopted by the
same vote.
Anti-ScalpinE Bill.
From the same committee Mr. Thurber
offered a resolution favoring the passage
of the bill now pending in Congress known
as the anti-scalping bill, which was
adopted
Mr.. Andrews of Pittsburg made a re-
port from the committee on postal affairs
favoring legislation by Congress to rem
cdy the abuses of the Second-class mail
matter system, and thus do away with the
deficit in postal revenues, which stands in
the way of the adoption of 1-cent letter
postage This section of the report was
adopted.
The committee further reported favorably
the proposition made by the Washington
board of trade favoring the immediate
adoption of local 1-cent letter postage, or
what are known as drop letters. This was
adopted, as well as a reaffirmation of the
advocacy of the board of the adoption of
1-cent letter postage generally at as early
a date as possible.
1t was stated in regard to the proposition
of the committee favoring the adoption of
cheap parcel post system that merchants
in the smaller centers, especially in the