New-York tribune., 1900-11-25
THE "EsCOLITA" STREET IN MANILA PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

lobby be organized for the purpose of endeavor-
ing effect the passage OF the Culiom bill, which
seeks to amend the Interstate Commerce Law and
to extend the powers OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
The statement made that this bill is the
calendar OF the Senate" while true. is decidedly
dsingenuous the measure is on the Senate
calendar with an adverse report of the committee.
which recommends that 1t be not passed.
II cannot fail 10 be Interesting 10 inquire what
this measure contains which calls for this extraor
Cinary proceeding. in which Il so-called League"
proposes to drive through Congress a bill which
after many hearings and great pressure at the last
session. failed to command the support OF ma
jorlty OF the Senate committee.
Il is universally conceded that the Interstate
Commerce law requires amendment. and 1t would
TO he entirely practicable for proper amend
ments to hc formulated In which all important in
terests affected might The so-called "Cul-
om b' seriously objected TO at the recent
St Louis meeting by James NJ. Langley repre-
sentng the Merchants Association Of New-York
II objected to before the Senate committee
last spring with sutficent seriousness 70 bring
about adverse report from the committee.
What is the milk in the cocoanut?
While the so-called League consists OF a large
number OF commercial bodies in different parts Of
the United States its chief strength is in the
Mississippi Valley. The parties most prominent in
its organization the interior milling interests
located at Minneapolis. St Louis and other West
ern points. and persons connected with the jobbns
trade at Chicago. Cincinnati. etc. What do these
people want and what do they expect to accom-
plish by the passage of the Cullom bill?
This till. which is long one contains many
amendments t" the law which arc desirable and
In respect to which the recommendations Of the
Commission have been quite generally approved.
One OF the chief criticisms which has been made
upon the measure is that 1t is absolutely one-sided
and while placing many restrictions and
no
try. affords them no protection and makes their
observance of the law more difficult than 1t
is AT he present time This feature OF the case is
however apparently ignored by the Western
League. which still demands that the bill be
passed ana appoints an executive committee OF
hve members with full power TO carry on the
"ork OF bringing the influence Of the commercial
ana industrial organizations OF the country TO bear
upon members CT Congress, who shall spend such
uine IN Washington as may necessary to ac-
compnsh the purpose" and which also recon-
menus mat each body represented in the conven-
ton send one more delegates to WASHINGTON
upon the reaSsembing Of Congress to work for the
enactment OF the bill
Inc feature in the bill which is deemed by these
western interests of sufficient consequence TO
warrant the adoption of these extraordinary meas
ures Is what they pleased to term the pre-
Nehtl"n OF discrimination between localities
Inc Dill does not define the term 'discrmina-
uon' nor does 1t undertake to say in what undue
poses 10 turn over these questions TO the absolute
determination of the Interstate Commerce Com
l'lSsloh under amendments which provide that the
decision OF the Commission shall not be STAYED
moro 'han sixty days unless the Court upon mere
inspection of the papers shall he of opinion that
the Commission is wrong
Now, what is called Discrimination, In railroad
rates between localities is always believed to exist
"hen given locality fails to do certain business
"heh 1t has the facilities do and which 1t
"ould like to do. Desiring a larger share for IT.
seii each locality attacks the adjustment Of rail-
way rates and desires that rates shall he read
Iusue so that II shall be able do business which
eUfsting handled elsewhere. and calls every such
phIeJuulce pre- For example The presiding oficer at
miller, asserted that Under present conditions
NJ M the railroads discriminating in favor of the
@ Wneat; the millers of Germany and England can
we can Tut Nv with our grain product cheaper than
the Gin put In the market In his apprehension
fnnr 5aHlun nun and minimum rates. so adjusted that
tage than 3 wb n unes be exported 10 better advan
imnortant iM.eat thus destroying one of the most
Iibch CIT @ interests in the seaboard cities through
materiaL Again, the jobbers in Western cities for
were loudly proc aimed their belief that they
are detpp states tat They think the seaboard cities
want more 'oS of II much business In that region and
t, rnas absolute power be conferred upon the Com
continuance Of these so-cailed !"e
WHICH m , OF the foregoing Illustrations and others
the Merchants Association Of SewYork ss sn to
SS,,iSor, nne demand made for the passage
I. Guilo.n oill which proposes to confer upon the
!n'eIState i! Commerce Commission absolute power
10 10 W.s estaplsh the precise adjustment of railway
10 oe applied upon any and all railway traffc
IN ths the land without defining the meaning
n snng any legislative rule whatever be applied
more more business than it transacts
= ne reason given by the Merchants Association
- ., 'nsly sufhctent for the position which IL
son VIZ that the Interstate Commerce Commits
a son as now constituted Is not proper body to
pass upon such intricate and far-reaching ques-
o IONS as would come before IT under the enlarged
po"eIs which the bill proposes to confer.
oroaoer reason. however. exists in the fact that
such questions cannot safely be determined by
any human agency whatsoever. but should be left
To- 10 tne control of the competitive forces which
our soC,al system rests ALDACE F. WALKER.
New-York Nov. q 1900