The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-04-13

enables the trusts to force the home price
up to the level of he foreign prices plus
the amount of the tariff duty. In THIS
way the trusts compel the American peo-
Pile to buy all the products Of the trusts
at an eXtoribtant figure, and the result Is
that the comparatively few trust mag
mates become enormously wealthy at the
expenses Of the masses OF the people.
The other cause or condition greatly
favorable to the trusts Is the favoritism
shown to them by our great railroad
mcnopoliss and combines in granting
them wholesale Determinations and re-
bates IN freights. This practice Mr..
Chairman, has become general and has
deN eloped into national scandal and dis
grace Many instances have been brought
to light by the Investigations Of the In
terstate Commerce Commission and the
testimony In recent hearings before the
Industrial Commission has served to
thoroughly awaken the public to the
great Importance of This subject. From
this testimony it became apparent that
the most potent factor IN establishing
and maintaining monopolies has been pre-
| fercntial or discriminating rates Of freight
by common carriers given ty rebates or
otherwise. In brief, the railroad mon
cpciCs have made a practice ard are
making a practice Of standing in with
The trust molopolies ana secretly giving
them much more favorable rates of
freight than are given to the smaller
manufacturing concerns or to individuals
and much smaller rates than the publish
ed tariff Of freight rates allow. In this
way the railroads help the trusts to I'M
dersell ard ruin their small competitors.
This is a scandal Of the first magnitude,
ara, as ! have already said, it supplies
one of the strongest arguments in favor
Of liberal appropriations for the improve
ment If our Internal waterways.
1t is a reflection on the business iudg-
ment and sagacity of the committee in
charge OF this important subject to even
suggest the abandonment of this great
project. While the report deals literally
with my state, it deals unjustly with my
district and the Coosa River, which Is by
far the most important undeveloped
waterway within her borders. | appri-
cate the liberal appropriations you have
pre- vided for the Warrior river, in the dis
trict of my distinguished colleague (Mr
Banllhead), who is a member of your
committee, and also the other appropria-
TONS MADE for Alabama but in behalf of
justice, equity and right ! appeal TO the
members of this House to protect the
million and a half already expended on
the Coosa River, to save my people from
this gross injustice, and to consult the
best interests of this whole country by
l'voting fer my amendment TO keep this
project alive. ut least To cut it off now
would nullfy all the work previously done
and the $1,5oO000 already spent, which
has greatly benefited that section of the
country in which this Improvement has
been made. The section that has been
mostly benefited is on the northern end
of the Coosa, represented by my dstin-
guished colleague (Mr. Burnett, who will
follow me.
But, Mr. Chairman, l submit that if
the Government is in earnest about open
ing this stream and giving the people of