The Washington times., 1905-05-08
BONUS TO LEAVE COUNTRY

Mr. Gordon, II. P, Thinks Fair Rates
to Sea Would Make Farm
Products DeareT.
OTTAWA, Can, May S-The govern
nient has taken action in an extraordi-
nary state of affairs affecting nearly all
the leading industrial interests of the
country. The facts have Just come out
III the commons in connection with a
report of 4 subcommittee Of the COM
mittee on agriculture on railway rates
The report was taken up In the house
on motion to refer to the railway com
mission. The discussion revealed that
the railways OF the dominion have sue
eeeded in establishing a system of dis
elimination that is working seriops in
jury to producers, shippers and all allied
industries in districts chiefly where there
Is no competition between the COM
ptnies, and, in regard to export trade,
cenferring important advantages on
American interests.
Drives Canadians Away.
Mr.. Gordon, member of parliament for
East Kent. suggests whether the atti-
tude of the Canadian roads in these mat
ters is not responsible for driving Cana
dams TO establish, themselves in such
centers OF. activity as New York, Boston,
Chicago, and Detroit. He regards the adj
vantages secured TO manufactures and
farm products of the United States over
those of Canada by the action of the
Canadian roads as nothing less than
a bonus to producers to settle in the
United States and develop business in
the territories south Of the line served
by the lines so benefited.
He mentions Michigan as a strong il
lustrat:on of this position
One of the questions that have per-
picked Canadians for a long time, he
says. is why farm products should have
a higher value to the producer in the
United States than in Canada He
considers ii self-evident that IL the
Canadians had fairly prorortionate
freight rates TO the seaboard compared
with those given 80 american shippers
and the superiority in this respect to
which Ganada's geographical position
throughout the Dominion would not
merely be as high as in the United
States, but higher.
American Roads Gracious.
American roads passing through Ca
madam territory. he asserts, are will
ing TO accord 10 Canadians the same
privileges as they accord TO their own
people, bur are prevented doing so by
the action of the Canadian roads them
selves. In other words. the latter claim
the privilege OF entering the American
markets and carrying products at
whatever rates will secure business
while taking to themselves the right
OF preventing American roads from en-
fering Canadian territory and compet-
ing in like manner.
Had the territories within the Do
n11ni0n served BY these Cana dian roads
been accorded the same benefits as are
allowed The people of the United tSates.
II Is alleged, these portions Of the Do
mInIon would have been developed, and
farming and manufacturing Increased in
the same proportion as in the State of
Michigan and other parts of the Union
more particularly along the frontier
In the case made out for the investi-
cation of the railway commission a mass
OF testimony Is submitted in support of
the findings of the subcommitte4 An
example of through rates from Chicago
and Detroit illustrating d large number
OF actual contracts is worth noting.
Conditions in Canada.
A Chicago contract Is mentioned un-
der which half million bushels of corn
are being shipped from Chicago to Port
land, TO be delivered TO the steamer at
the rate of cents per 100 pounds, over
the Grand runk railway If the corn is
stopped eli route in Canada to be miiled
IN transit, the Canadian miller has TO
pay II. cents, and if he sells 1t for local
Use, - cents. This is characterized as
making Canada pay the expense Of haul
ing American corn from Chicago to the
seaboard. or in other words to Europe.
In another instance, a grain rate of 3
cents a busheI from Chicago 10 the head
of ocean navigation in Canada. Mon
treal, is given. which pays cents for
the water haul TO Midland. Georgian
bay. and 3 for the rail haul from Mid
land 70 Montreal But If Canadian
farmer at amy point along the Midland
railway has grain TO ship TO Montreal
he must pay three times and sometimes
four times as much rs is paid for the
Eaal from Midland 10 Montreal under
the through rate.
Lumber can be brought 10 points on
the Canadian side, competing in the Ca
madam markets with Canadian lumber.
from Chicago, Cincinnati and St Louis,
at lower rates than those at which lum-
Der can be moved from the Canadian
mills to the chief Canadian distributing
points The Canadian roads charge
higher rates for many descriptions of
products from Windsor. on the Canadian
side of the Detroit river. 10 British ports
Than they do 10 take the same kinds of
products the whole distance from Chi
caeo TO Great Britain.
Big Discrimination.
The discrimination is shown 10 range
from 81 10 as high as 50 per cent From
Detroit 10 the seaboard the rate on cat
tie Is three cents per 100 pounds less by
the Grand Trunk than II is on the
Canadian side From Gueipi- and Ham
ilton the rate is seven cents per 100
more than 10 American points Com
pairing local rates on the Michigan side
with those ou the Canadian side horses
cattle. sheep and pigs to Michigan points
are found To run on a Il average of three
and a half cents per loo pounds more TO
carry The stock iG1 miles II Canada than
299 miles In the United Statesfi. These
instances may serve 10 illustrate an
endless Igm1er, all pointing 10 the same
results = is conceded that IA tes on the
American. side should be lower than or
the Canadian side owing 10 the differ
cree in Iae quantities carried, but then
It is contcnded the actual difference is
far beVend what IL ought 10 be, anJ
In plain English, the effect take II ali
around, IS 10 damage the leading
branches Of Canadian trade to an almost
incalcuiahle extent. and a remedy must
be promptly found and applied. The
Government has sent the case tu tho
Railway Commission.
MITCHELL DELAYS VISIT