Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-12-12
URGES CONGRESS
TO SEIZE CANALS

WASHINGTON, Dee. 12.-To wrest
control Of the Delaware and Raritan
Canal from the Pennsylvania railroad,
and Of the Delaware and Chesapeake
Canal from the canal company. and
thereby prevent the exaction Of exor-
bitant rates upon both canals, w. G.
[ Clarke, of Coustantia, n. y, viii ask
/ Congross to Investigate the charges he
lmakes and to pass legislation to REM
ledy the evils complained or
He says the Pennsylvania railroad
leases the Delaware and Raritan Canal
/ from the state OF New Jersey and de-
stroys its usefulness by making rates
so high that freights are diverted to
the Pennsylvania lines
These charges Mr.. Clarke presented
TO the recent Rivers and Harbors Com
gress here In the form Of a preamble
iand resolution. His proposition was
mot acted upon, and therefore he viii
appeal directly TO Congress. He is now
lat Constantia preparing evidence for a
congressional committee and win re-
turn here in a few days. when a reso-
LUTON viii be introduced in the House
provided for such an investigation as
Mr.. Clarke suggests
Reveals High Tolls.
This win probably follow closely the
lines Of the resolution presented by Mr..
Clarke to the Rivers and Harbors Com
grcss which Is as follows.
Whereas, The Pennsylvania railroad
monopoly controls, by lease only from
the state of New Jersey the great con-
Meeting water link between the States
OF New York and Pennsylvania, known
as the Delaware and Raritan Canal.
and said railroad monopoly. which is
only chartered 20 do a common carrier
business, IN order to divert canal traf-
fic 10 its lines, imposes an exorbitant
toll or tax upon products carried over
said canal, amounting to tariff from
80 cents TO $3.50 ton for q distance
Of only 43 miles, between the free Rar-
itan and free Delaware rivers, and,
Whereas, The Chesapeake and Dell
aware Canal monopoly. operating a
water line Of only IA miles IN length.
between the free Delaware river and
the free Chesapeake Bay, imposes a
discriminating tariff or toll Of from IS
cents TO 81 per ton upon products pass
ing between the State. in open viola
ton OF Article ], Section s. sub division
3. of the Constitution Of the United
States which says: Congress alone
shall have power 70 regulate commerce
between foreign nations and among
the several States and Article I. Sec
ton 9, subdivision 8. which says: No
preference shall be given by any reg
lulation Of commerce or revenue TO the
ports OF one State over those Of an
other nor shall vessels bound TO or
from one state be Obliged TO enter,
clear or pay duties in another
Consumers Suffer.
whereas, This extension Of tariffs.
miscalled tolls. on said canal by a pub
Ilic service land transportation railroad
monopoly arbitrarily enhances the nec-
essarios of life 10 the millions OF con-
lsumers, such as coal, merchandise and
the products OF the farm. mill and fac
tory 10 the injury alike Of the mill
lions OF producers of these staple ar
tlcles Of life while 1t builds up and
fattens the railroad. Standard Oil am
thracite and soft coal conspiracies of
Pennsylvania. Maryland and West Vir-
ginia; therefore, be Il
Resolved. That the National Rivers
and Harbors Congress. in convention
assembled. who are among those in
juriously affected by the imposition OF
such exorbtant canal tariffs miscalled
tolls, extorted from the commerce
passing between the State Of New
York, Pennsylvania. Maryland and
Iother States, do most respectfully but
earnestly petition the Congress Of these
United states 20 enact law al its
Forthcoming session I'm 1905 and 1907.
declaring that the Delaware and Rari-
tan Canal and the Delaware md CHEESE
apeake Canal and an other connecting
national waterways. free public wator
highways Of commerce and shipping.
I'm order that the sovereign people she'll
Ihenceforth and thereafter be entirely
relieved from the unconstitutional and
injurious toll, tax or tariff upon trade
and commerce passing between the
States"
There was little consideration of this
resolution IN the Waterways Congress
for the reason that the majority Of the
mombers, Interested I'm their PROPOSE
ton for a waterway from the Gulf Ia
the Lakes decided that Mr. Clarke's
proposition related only 20 local matter
and, therefore. should not be acted
upon II was in consequence permitted
to lie on the table.
mEarE-rwN uvWSUnEN