New-York tribune., 1906-06-13
ROADSzAID FOREIGNERS.
GIVE THEM LOWER RATES..
Practice Injuries American Trade,
Though Declared Legal.
rp-gn The Tribune Buresu.l

washington. June 1.-THE attention OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission has been cdiieu
TO unfair trade advantages given TO foreign I'M
nor+ers by the railroads Of the United States
Goods may be and shipped 10 points IN Ine
interior Of the country from ports abroad cheaper
than Il is possible for American business men 10
shin the same goods from New York TO the same
points.
The commission will within few days take
,,n q most aggravated case Of this kind. Accord
ing TO the testimony Of the complainants. a
hrn in Pittsburg it is possible for the plate
glass manufacturers at Antwerp 10 ship their
product TO Minneapolis more cheaply than the
Pittsburg people can get their glass to the same
city. Were il not for this railway discrimina-
ton, the complaints assert, such free trade
condition could not be possible, and they are de-
teruined to thrash the matter out and' IL pos
sible. put a stop to the advantage given the for
eieu manufacturers.
The discrimination practised by the railroads
against the American shippers IN favor of their
foreign competitors IS nothing new according
70 the officials OF the Interstate Commerce COM
mission Il has been discussed and declaiIneo
against for many years and has even been de-
clared legal by the Supreme Court Of the United
States.
I'VE fought the matter out in the supreme
Court some years ago said Judge Prouty' one
OF the Interstate Con rlerCe CoTIlTnlssloeFSs "
dav The court decided that the railroad COM
pary was justified in making lower rate TO tne
foreign shipper than 10 the local on the grouho
that IL had 10 make that rate in order to meet
the competition Of other carriers For instance
IN the pending plate glass case It may be shown
by the railway company that II is obliged to
make q low rate from the seaboard 10 Mn
neapolis Ia order 70 meet the heavy competition
at the latter point. There number OF
roads and q number Of water routes that might
be employed in the transportation Of freight
from Antwerp 10 Minneapolis. and in order 10
get the business Il IS possible that Pittsburg
may be Disseminated against Il may prove TO
be legal but ! think il IS out and out shame.
ana some means ought to be devised TO make
such q state Of things impossible
That the foreign manufacturers are being kept
thoroughly informed Of their advantage in this
regard IS made apparent Joy item which ap-
peared to-day in the Department Of Commerce
and Labors Consular and Trade Reports In this
little bulletin. under the caption Of Imports
Favored by the Railroads. appears the follow
ing article:
''The British Consul General in California, Dit
Bennett, informs British importers that the thFousn
bin of lading TO san Francisco is the key 10
b ssl ~ .,s--, - -, - - 80 @ rat from New York
10 san Francisco Is s. - FOR lO pounds; but or tne
csco fba ~aIa Is less tbar 81 T,e- 100 pounds Max
ing New York distributing centre for British in
ports IN California he says, is equivalent 10 using
q small and inconvenient 0ack1oor, Wfcn is haId
70 open, when large front GOGr equipped with all
conyeniences Tor handling freight Is standing
ing 20 Mr.. Bennett, the American railroads carry
European goods from New YORK 10 San Francisco
et less than one-half the rate they charge Aner1-
can producers