The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-01-01
JdARCES LOBBY
DEFEATED BILLS.
Clark, Of Seattle, Accuses
Canadians of Activities
In Washington.
U. S. TRADE DIVERTED
With Loss of Revenue, Gained
in Turn by Foreigners.
Congress Influenced,

Congress Influenced.
Washington, Jan. III. N. sly
fhe Canadian railways have q lobby
at Washington, aided by officials of
the Canadian government, working
energetically and successfully in con-
gfess and with the departments to
shape railroad transportation legis-
alton generally to benefit the Cana
ian carrier systems and fisheries at
he expense of the American rail and
water carriers and the American
hsheries. Charges to this effect were
nled today with the house and SEN
ate interstate commerce committees
by William L. Clark, of Seattle,
H Wash.
II AS the Grand Trunk railway is
owned now by the Canadian govern
ment, Its lobby maintained at Wash
1ngton and in the legislatures of
some eight states of the United
H States is connected with and part
II y the official Canadian government,
II CLARK charged.
This Canadian railway lobby,
working upon the New England and
4 northern tSates senators, very re-
II Gently defeated in the senate pro-
II vision In the railroad bill which
would make effective the interstate
II commerce commissions control of
rates from, to and through a foreign
Icountry--a provision OF great finan-
lIcial value to American carriers, the
II Formal charges declared.
Il Clark is representative of the Pa
II cifc Steamship company, the sole
II surviving all-American water car
rier on the Pacific coast.
H Other successful accomplishments
Of the Canadian lobby and the diplo-
II matte agencies available for USE in
H the interests of that country, are
\ catalogued by Clark as follows:
II Laws which congress contem-
4 plated sufficient to protect American
/ built vessels in the exclusive occu-
L pancy of the coastwise trades have
| been set aside by departmental opin-
H ion rendered at the insstence of
Il these foreign lobbyists.
II Commerce Restricted.
II United States commerce by Ameri-
| an carriers has been restricted and
/ ht unbafanced through the medium
1 4 United States customs regulations
| doubtful conformity with law, but
,olcited by and for the benefit of
Canadian railways and their sub
,idiary steamship corporations. The
Canadian dummy corporation own
/ arship of American railways eX-
Il ends to steamships in contravention
Il Of United States statutes.
Il The United States fisheries on both
v Atlantic and Pacific coasts are re-
Illstricted and endangered by existing
Negotiations and the proposed trea-
/. uh Inv
\ government which would place the
American fisheries on a continental"
basis, or without regard to whether
II The beneflt accrues therefrom to the
Il United States or to Canada.
II Lobby In Washington.
II Existence of the Grand Trunk lobby
H Mt Washington was charged in debate
Il in the Canadian parliament by Hon
W V. Ross, who is quoted as saying:
p "'The Grand Trunk had their lobby
II at Washington and at the state leGis-
4 llatures and had their combinations with
" ,ll the other railroad copDanies. They
had perfect right to do that, and had
they not done so they would have had
to 20 under. The Canadian government
cannot form a lobby at Washington,
and Ia eight or nine legislatures, They
Hmay have their agents suddenly ordered
lout and their property contiscated.'
4 Mr. Clark says that as soon as the
wording and intent of the section max
ing effective the interstate commerce
1 commission control over rates from. to
4 and through q foreign country had been
adontcd by the senate in committee
| "thc Canadtnn Pacific Railway COM
jpanv and the Canadian government
owning the Grand Trunk railway and
Tits several subsidiaries within the
United States. began to exert their in
| fucnce i'm Washington and elsewhere
! 10 nrcvcrt tho senate from adopting
such provisions They were entirely sue
ccssful"
Net Profits.
That the business diverted to Ca
/ madam lines by cut rates is consider
4 able is demonstrated bv a statement
\ Of Hon NJ Robertson. minister of Ia
l hor to the Canadian parliament. who is
/ quoted as SAYING:
The profits derived from handling
,br American business over tho Ca
1 madam portion of the Grand Trunk
sysicm netted tho Crnud Trunk rail-
vav between $15.O00000 and S16000,0 000
Of rrofit"
n Commenting on this Clark SAYS:
Y These items do not include ell Of
IAba business of the T-1Ttod states di-
yarted thrcurh CanaSn The diversions
Of the Canadian Pacific greatly exceed
those bv the Grand Trunk In the main
bs trnff7c is hauled INTO Canada and
delivered into the T1nfted states via
/ .Fhgi0iarleS OF the tana'lan nneS. SO
] that the not revenues thnrrfron' End
t}eTr wav into foreign nockets. Those
| feeders Of Americon hueiress into Ca
raalan lines drop into Moline. Normont.
IN New England. New York. MICHIGAN,
! Wi-corsir. Minnesota. Montana. Idaho
and washington.
/ clark quoted Minister of Labor Rob
4 .-tson as saying That whom early IN
tte NcAdoo adr1inistra tion Of the rail-
roqFs an official was found who was
| ...7-frion llv to the Canadian lives" for
| ,,r7tolv the management of tho Grand
rank was able to get sone change
made in the personnel Of tho admins
ration" In conclusion. he declared
.-r-loss Cnrodian lines are prevented hv
'-., from divertinE American business
,--7v from American lines bv means of
ior- rates. admittedly Improbable n
| choir American suhsidiar rios freirht
-s-es IN the United States must be in
49, sed greatly. and he passed IN to the
rttfb1ff- with fha rfglfu1 rOn