Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1887 — INTERSTATE COMMERCE. [ARTICLE]

INTERSTATE COMMERCE.

A petition was received Thursday by the Interstate Commission from the East Tennessee Farmers’ Association complaining that the agricultural interests of East Tennessee are persistently discriminated against by the railroad companies, and praying for a fair trial of the interstate law for a period of time sufficient to determine whether or not its enforcement will prove beneficial or detrimental to the business interests at large. Alexander McCloud, General Freight Agent of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad Company, made an argument before the Interstate Commission in support of the petition of that company' to be relieved from the operation of the long and short haul clause. He said the road had been forced by the law to relinquish its grain trade for the reason that the short trunk lines crossing the road fixed the rates so low that they could not be met if local rates were to be reduced in proportion. The suspension would work no discrimination or injury to anyone or the rates established by the hunk lines, and the only .question was whether his road should be allowed to do part of the business at these rates or should be excluded from it. Mr. Green, representing the Michigan Central, gave notice that he had filed a complaint against the Chicago and Grand Trunk charging it with selling thousnnd-mile tickets to commercial travelers for S2O, while the general public is required to pay for the' same tickets $25, in violation of the interstate commerce law. As an order has already been made for the appearance of the company complained against, Mr. Green deferred his argument until it should be represented. F. B. Stahlman, Third Vice President of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, appeared before the Interstate Commerce Commission Friday; to answer statements made by Commissioners Fink . and feauit, of the Queen and Crescent Route. He said that if there was any exception anywhere on this continent that called for relief under the fourth section, the whole Southern system of railroads was that exception. By an elaborate statement of rates Mr. Stahlman sought to remove what he called a mistaken impression, to the effect that Southern firihoads had deliberately gone to wolk to build up Alabama interests at the expense of other sections of the country. The rates were fair and equitable, and the® people were satisfied with them. He was not aware of any necessity for relief in the matter of pig-iron rates at points on his own line, but he did desire relief on through traffic to New York. The Chairman suggested that such an order would be futile unless other connecting lines joined. Mr. Stahlmin replied that the Lake Erie and Western was So situated that it could unite with his road on a $4 rate to New York without violating the law.