informed the steamship company that they would not receive any more goods for forward shipment unless in boxes, this completely tying me up. I called on Mr. Gill in reference to the matter. He told me it was a question of business with the railroads, and wanted to know what benefits the railroads would receive if they made any change. I inferred from this that it would be essential to bind myself to the Pennsylvania Railroad and guarantee this road all my shipments. Mr. Gill read to me portions of the letter accompanying my complaint forwarded to him by the Pennsylvania Railroad official, where he (the Pennsylvania Railroad official) requested that the classification remain as it was. Everything was arranged in case I called. I could see no clear way except to submit. The cost on $100 worth of wool, which is about only one-fourth more in weight than tubes-and you could not distinguish them apart when standing side by side-is about $1.60 to ship from Camden, N. J., to New Bedford, Mass., about 350 miles. The cost of cop tubes packed under the ruling of paper tubes in boxes would amount to between $22.50 and $25 for the $100 worth of tubes. To my knowledge, the Pennsylvania Railroad has not a single cotton mill on its whole line which uses these goods, and it is not essential to use this road in connection with this business. I claim the right to have the advantages of shipping my goods at the lowest rate, and this is what I propose to fight for. A person can not ship a plain trunk by freight, for the reason that this business belongs to the express companies, and you must ship your trunk in a box or hire a man to crate it; consequently it is cheaper to ship by express. Shipping at owner's risk will not allow the trunk to be shipped. This shows how the classification committee rules matters. My position is peculiar. Where my goods are most used is in New England and New York State. There are makers of goods like mine in New England, and they can deliver direct to the mill. I am about the only concern outside of New England, so that it makes the ruling severe. It is not a question with me whether I am deprived of my rights as an American citizen by some foreign power or some railroad. The Supreme Court of the United States can see its way clear to declare laws made by the different States, where discrimination is shown, to be unconstitutional, and in so doing uphold the railroads in committing the same acts that it is condemning, made by the States. The Constitution of the United States was constructed for the preservation of human rights, and is the only way it should be construed. Yours, truly, WM. J. MCCAUSLAND. RESOLUTIONS UTAH CATTLE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, April 7, 1902. The COMMITTEE ON INTERSTATE COMMERCE, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to inclose herewith a resolution adopted by the Utah Cattle Growers' Association in convention assembled, April 4, 1902, at Salt Lake City, Utah. Very respectfully, yours, WESLEY K. WALTON, Secretary. Whereas the operations of the Interstate Commerce Commission under the present law are absolutely worthless, for the reason that they have no power to enforce their decisions; and Whereas there has been introduced in the House of Representatives of the Fifty-seventh Congress, by Congressman J. B. Corliss, of Michigan, a bill amending the interstate-commerce act, correcting the evils and giving the Commission power to enforce its rulings, which has the unqualified indorsement of the Interstate Commerce Commission and shippers at large throughout the country; and Whereas the live-stock interests of the United States are heavy shippers, and therefore interested in anything pertaining to or governing transportation: Therefore, be it Resolved, That the Utah Cattle Growers' Association in convention assembled urge the members of Congress to vote for the passage of this amendment to the interstate-commerce act; and be it further Resolved, That the secretary of this association is hereby instructed to send copies of this resolution to the Committee on Interstate Commerce of the House, and also to write personal letters to the members of Congress and Senators from this State urging that they work for the passage of this measure. President Utah Cattle Growers' Association. Secretary. STATEMENT BUFFALO LUMBER EXCHANGE. Hon. W. P. HEPBURN, BUFFALO, N. Y., April 14, 1902. Chairman Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: This exchange has been advised that a public hearing on the act to regulate commerce, known as H. R. 8337, is to be held before your committee Tuesday, April 15. It has been found impossible to send a delegation from this exchange to appear on the date mentioned before your honorable body, and I am therefore directed to address this letter to you in lieu of such representation. This exchange has already indorsed the bill referred to on several occasions by resolution, and whenever the matter has been presented to it it has gone on record as being heartily in favor of such legislation as this bill represents. It is, as we understand it, intended to give to the Interstate Commerce Commission the powers which were originally intended for it, but which have been so curtailed by adverse decisions of the Supreme Court that it is now practically powerless. The lumber merchants represented in this exchange feel that such legislation as is contemplated in this bill is of paramount importance to the future welfare of their business. They have found that there is now no such thing as competition in freight rates, and they fear to be left in the unrestricted control of the railroads over which they are compelled to ship. What we ask is an open field for all, with a prohibition of pools intended to restrict competition, with such legislation as will forever prevent special favors to the fortunate few. We believe that the bill referred to will accomplish results which we desire, and respectfully urge upon your committee its prompt report to the House for favorable consideration. Yours, respectfully, KNOWLTON MIXER, Secretary. RESOLUTIONS OF INDIANA GRAIN DEALERS' ASSOCIATION. Hon. JAMES J. BUTLER, CAMBRIDGE CITY, IND., January 24, 1902. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: In compliance with the instructions of the Indiana Grain Dealers' Association in their convention at Indianapolis, Ind., January 8, I herewith inclose you copy of resolution passed. Soliciting your support of the same, and assuring you that any evidence thereof will be heartily appreciated, I am, Yours, very respectfully, S. B. SAMPSON, Secretary Indiana Grain Dealers' Association. Resolution adopted by the Indiana Grain Dealers' Association, at Indianapolis, January 8, 1902. Resolved by the grain dealers of the State of Indiana in convention assembled, That we recommend the passage of the amendments contained in the Bacon bill for the purpose of regulating the interstatecommerce law now before the Congress, and that the secretary be instructed to mail a copy of these resolutions to each member of Congress and the Senate. STATEMENT BLACKWELL MILLING AND ELEVATOR COMPANY. BLACKWELL, OKLA., February 19, 1902. Hon. DENNIS T. FLYNN, DEAR SIR: We beg to invite your attention to bill offered in the House by Mr. Corliss, of Michigan, and similar bill presented to the Senate by Mr. Nelson, of Minnesota, based upon the recommendations of President Roosevelt, conferring upon the Interstate Commerce Commission increased powers with respect to regulating rates for transportation and enforcing their rulings on same. The milling interest of Oklahoma, which if properly fostered is just in its infancy, is vitally interested in this legislation, and we hope you will find it consistent and possible to work for and support these bills as energetically and enthusiastically as you have all other measures looking to the welfare of Oklahoma. Below will be found some figures upon which we base the statement that our Territory has been grievously discriminated against during the past year in that extra ordinarily low rates have been made on wheat while but slight concessions have been granted on flour, thus making it possible for the grain exporters to denude the Territory of its milling stocks to the great detriment of the Oklahoma mills. In the first eight months of 1900, this country exported 58,856,100 bushels of wheat, and 12,256,097 barrels of flour, a percentage of 50 per cent in flour. In the first eight months of 1901 we exported 123,290,843 bushels of wheat and 12,795,453 barrels of flour, a percentage of 33 per cent in flour. Railroad men say this shrinkage in the flour per cent is owing to the fact that the extra demand for wheat comes from such countries as France, Germany, Italy, etc., which do not permit American flour to enter. All right, but here is a statement of exports to Great Britain. In the first eight months of 1899 we exported to Great Britain: This shows an enormous falling off in flour exported during the past year as compared with corresponding years, and in proof of our assertion that this is entirely due to the discrimination in favor of wheat as against flour, we refer to the Commission's. report, as sent to Congress, of the hearing had at Kansas City on January 9, 1902, where it was freely admitted by traffic officials of the various lines interested as well as representatives of the grain exporters, that-grain had been shipped at a reduction of from 5 to 10 cents per hundred pounds from published tariffs. The milling industry of our Territory is the most important of all the manufacturing enterprises we have, and if given the same advantages in the way of rates that are accorded the raw material the mills of Oklahoma can make for themselves and for the Territory a worldwide reputation. They employ much capital and labor and are a potent factor in the development of the country, and all Oklahomans cherish a pardonable pride in these growing institutions, but in order that the milling industry may be fostered and these enterprises not blasted forever, it is necessary that they receive some consideration at the hands of the railroad companies. We hope and believe that the Interstate Commerce Commission, if endowed with the powers which it is sought to confer upon them by the bills above referred to, will take immediate steps to bring about a readjustment of the traffic arrangements which have so seriously handicapped our business the past year, and without doing any injustice to any section or line of business, make it possible for us to regain the ground we have lost in the foreign markets on our flour, and again make the spectacle of Oklahoma brands a familiar one in the marts of the Old World. Again hoping that you will be able to lend material assistance to the movement and promising you all the support possible at this distance, we are, Very truly, yours, BLACKWELL MILLING AND ELEVATOR CO., Per C. W. BLEULER. ATLANTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Hon. W. C. ADAMSON, ATLANTA, GA., April 16, 1902. House of Representatives, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: I have your favor of the 14th instant, and thank you for the opportunity of placing before the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce the facts of the situation at Atlanta. Atlanta probably suffers more from discrimination in freight rates than any city of its size and importance in the United States. This city is 1,052 feet above the sea level, and rests on the crest of the divide between the watersheds of the Atlantic and the Gulf. The physical topography is very much like that of the freight situation. We suffer in comparison with other cities on freight from the West, and also on freight from the East. For example: Grain dealers in Nashville have a rebilling privilege, which enables them to stop grain and hay en route from the West at Nashville, examine and grade it, and forward to final destination on at hrough rate, whereas such shipments, if stopped in Atlanta en route from the West, get a through rate only to Atlanta, and thence take a local rate to the final destination. The result of this discrimination has been to transfer a large part of the business in these commodities from Atlanta to Nashville. In comparison with Savannah, Augusta, and other points in the Southeast, Atlanta suffers severely. Of course, it is to be expected that points on the tide water will receive lower rates than inland cities, but this matter has gone to an unwarranted extreme. For example, the rate on window glass from Pittsburg to Savannah is 31 cents per 100 pounds; the rate on the same commodity from Pittsburg to Atlanta, up to a few months ago, was 66 cents per 100 pounds. There has been a reduction from 66 cents to 57 cents, and more recently to 53 cents, per 100 pounds; but the disparity is still so great that the Pittsburg Plate Glass Company, which does an immense business, and had established Atlanta as its Southern headquarters, intending to manufacture mirrors here for the whole of the Southeast, has been compelled to transfer its manufacturing department, with a pay roll of about $1,000 per week, to Savannah. Thus an Atlanta industry gives Savannah about 50 or 75 hands and a population of from 300 to 500 on account of this discrimination. I could name a half dozen other Atlanta concerns which have been forced to establish warehouses at Savannah and other seaports in order to handle heavy goods. The Pittsburg concern to which I allude was willing to stand a differential of 14 cents in favor of Savannah, because Atlanta's central |