Show WEST MUST WATCH ITS FREIGHT RATES One ot of the tho receivers for the tho Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul Paul- railway has made a public state statement ment which will prove a source ot or strength to the men In the th WEst Who are fighting against rate rat dis- dis dis discrimination crimination affecting the th Inter Inter- Intermountain mountain mountain country In his testimony before the In- In Interstate In Interstate Commerce commission lark W V Potter formerly ot of that commission but now one on ot of o the receivers for the St St Paul road stated that In his opInion the Panama canal bad had not Injured the th western western railroads but had bad assist assIst- assIsted assisted ed Cd them by helping to develop the tha entire western country Mr Potter was asked It St the construction and end operation ot or the canal had bad tended te ded to dl traffic and revenue of ot his road joad and he ho replied relied I II 1 think tho the Panama canal as asan au alt explanation of the northern line Une lines hall Ms ha been very ory greatly over emphasized oer I am amnot amnot not at ill all convinced d that the northern lines or 01 an ny northern line Including the t laul t-i t would be better oft off tod yr tile tie Panama canal had not been constructed I do not think th Ih the St Paul Pa woula 1 have avo been better oft You can see business that Is moving through lh the canal and you can reason that the roads would have haveIt haveIt haveIt It It if the canal were not there But perhaps the tho business would not be there thero or perhaps other business would not hot b lib bo there I 1 haven't any doubt but buty that but that the effect ot or the Panama canal has hasteen teen Leen to develop th the coast as a whole promo promote to the prosperity or of orthe othe the coast coa t and I think by ly and large the railroads have bave been compensated through horn the tho canal which quite take tako care caro ot of any debit debita I But considering It Il by and large y yI 1 I do donot not belle believe the he Panama canal ca- ca canal canal nal Is a detriment lit itt all and I 1 thInk as a an explanation explanation I do not take any stock In It as an ex ox- explanation even of or the St Pauls Paul's dIsaster ter C Mr Potter told the tha Interstate Commerce commission that it he had his hi way the Milwaukee rail rail- railway railway railway way would have withdrawn from the fourth section application ashe as ashe aslie lie he did not believe this was necessary and the th commis commIs- commIssion commission sion did right In denying it Ho He saId the reason the tho Milwaukee did not withdraw was because they were afraid ot or the th pressure from rom the shippers shippers on one on sIde and from front the tb Associated Railroads on the tho other yr rr Potter said laid It If the western railroads got th the bus bus- business busIness iness mess that was now cow going to the tho Panama canal canol It would not amount to a fraction ot or one per percent percent percent cent of ot the th business ot of any par par- par particular line Une Mr Potter In that statement shows how pressure is li brought on even tho ho big railroads to force them to discriminate in favor or of ofa ota a shipping territory such luch Eucha as a Chi CM- Chicago ChIcago cago cage It is notice to this part of or the vest that the th business men must never relax their vigilance lu In seeing to it that freight rates rales rate are not destructive E Organized forces c are arc operating to gaIn advantages and those efforts must be resisted |