The record-union., 1894-08-07

practical politics entirely familiar to him.
IN the course of three years-for we make
history rapidly in this conntry--the
Judgment of the statesman as to the
nature and scope of the functions Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission was
fully vindicated by the practical exper-
fences of the commission in their admin
istrations of the provisions OF the Act
to Regulate Commerce." and these ex-
periences are sharply expressed in GER
tain brief, but eloquent statistics.
IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE
Just how this has come about. From
the beginning the Interstate Commerce
Commission has been dominated by gen.
tlemen of acknowledged ability, OF highly
respectable legal attainments, and of
unquestioned force and purity of char
acter-just such men as were needed in
order to administer an office welding the
authority of the moral purposes of this
great nation. The results of their exper-
fences, as expressed in their last annual
report submitted December l, 1893, fully
vindicate the forecast and political sagac-
ity of the statesman. In brief the teach
ings of those experiences in the language
OF the commission are as follows:
(d) The administration of the commits
sion has been instrumental in enlighten-
ing the public mind, and in reforming
the views of railway managers.
10y The work of regulation is continu-
ally progressing in different ways.
tc) The civil and criminal proceedings
in the State and Federal Courts is being
successfully performed, and,
t0D The successful performance of the
functions of the commission under the
provisions of the existing law are
demonstrated by the following figures:
While hundreds of complaints were
heard and settled through the mediatorial
and advisory Offices OF the commission
only sixteen cases came to a formal hear
ing and determination, of which not to
exceed eleven were decided against the
railroad companies. In only one of those
cases were the reasonableness of rates
called in question, and in that solitary
case the judgment Of the commission was
against the complainant. So the statis-
tical expression of the results of the
commission in regulating the abuses of
railroad system 100000 miles in extent,
and subserving the commercial and social
interest of great nation, whose popula-
ton stands at about 10000, 900, and whose
annual commerce is valued at 25, 900, ,000,-
900, is expressed in the following figures:
No. of cases of unreasonable rates............. o
No. of cases of unjust discrimination
ELOQUENT FIGURES.
In the entire range of my statistical in
vestigations and computations | have
met no such eloquent figures as this hum
ble zero, and this instructive little num-
ber eleven. They triumphantly vindicate
the forecast and political sagacity of Sen
ator Cullom III basing the powers of the
commission mainly upon moral forces,
they do credit to the commissioners, they
reflect honor upon the country, and they
illuminate the civilization of the age in
which we live
AN APPARENT ERROR
Was made in the original Interstate
Commerce Act, against the views of the
Senate, whereby the railroads were de-
barred from make traffic agreements
necessary by their operation as one great
system of transportation, but an amend
ment of the law curing that defect is now
pending, and hopefully will become law.
VALUE OF STATISTICS.
And now, Mr.. Chairman, in conclusion
permit me to add that while discard the
idea that statistical inquiry is in itself
separate science, and while l long ago
abandoned the idea that the problems of
this life can be figured out, perceive the
ineStimable value of statistics which eX-
press the lessons of perience and which
record the success or failure of legislative
attempts to sustain sound political princi-
pies. In my humble opinion, it is in this
Iield OF inquiry and demonstration that
the statistician who aims high will
achieve his grandest successes and reap
his most abundant reward.