The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-05-04

1HeTce commission Will resume its 1nVeStl-
cation into flour rates of the Minnea polis-
Chicago lines.
From certain significant occurrences our
ing the past week, it is evident that the
commission is using the interim to good
advantage. for it develops, among other
things, that the representatives OF the
commission, who in St. Paul. have
served subpoenas upon certain employees of
the local milling concerns, and that sew
<ral additional witnesses among the rail-
road men have been summoned. 1t is
evident that the commission intends 70
make a record Of its efforts in this commu-
nifty, and meantime the persons whu
interested are far from being in a happy
frame Of mind.
There has been a growing feeling In the
minds OF many people, and particularly
among the congressman, during the past
rev Year,, that the Interstate Commerce
Commission is not of as much benefit to the
commercial interests of tine country
those who originated the movement were
led to believe it would be- If it ever was
Of any value it has outlived its usefulness.
they say. 1t cert2:iiiy has never been able
to accomplish as much was expected OF
It, Ii has secured but very few con-
victions for violation Of the Interstate
commerce laws, and each case has been one
of minor Importance Its original object
was to protect the public against the avar-
ice of railroad corporations, but its influ-
ence has never been felt in one direction or
the othec In fact, the traffic combinations
OF the railroad COMPANIES have done far
more toward preventing eNtOrtion or whole
sale rate cutting than the commission has
ever done. The many petty requirements
Of the commission, such as the filing of tar
iffis making of annual detailed reports and
many other even less Important duties I'M
posed by the interstate laws. the cause
OF great annoyance and large expense to
the railroad companies of the country, and
are of no particular benefit to the public or
the railroads. Statistics aud the various
data now compiled by the commission
could easily be taken care of in other and
less expensive ways.
ITS PROVISIONS TOO RIGID.
The interstate commerce act would be
far more beneficial if it were more elastic.
Some of its important provisions are too
rigid to be practically applied to transport
tation. In general terms the United States
supreme court, n the trans NJ ssouri case,
ruled that associations for the Mainte
nance of rates We're illegal under the anti
trust act" Therefore it follows that there
must be unrestricted competition. The in
terstatc commerce act in its operations is
directly opposed to this, ard seeks to pre-
vent competition.
The interstate commerce act and COM
mission could be made beneficial, and it
Is believed by many that if the penalty
clause was amended to a good round fine
and the corporation made responsible in
stead of the individual it would have far
different effect and would result in closer
observance of the rules. AS it now stands,
according to the statements Of railroad
official, it makes a criminal of an indiv-
dual, where there is no motive for crime,
and a violation of the act is not a crime
but technical violation of the law If
proper recognition were given to the res
possibility of the corporation in the MAIN
tenance of the law, and not so much to the
! officer of that corporation, the commission
would have less ground for complaint.
The commission recently issued an in
vitation to the public to ask it any ques-
lions that it pleases, and promises to fur
nish without cost, full and authentic in
formation concerning railway facilities
charges for any freight passenger SER
vice, capitalization and operation of rail-
ways, the working Of the Interstate COM
merce law, how it has been interpreted
by the commission and the courts, and in
what respects public rights have been
benefited or otherwise affected" Regard
Ing this invitation the Railway Age says:
1T is simply deplorabe that one should
Fave to regard a public board, such as
the interstate commerce commission, with
suspicion, and we are almost ashamed to
express that suspicion. None the less it is
impossible not to be suspicious and nobody
is to blame for the fact but the commission
itself. The subject of how the law has
! been interpreted by the commission and the
use in attempting to ignore the fact that
the commission, especially in it's last an
unal report, has shown itself incapable of
| discussing the subject with impartiaity
Indeed, in discussing it, the commission has
| not refrained whether from ignorance or
| WHAT from STOPPING to misstatements of
! facts. Instead of being impartial it's has
! Eeen violently partisan, and this public in
| Vltat1on looks unpleasant as if the commits
| sion was seeking less to enlighten the
| n RI init
| ing it's own peculiar doctrine and pleading
| it's own cause
! The commission, it is further said. is
| evidently determined that it must make a
| death struggle,-an attempt to overcome
| the increasing convictions of it's useless
| ness.
| WILL BROADEN IT'S SCOPE.
1t is said that when the commission re-
sumes its investigation in ST. Paul, Nav
! rs. it will not confine itself to flour rates
| 1t is said it will demand a reason why the
local roads have not obeyed the order re-
| Gently issued to the effect that railroad
| companies should state what storage thew
i would allow shippers free and for how
long, and to publish in their tariffs The
| amount to be charged for storage at the
expiration of a given time. The rail-
roal companies claim the order was
| made In the interest of the National
| Association of Warehousemen, and they
have practically paid no attention to it uI
1t is also said that the commission will
take turn at the lumber rates when i,
| has completed it's Interrogation into the
flour situation.
| 1t was plainly evident from the manner
IN which the recent investigation was con.
| Quoted that the commission was receiving
| assistance from some source that was en-.
| tirely familiar with the local situation
| 1t has been said that the whole affair was
| 1nstigated by the Chicago Milwaukee &
| ST. Paul road, and certain evidence would
| tend to prove it. The Milwaukee people
! SO IT appears, have not been satisfied with
| the portion of the flour shipments they
have been getting out of Minneapolis. The
| management believes that on account OF
| its facilities it's deserves a greater part OF
| the flour shipping trade than it has had
| 1t is also said by gentleman who was
| called to testify, that the Milwaukee Of
| hcials, knowing of the desire Of the com
| mission to bolster up it's waning influence
| by making record for itself, in the shape
! OF wholesale investigation, made the
| proposition to the commission that, if pro-
| tected, they could furnish certain informa-
| ton which would enable the commission ia
| secure the desired convictions for viola
| ton OF the interstate laws. According to
| this same authority, when the matter was
| finally agreed upon, the road mentioned
| went into the detective business, cutting
| rates right and left, in each case making
| the excuse to the commission that it was
| necessary in order to meet it's competitors.
| All the while information believed to be
| of an discriminating character was being
looked for 1t is further said that there is
| reason to believe that the PENNSYLVANIA
/ haP fho