The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-02-25
WANT TOO GREAT POWERS.
tNREsSoN sRIE REQUEST on TIN.
INTERSTATE COMMISSION.
Ii DOES Net Appear That :a~ smend-
mcnts They Ask VIII cure the
Evils They Compiaia ef. bat Give


state commerce t>sg,iI3 -Sss0B states la 81
fers eaAt ths a3ss&scasSeaS agon tas gees
i4ofas arising ufsder gae interstate csern-
'saerce act Save 20 great extent defeated
yha PURPOSES 81 {he act Aa3 proceeds So
s1Asw .ha1 t44aSGs 4rs. & srcgaFttd si.>c--,f14-
ta4t4y'Is constantly oscar $3.50 She ~ sce
AZ atach tT9aszs 0s{4tlsa eal. - oDt&aFssi
- is,scsssatin< and dUcertaGa. AS Instances
q tas distressing STATE OF aSaAsS ne co3'
Mission points oui ias eySstiu ~ gsste->,1at-
tlng .Is.fld "a prevail >3n sastt~s5snd Eo4r
from Minneapolis ana puluth. a-so similar
secret rate-c0tt}ng on gxaac between
North Pacific coast points and paints esl
and east ~ she Missouri river Also frau4-
uisus devices Is, secure }oN r r.AsaS on I3r-
Eenei7e taan the published r>ies. also ~
reguiaritles N I1e transportation q coaA
10 Cincinnati
Ne Deei.ions Permit These Practices
TIE cannaAss.7n - challenged - SNOW
a single DECISION az tie courts which has
tended a facilitate she-~s illegal practices.
81 - show a single prov .sson among the
numerous amendments which Il desires 70
the acs which w1l be in the least S2A-c4a-
LATED 10 prevent theS. practices These
practices are expressly prohibited oy he
l2N "a IL SfAriS. aud e Sacy can not -
prevented xgadSr she law a. * st4NsS, thSN
san not be prevented AZ All IL tns est-
Gfnce can p discovered On winch 10 t'ots-
der the present law bU1 Il the evidence
can lRot bss discovered, the g$AFE4*S N@at1
not. 81 course, be punished under &iay .aN
Il Nou.d ssesla that al ie.tSS ~ some ca ne
fgSfafs mentioned by tGN comm - en-
there could - difficulty ~ Rf1AsecuG -
success fully under the iaw as II etaIds
For example the fra lsaulens ohlention ~
The CliTfsUttne company ot irenS1 ~ t3Aft on
~ less than the regular rates by mlsfeIFs.
s1nting toe capacity ~ It's tsilh ears "VNasd
seem "a b. a violation OK the 4a~, ana no
reason Is given why the comm ssson should
not have taken steps 70 p3n7za ne N.o-<s-
ton for BY section u ~ the art ihe com
miss son - authorized and required = exc
cate and enfofce the prA}EA.'oiS ~ the 49,.
and upon tq~ reQuess Of the commission
IT Is made me duty ot ,-iv ass'flct altar
ney ~ rhe United States 20 institute IL
tbe proper court ard prosecute e "sce
Sary PROCEEDINGS !or the enforce }sHE OK
the law. afi fer tae punishment 81 ait Eio-
latioQs Thereof.
A. to Pooling Contracts.
The comm lseion ruiets into long atgu-
ment tpou The nature origin afa purposes
OF contracts FOR the maintenance ~ rates
and 1!v sion u traffic. and seems - fessch
the conclusion that the rate-eutIiaS evils
OF ths. pseseT.. day ara 20 a. Ctfss1tra ts.e
extent due - unrestrslnC1 competition.
and that the experiment may ." WORTH
trying ~ authorizing cooper &t1on amahs
he railroads for thc purpose 81 restraining
II IL extremely doubtful whether author
ling such pooling contracts or rate aSfee-
minisn Tate-cuttinE. II would d" M
possible 10 destroy The motive for rafs-
cutting. since under the strongest p1ps-
ing contract each participant ""@lt cot4-
s,autiy strive - Increase It's tonnage, as
tnfnuartS with ;he tonnage OF the aThsSE
So ~ 70 he ia position To- demand
larger share 81 she earnings. After ali u
would require good faith on the part y
the traffic managers 20 maintain tire pub
llShcst rates and by the exercise of that
same good faith the published rates could
bee main attained under the law as f. exists
at present. Indeed, since INC first ~ the
year st Seems that a Decided effort - oe~
ing made - I've ny 70 The published rates
by some 90 the railroads which have In
tae PAST notoFioGsly violated the law ia
fhzt regard and greater degree of
honesty or far dealing viii be- required 20
make that effort "A success tnan wouid he
necessary - mako a SuccfSs 81 pooling
contracts and agreements FOR the main
fsnance Of rates
Competition Which Fixes Rates.
The commission starting ous with the
assumption that pooling contracts are ea-
seutial ox very desirable. reasons taHt
pooling contracts w.li destroy competition.
ana, therefore the pubic m!i have n0
protection against exeTotaGt rates. nule -
tina commission Is gwen The power sefkht
Dy IT, which IN brief Is the power "a
act as traffic manager Tor each 81 the
railroads in this country. But he conlpe-
tt'pn was"h IN fact fixes rates - pTiutf-
pa8y ms com petition between markets and
the cornypefitl8n with aaterwaEs which
cannot feass}tty be materially affected ar
obyIat@d By pooling contracts ~ either
traffic agreements ~ faat the making ~
such agreements would not hare the dis
srrosIs results RHica the CsrnugasE.0n
would indleate. asut even the cnusIsst -
tieu which controls railroad rates sstou,d
pa affected oT 1*e-rrBefgi or entirely an
initiated uY pooling contracts az 81 her
traffic agreements tire conpetesf rsf,~s5bse
protection wou}i BE- afforded q. tbs p4l-s-
ilc even according 90 the theory ~ tha
commission. ~ giving - fhe ceTHm ss oU
f3i! power Ia d.sapproVe assy ar3 az Snch
contracts ar& - AID ti0U fuil powers 20
resiger any and at rates nlaings3T 8aeer
ssgf-F4 contracts
Ma argument therefore so favor - tlsf.
Tee aeste"d FROM giving the CARRIERS at4~
tbnr5vg 10 pool thor traffic nT 70 agree ~
maintain their rates Auv wIeH Aenpr&E
and radical charges sn To-. powers IT the
commission must b. Csrstsc rcd an To-
dependent rrapGslst0n MOE properly con
nertc1 with ur p any aise basra upon any
plan f. authorize .3ali0g contracts una
other traf Tir agreements Considered as
n original proposition. the report ~ ths
cofrrut@Sian affords 10 sgbefaGlfal reasons
IN Us favor
Predictions Not Verified.
in tts report z year aEp wnsn fhe de-
c.el0us cf lbe supreme court 90 fhe eject
maize rates ~rTe comparatively r-reut
tile com IN ssipa made atl SORTS e d}reful
predictions tp The distressing results
which a sui1 folig@ from tsnse eisinfls.
fsnt after the lapse - another year ~ is
unable 20 Etse any substantial seff@nrYs
- she misfortune Which ID predicted #
his heen constantly pointed "Df hy those
opposed - the coD 1zs isstET ts-Fla sgas tkaf
rste@ ~ general ia fAls country ARE r..
na@f$ahly law and fhe cp77w3ssteu's