Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-11

pany, or any other employee of the COM
pany, liable for any Illegal act committed
by him, even If 1t were in the discharge of
his duties This would bring them all to
the proposition whether they should leave
their employment or violate the law.
Short and Long Hauls.
Mr.. Spencer justified the charging Of
| smaller tariff for long haul than for a
shorter distance in many cases. The charge
for the short haul being reasonable, the
commercial necessities regulated the prices
| charged at points farther apart The
higher rates in the south than in the north
sparsely populated country, which resulted
in a smaller amount of traffic. The high
rates for perishable goods from Florida to
the north. compared with other classes CT
freight. was the result of the necessity to
| run the perishabe freight on fast train.
| carrying smaller amount Of tons and re-
quiring expensive attendance.
Beyond Government Control.
The witness said the experience all over
the country is that every year the amount
received by the roads per passenger per
| mile is less than it received during the pre-
vious year. He did not believe the govern
| ment could justly have railroad tariffs
| fixed by any central power. That was so
complex subject that it required many
men to fix the rates. being ruled by va
rious conditions in different localities. There
are railroads large that their rates cam
not be fixed by a central authority acting
Tor the road. He thought the roads should
| be the only ones to fix railroad rates, with
the greatest publicity and without any dis
examinations.
Effect of Combination.
He did not think the combination of rail-
roads would have any effect on rates. ex-
| cept possibly to retard the further reduce
| taken place have not, he thought, increas-
ed rates. The steadiest rates are in places
where consolidation has taken place. He
didn't think the consolidation of railroads
would make further government inspection
and control necessary. On the other hand,
he thought consultations beneficial by do
ing away with discriminating rates. The
Southern Railway Company consists of
what I'VE years ago were thirty-five or
thlrty-slx separate corporations These
corporations were then all in the hands of
receivers and unable to pay interest
charges while their roadbeds were not
Kept up. That was not condition
rantfns reduction in rates, but five years
after consolidation their rates as whole
nave been reduced seven per cent.
Governmental Ownership.
He thought that, while government own
ership of railroads might do away with
individual determinations, it would not
of the country charging that other sections
We're being favored. Political influence, he
thought, would be very injurious to the
management of such a system
He thought the experience of Germany
with its railroads owned by the government
was not encou1 aging to the United States.
Inc efnclency, courtesy from employees and
luxury provided did not compare with
what is secured on American railroads. For
the prompt movement of freight the Ger
man roads could not be compared to those
of America. 1t takes longer to move a
carload of freight across Germany than
across the United States.
No Discrimination.
Mr.. Spencer was positive that on the
Southern railway there are no freight dis
examinations. All shippers have to pay the
published rates. They had lost some bust
ness by that policy, but he believed that
later such business had come back to them.
The interstate commerce commissioners
mad acknowledged that the two sections
from which they receive the fewest COM
plants are New Ell gland and that section
south of the Potomac and east of the Mis-
slssippl. He was sure that the Standard
Oh Company could get more favorable
rate from the Southern Railway Company
than any other shipper of Oil.
Interstate Commerce Commission.
The witness said the interstate commerce
commission had accomplished a good deal
III lhe publlcIly VI dcllOn ana IN the prose-
cutfon of some people who had violated the
law, though there had not been many such
prosecutions. He did not favor the idea
of allowing the interstate commerce COM
mission to fix reasonable rates. He
wanted such a question decided by regu-
lar court at law. He would submit such a
question to the interstate commerce COM
mission if it were constituted as a court
with a life tenure of office.
Public ownership of railroads in this
country, he said, had not proven to be sue
cessful, and in reply to questions he re-
ferred to various plans of public ownership
in several of the states.
He said there had been a great revival of
business on the Southern railroad, though
this revival of business is not equal to the
condition now prevailing in tho west.
AT 1:15 the commission adjourned until
3 o'clock. when it will hold a business ses-
sion.