The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-15
be involved in litigation that would last a

De involved IN litigation tnat WOULD last q
| lifetime
I'VE put in a protest to the traffic as
socations that met in New York City on
| January % against the raise in freight
rates on our different products. To this
protest we received answers from the
chairman of the Central Freight Associa-
tion and the chairman of the Official Traf-
fic Association. Entirely different answers
were made and neither touched a sin
gle point in our protest we are forced to
the conclusion that but very little atten-
ticn is given to the protests of shippers;
but the Central Freight Association ad
mits in its answer that no one of the traf
fc associations knows the reason for the
rates of any of the other traffic associa-
tons.
Where there is SO much smoke, there
must be some fire. Something must be
wrong some where. The railroads must be
at fault. In the traffic associations is where
a great deal of the trouble lies Something
must be done to remedy the wrong l real
ize that no person should criticise openly.
unless he is able to suggest a remedy, and
that that remedy should be open to crit
ictsm. My suggestion is this:
MIR. Bncon's Suggestion.
There should be but one freight or traf-
flc association, and that association should
be under the control Of the Interstate Com
merce Commission, with power given the
Commission TO enforce its mandates. That
association should be composed of six rail-
road men. and six business men, represent
ing business independent Of the railroads.
The six railroad men should be practical
railroad men, selected or suggested by the
railroads themselves. and appointed by the
Interstate Commerce Commissioning
from the Atlantic Coast, one from the Pa
cifc Coast, one from the Gulf Coast, one
from the Great Lakes section, and one from
the middle interior-the salaries. If FEAST
BILE, to be paid by the railroads-and the
other six members Should be appointed by
the Interstate Commerce Commission, and
paid by the Government and should repre-
sent the six classifications of freight, and
be appointed from shippers represented by
the class of freight which each represents
Tor of which class of freight he handles
the greater quantity. That is to say. there
should be member representing the first
Class to be appointed from shippers of
freight taking that rating or classification.
Then. member representing the Sec
ond class. the third class. the fourth class,
the fifth class. and the sixth class, each to
be chosen from shippers of freight taking
the rate or classification which he is to rep
quarterly or monthly meetings to fix rates,
etc, all rates to be promulgated by the
LIST day of October in each and every year,
and to take effect, and be In operation for
one year (unless lowered) from the 1st
day of January following. And no raise in
rates shall take effect during the year.
The CullOm Bill.
1.-The Cullom bill is all right in some par
ticulars but. in my opinion, it does Lot
wholly cover the ground that should be
covered by national legislation at this time.
The bill introduced by the Hen. Henry C.
Smith, of Michigan. is all right as far as 1t
goes, but does not go far enough.
The reason given by the railroads for
the existence of so many or different
freight or traffic associations, is that the
Eastern railroads do not know the condi
lions with which the West have to contend
in fixing classiications and freight rates.
That the Nothern railroads do not know
the conditions prevailing and which must
he considered by the railroads of the
South. That the East, the West. the
North. the South do not know the condi-
items of the middle interior and vice versa.
Hence, they contend that the different
freight or traffic associations are neees-
sary.
at is to overcome these objections, or
TO meet these reasons. rather, that l would
select railroad men from the different
parts of the country. as heretofore sug-
gested. This would be treating the rail-
roads with fairness, while the business
men. independent Of the railroads, selected
from shippers distributed over the country,
representing the six different freight clas-
siications. would be fair to the shipping
int Of he prtr1.r
like a rather large sub commission or asso-
citation but, on the other hand look at
the number of men required by the rail-
roads to do this same work. 1t would re-
quire more work than the Interstate |
Commerce Commission could attend TO, and
as nillions-yes. billions-of dollars are |
involved, in which the people are interest |
ed, this sub-commisson or association |
should be large enough to do the work |
right, and while it should be under the |
supervision of the Interstate Commerce |
Commission, that Commission of itself. for |
want of numbers. would be unable TO do /
the necessary work thoroughly and syste
There is the trust problem, which you |
have been considering. Then there may
be another problem-a railroad trust-con-
fronting u.s. AS to whether A combination
is right. depends upon the object for which
it is organized. No combination is right
that would curtail the reasonable wages
now paid for labor or that would be detri
mental TO the people. No combination is
light that is organized to increase the cost
If the necessaries of life, or against the
business interests of the country. No
ombination is right that would limit the
-eeources of the country. or that would
nave a tendency to stagnate the growth
md improvement of the country. No COM
Dination is right that has for its object
he humiliation of reasonable competition
in any branch of business
The Morning Session.
At the morning session of the Commits
sion, John p. Coffin, of Lake Butler Fla.
Vice President of the Huntsville and
Chattanooga Industrial Convention talked
at some length against labor unions. He
condemned the professional agitator and
said that such persons were the cause
of most of the strikes. He expressed
himself being greatly opposed to sym
pathetic strikes. Mr. Coffin said:
The economic results of strikes are
Of course. felt by the public as well as
by the laborer himself.
Il do not believe in the importation of
foreign labor There is a plenty of labor /