The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-04-21

purpose of those amendments, known as
the Culom bill. which are NOV pending
In congress. The railways object 10 lhot
bill because they say that II puts into inc
hands OF the commission the making OF tne
rates for the $50 900 miles of railway IN tho
United States That Is not true The COM
mission has no rate making power IN the
ordinary sense OF tina, term Tha railways
can make and put in fleet In the hrst in
stanee whatever rates they see ht II
complaint Is made that the rates so es-
tablshed are in violation of law, the COM
mission hears that complaint. II, afler
such hearing, which must be upon fun
notice to the railway, II decides that tho
rate Is wrong, IL has power to direct the
carrier TO put in n rate which Is right
ana what objection can lhere be 10 com
pelling the railroads OF this country to
make rates in accordance with law
1T is objected that tribunal con
stituted as that Is comes to regard itssif
in some sense as the champion III the
people and might be prejudlced n it7 de-
cixlons IN favor OF the complainant But
every order which 0the commission can
make Is reviegable IN tho Federal courts
and may be clgried to the supreme court
OF the UnNed Stat s. which finally passe1
upon the lawfulness and the reasonable
ness OF the order. Pending tho litigation
the court has power 10 suspend the Ell.
feet of the order What s1curer proiec-
tien could be afforded vIn railways OF
this country than submit every act az
recting them 10 the arbiirament OF the
highest tribunal IN this land?
1T is said that the commission might
change every interstate rats IN the United
states. So might the supreme court de-
clare every law passed by congress or
hy any state In the Ugion unconstitutional.
If the interstate commerce commission
holds and the supreme court OF the United
States ooncurs IN the opinion that every
interstate is wrong then fhof" rates oliv1t
10 be changed. Not one OF them could bs
changed otherwise.
1T is said that the Interstate commerce
commission IL not oompatent TO pass upon
theee rate questions. Granting thai az "a
the present comra ssion Is II true OF trib-
mai eonstituted as that is2 II consists oi
FIVE members appointed BY the president
holding offee for six years, receiving !
compensation in excess o, tho Federal
Judiciary and engaged continually IN the
t,,al ~ these questions from all paris Of
the country. II a better tribunal can be
creaAd. this Que sh0nld b. abolished
III Is urg d by the railways that nc
commission can deal with these rate sina'
lions. The idea seems to be that nobody
not specially ordained can deal with 4
freight rate aud that 'be right OF ordi-
nation consists In puttiug the party upon
the pay roll OF a railway company.
How are the interstate rates OF thi'
Nation made todsY? Is II UPON any basl
OF reason and justice? Not long since III
traffic manager of great svstap testified
before the commission upon This subject
After saving that value had little 70 d.
with II. density Of traffic little 70 do VIII
It. cost OF service almost nothing N
reid that the railways got all they con''
get.
"who makes the interstate rates o. thi
country? II II the acute AMI high prizes
traffic managers? Mr. George r. Blaneh
ard testifyipg before the senate COMMITTEE
recently, said in substance that the grea
line was AT the mercy OF HE weak line
'tThese high priced and high souled gen