Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-11-22

:
by the statement that roads are fight.
| ing each other for business in this state
| lust as hard as they ever did. This APP
plies to the Union Pacific and the Bur
lington roads and all other lines. What
| is being done in Minnesota In the way OF
combinations or in opposition does not
interest us in this state
That the only way to reach the diff
Guilty is by congressional action in en-
larging the powers of the interstate rail-
way commission is pointed out by the
best authorities. Judge Ira b. Mills, of
the Minnesota state railroad and ware
house commission, urges this point. In
the course of an interview he said:
That commission should be given
jurisdiction over all rates, both what are
known as domestic and Interstate. In
the Nebraska rate case, commonly called
the Ames case, it was decided by the
United States supreme court that in de-
term!ning what was reasonable rate
en- state traffic, interstate earnings could
rot be taken into consideration, nor in
fixing an interstate rate, the state earn
ings. Taking all the roads operating in
Minnesota, it is safe TO say, considering
ali the business that is in any way done
in Minnesota, both freight and passen-
ger, at least go per cent is interstate. So
in an investigation of what is a reasona-
BILE rate for Minnesota the Minnesota
commissioners would have to exclude
the earnings from all business that
originated in Minnesota and passed out
of the state and from such business as
originated out and came into this state
and all that passes thru the state, leay-
ing them only what is purely local, or
only 40 per cent of the business carried
sion had adopted such a rule in the
STEVENSON case it's order could not have
been justified.
THE system of railroads in this coun-
try is an entirety and there is no intel
ligent traffic manager but that considers
the whole business in fixing rate either
for state or interstate traffic. The busi-
ness is SO interviewer and the rate in
one state Is so much dependent on the
other that great injustice would result If
the companies should adopt such rule. ;"
The Predetermined view of railway
consolidation regard it as legitimate
evolution. q movement that improves
the service, effects economies, eliminates
to some extent disastrous rate cutting,
and that has the power, whether 1t exer-
cisis it or not. of reducing rates in the
interest of the people. But the same
power to improve it's service may be un-
wisely used TO destroy all competition
and Cypress the people. This is where
the chief danger lies, yet 1t is widely ac-
that the power to regulate
and control Is still In the hands Of the
people and that it can best be exercised
thru congressional action.
1t is announced from Washington that
Senator Elkins, who will succeed Sena-
tor Cullom as chairman of the senate
interstate commerce committee, will in
troduce bill early in the session with a
view to Strengthening the hands of the
interstate commerce commission in deal
ing with the railroads. The senator
would not indicate whether or not the
bill will permit pooling. It will not be
Identical with the Cullom bill. Senator
cullom is quoted as saying of Elkins: Il
am satisfied he will favor legislation
which will be fair to the people and just
TIC the railroads. That is what the peo-
pie most desire.