Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-06
an upoaTArr DrollRlTIor.


There Il one declaration Of tho Iowa
republican platform which shoun be
given more attention than Il appears to
have received. This Is. we favor
such amendment Of the Interstate com
mefce act as VIII more fully carry out
lts prohibition Of discrimination In rate
making II r. well understood that one
OF the greatest advantages enjoyed by
the great combinations is The favor they
get from the railroads In rates Testl-
mony to this effect was given before the
industrial commission by many high au-
thoritles, some Of whom expressed the
opinion that IL the great industrial COM
binations were deprived OF advantages
in transportation and treated exactly as
the small corporations and individuals
are treated in the matter Of freight
rates and in the granting Of railway ia
%cilities. there would be less necessity
for a legislation to regulate the trusts.
1t was this discrimination that largely
helped the Standard Oil company to
break down competition and establish
its monopoly. Railway managers have
acknowledged .favoringe certain meal
packers In this respect and It 10 well
understood that the practice Of rate dis
elimination In favor Of the comblna-
lions is general. At present the Inter
state Commerce commission is practic-
ally powerlesa The law az It stands
has failed TO correct, one Of the principal
abuses It was intended to remedy. All.
this is familiar. It has been set forth
repeatedly In the reports OF the commits
sion and In other ways II has been
discussed for years. Yet congress has
neglected to amend the law so as to
0 fully carry out It's prohibition Of
discrimination in rate making.
The Interstate Commences commission
wants the power. when a question is
raised as to the reasonableness OF a rate.
not only to declare whether It is rea-
sonable or not, but II It Is not reason
able It wants power to declare what a
reasonable rate in the case In question
would be. In addition to this IL wants
the law so modified as to gfve'to its de
cisiOns practically the foree Of decisions
Of court. When II has decided what
would be a reasonable rate in q given
case It wants the law to compel the
railway to accept that rate until the
commissions decision has been reviewed
by a United States court. The declara-
ton OF the Iowa republicans voices a
general public sentiment Everywhere
the feeling is that the interstate com
merce act should be amended so as to
strengthen the powers Of the commission
and make the law more effective. A way
must be found to put a stop to rate dis
elimination and rebates. Until the law
is made to reach and remedy these
abuses, which give such great advans
tages to the combinations, it VIII be Of
little value. me lows Representatives
in congress should regard the, action Of
the republican state convention as in
the nature Of an instruction to them to
endeavor to secure the desired amend
ment OF the interstate commences act
and should they do 50 they can exert q
strong influence. Perhaps nothing can
be accomplished at the short session,
though the matter Is 30 we'll understood
that IL a majority in congress are dis
posed TO strengthen the law in accord
ance with the recommendations of the
commission there VIII be ample time In
the next session for doing 80.