The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-05

mon knowledge that the men who con-
struct, manage and operate the railroads
have been educated and trained by long
experience for that business. The COM
panies are required TO pay for the services
OF such men very large salaries. 1t cannot
be supposed that the men who can be Sc
cured for members of this commission for
$500 year will possess the requisite
knowledge and experience to determine
whether or not a curve in railroad, or
bridge, or culvert, or switch is prop
erly constructed They would have to en-
ploy men of expert knowledge upon these
questions, which they are authorized TO DO
these questions Such services command
very high prices, and the commission would
have to pay these prices, and the bill au-
thoriZes il TO do so without limit
OTHER OBJECTIONS URGED.
1.-THE commission shall be furnished Offices
in the Capitol. with furniture, stationery,
supplies, etc, and they are authorized to
hold sessions at any place in the State, and
all their travelling and other expenses. to-
gether with the expenses of secretary,
clerk, stenographers. experts and witnesses
are TO be paid by the State on the order OF
the Governor.
The fact is when you contemplate the
probabilities, to say nothing OF the posi-
bilities, of the expenses of this proposed
commission under this bill, il is appalling
No man can foresee or foreteil the limit.
And what is this expensive commission
which it is proposed to fasten upon the TAX
payers of the State 10 accomplish! Moth
ing, absolutely nothing, which would dement,
the people of the State.
"N!ne-tenths of the mileage Of the rail-
ways In Indiana are parts of interstate
or through other States, and four-hfths OF
all shipments on the railroads In the state
are interstate shipments, that is, either be-
gin or end in other States, and are, there-
fore, subject to regulation and control OF
the Interstate-commerce Commission ere
ated by Congress. The commission which
this bill proposes to create coulo exercise
no power whatever over such matters. Con-
gress, by its recent antitrust legislation,
has enlarged and extended the powers or
the Interstate commerce Commission.
about ali this commission would have TO
do would be to employ experts and hoid
perfunctory sessions here at the Capitoi
and at other points over the state 10 make
it appear that they were doing something
and draw their salaries and expenses and
draw warrants for the compensation and
expenses of their experts. stenographers
and witnesses, and the people would have
to foot the bills without receiving any cor
responding benefit.
COMMISSIONS USELESS.
'It is claimed that number of the other
States have railroad commissions Well.
suppose they have, nearly all Of them were
created before the Interstate Commission
was created, and 1t is well-known fact
that they have become useless. Yes, worse
than useless, because they cannot be got
rid Of, and the States are burdened with
their expense for nothing. And so it will
be here; create this commission and you
will fasten upon the State useless but
enormously expensive machine which Will
never be got rid or.
complaints are made that the railroads
have not supplied shippers. particularly
shippers of grain, with sufficient cars, and
il is thought that this bill, If 1t becomes
nj
the law proposed would not have such ef-
feet. The failure TO get cars has resulted
from the fact that owing TO the enormous
traffic of the railroads of the country 1T has
been impossible to supply the demand for
cars. 1t is a matter of general information
that the builders of cars have been unable
for two three years past to fill the orders
of the railroad companies for the additional
cars Besides this il is also well known
that The builders of locomotives have not
been able to keep pace with the demand,
and consequently ii has been impossible for
the railroad companies to obtain sufficient
motive power to move the tremendous traf-
fic on their lines. "A commission obviously
could not remedy this situation.
THE commission Is by the provisions OF
this bill given the most extraordinary pow
ers: They are authorized to enforce freight
and passenger rates upon all the roads, to
examine into the books Of the companies at
any time and place, and to subpoena wit
nesses and compel the production of papers
and books on the mele suggestion or any
member of the commission, and given the
most drastic powers to enforce severe PEN
alties, and all without any possible benefit,
as has already been pointed out, to the peo-
pie of the State. The bill is framed upon
the lines of the Texas commission law,
which has been the cause of endless trouble
in that State without any benefit to the peo-
pie of the State
FLEMING FOR THE BILL.
Senator Fleming spoke for the passage of
the BILL 81 have little to say declared
the gentleman from Allen and Adams. II
only want to call the attention of the Sen
ate to the fact that the only arguments
made against the bill have been made by
three lawyers. Is it reasonable to sup
post that these lawyers know the real
needs of the business men, or that they
are able to give this matter the same
amount of skilled inquiry that the business
men of the Senate have given it?'
Senator Wolcott and Senator Ball had
hot tilt. Senator Wolcott inquired SarcaS-
tically what railroad Senator Bail repre-
scented. The senator. from Delaware indig-
nantly resented the question. He stated
that he thought it contained most un-
justifiable insinuation. A sharp rap from
the gavel of the Lieutenant Governor end
ed personalities The vote was taken on
Senator Balls motion to indefinitely post
pone, and the bill was buried under an
avalanche of votes.
Among the bills passed by the Senate yes
terday morning was the House measure
appropriating $4,000 for an Indiana exhibit
at the Louisiana purchase exposition at st.
Louis.
A message from the Governor was re-
ceived, officially acquainting the Senate
with the death of Maj. Gen. Robert S.
Foster. later quartermaster general of the
state military forces. The message stated
that the body of General Foster would lie
in state in the rotunda of the Statehouse
tomorrow afternoon, and the request was
made that the Senate adjourn at IL o'clock
and go I'm a body to view the remains of
Indiana's distinguished soldier. The action