The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-01-02
CONGnESS OF
HISTORIANS MEETS
Notable Gathering OF Country S
Foremost Thinkers IN
Quaker City.
WALKER d. HINES SPEAKS
Fl, st Vice President Of Louisville anu
Nashville Railway Delivers Al
dress on Regulation of Rail
way Ratcs.

Philadelphia, Dec. so. Historians
and students of history from al over
the United States are in this citg 10
attend the eighteenth annual meeting
of the American Historical association
AT the same time the American Econ
omic association is holding it's fifteenth
annual meeting, several sessions be-
ing held jointly with the historical as
ISOLATION, a precedent set four years
ago. The sessions are Being held in
Houston hall, at the University OF
Pennsylvania; DreXel institute, Griffith
hall and the hall Of the American
Philosophical society.
Captain Alfred Thayer Mahans D.
c. L., LII. D., the famous writer on
naval history. and president OF the
historical association. presides. AT the
per on "Subordination in Historical
Treatment" and Assistant Secretary
of State David j. Hill will speak at the
last session.
A joint session was held last night
in Drexel institute, and another will be
held on Monday night, December 90, in
Griffith hall. European history will be
considered cn Monday, December 90, at
both the morning and afternoon ses-
sions, in Houston hall. Diplomatic his
tory Will be the chief topic at the last
session in the hall of the American
Philosophical society on Tuesday
morning, December so. This session
will treat almost entirely Of lie IA
tional canal policy.
The sessions OF the associations are
open to the public.
Officers of the Associations.
The officers of the Historical associa-
ton are: Captain Alfred r. Mahar,
president; Henry Charles Lea, L. l.. D.,
first vice president; Goodwin Smith, D.
c. L., l.. l.. D.. second vice president; a.
Howard Clark, secretary; Charles II.
Easkins, Pm D., corresponding secre-
treasurer; Samuel Macauley jackson,
d. D., L. L. d., secretary of the church
history section.
The officers of the Economic assolia-
ton are: Edwin r. A. Seligman, PHI.
D., president; Theodore Marburg,
Fred NJ. Taylor, PHI. D., and John c.
Schwab, Phi. D., vice presidents: Frank
A. fettei., Pm. D., secretary and treas
urer.
The session of the fifteenth annual
convention of the American Economic
SSH's wa uSFoleu 10 uiS-
cussion of the topic of Public Regula-
ton of Railroads"
Mr.. Prouty's Address.
The principal speakers were Charles
A. Prouty Of the interstate commerce.
commission, and Walker D.. Hines. vice
president of the Louisville and Nash
vile railroad. Mr.. Prouty spoke in part
as follows:
Five years ago The crying evil in rail-
way operations was discrimination: main
" DISQUALIFICATION between individuals.
Ioday this is not true. The vast consol-
ioat1ons OF the last few years, the use of
injunction to prevent departures from the
published rates, the lesson which rail-
road operators themselves have learned
that competition in rates is always si,i-
eide, since 1t does not increase business
and does reduce revenues, have largely
eliminated such competition. The dis
examination disappears, but in its pace
comes the danger attending every mouop-
oily, eXtortion in the charge Imposed.
AS these combinations have proceeded
the public has been repeatedly assured
that there was no danger of any advance
In freight rates. Rates have been nd
Vanced II are still advancing. In the
Minter OF lsS9 the rate on grain from the
cents per 100 pounds; today 1t is 22la cents,
The cost OF transporting grain ana gram
products frem Chicago to the Atlantic
been from z to . cents per IJ pounGs
from 10 to Is percent greater than it was
the summer preceding. Within the
month all grain rates in every direction
from the fields TO the seaboard hive beam
advanced another 2 cents per 100 un,,nds
Within the last three years the Combine
tion OF anthracite coal roads has in
creased the cost of domestic sizes 10 he.
consumer from 81 to S2 per ton. In SYM
pathy the common stock OF the ReaGir,r,
road alone advanced in marker yall,a go
July, lasS, to July, 1907 $3.50 eco, about SO
per cent. wv
The practical significance OF thoe, ~,
parentIy slight advances is not apprs1i-
ated., The interstate commerce cdt,o3fs-
SION mas recently concluded an invcstiEa-
ton into a genera! advance in rates IN
nay, and decided thai such advance VS.
unJusUltlable. No attention mas hee, ~
VIII be paid to that decision. since there is
the testimony in that case shows rhaI ,h4ts
advance in rates costs the consuragr an1
producer Of hay in the territory 10 vy;lir5
It applies from $1,000, COO 10 $&,0G0, 0D an.
hua!ly. There are now pending before mo
commission for investigation comn:4;nts
which demand reductions Droha hrS
a]m0un}ing IN the assresate to $i5,V5,,UG0
basis to almost $lot,G coo, GEO in canitaIi;"o
ton. The railroad is the greatest IN it1 -Ga
most dangerous OF all monopolics - ttna
anthractte coal combine advances the
levies upon the poverty OF this cotfnt,r =
which uses that coa!. u TAX Of s15 IsI az
huaily IN laFor OF the wealth whirh 49,
glneered ard profits by that corah,C. -
How shall the public be- mrH,I,,
against this kind eXiortion? puhiicjI. :" :"
the coTrpietest form has bsnn ,, -
IN vain. 10 this the Sherman antf- r ~
law has been applied in its sFrantas.
form in vain. 1t has been suggeSlaI ths
the injured party might sue IN co;Irt az 49,
recover the unreasonable charya TIrS, 60" .nC
railway but the cC4i uealer. wS0 49, ,Hnes
ireisht, VIII not sue, Tor he recouns,. hin.
sell by increasing the price to us c,..
toners and II would be no re,lsdv -
permit that consumer to bring sur 70 ~.
cover from 81 to $40. Manifest, 10 10,
70 get pack any portion of an uai:st 60
already paid can be of the sIighIeSt raI
ues; the imposition of that rate Tar,st ~
some way be prohibited. us Al
And the way is perfectly Main r 10,
oeen determined by courts yithCrt 10
Der that the railway is a public W.
supJect 10 Dubilc control. and .Eo- ~.
2ubilc in the exercise of thar con.ro' ~, "a
NIX the rate. Nearly one-half ~ ii1l
90 at the present time, to a are.tnr g
less extent, exercise this rieht n.itS ~
;pect 70 transportation WITHIN tbair 80
iefs. The United States atter1ntad WI ooi
as Tor interstate transportatior NV ~ "
.is VIC act 20 regulate commerce. ,Tha ,n
pIileclioils OF that act We're not cnrrecra.
mHeil tIleE necatne manifest Leca,1.s -
"'s coiApetltlon had so rednreG ra,n
10 d "hote that the need OF such acIio,
maa not lett Now that colnnetition Lo4
p@sneu away and such a measure doc.