The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-21
STRONG HAND
ON RAILROADS
SENATOR WAsHBURN SAYS TT IS
NEEDED.
Believes that Competent, Honest Com
mission Should Determine Rates,
Having Due Regard for Both the
Roads and the Public-Doesn' Think
Pooling Would Bring Desired Result.

Former United States Senator W. D.
Washburn today expressed himself en-
phatically on the agitation for the I
granting to the interstate commerce
commission added powers. IN dealing
with the question Of railroad rates. |
In an interview the senator said:
81 am heartily in favor Of that por-
ton of the presidents message IN
which he recommends the amend ing OF
the interstate commerce law. AS the
law now stands, coupled with the de-
cision of the supreme court, 1t is little
more than farce. While the commls-
sion has the power to indicate the I'M
err to correct them. Of course, life is
too short for any shipper, who feels
himself aggrieved, to carry case to
the courts, and he is, consequently,
without adequate remedy:
"After having examined the ques-
why competent, honest board of in
| terstate commerce commissioners can
not determine on the fairness of rates,
better than anyone else. In the final
analysis someone has to make this de-
cision. We should certainly have a
board Of interstate commerce commits
sioners who can do it wisel y, justly and
or shippers feel aggrieved by the action
of the commission they still have the
recourse of the courts.
~ notice that Mr.. Hill, in an inter
view in New York within a few days,
said these commissions would have
greater power than any equal number
of men in the country. This may be so,
where, and it seems to me, it is as safe
to rest it with five members of the in
terstate commerce commission as with
five great capitalists and railroad mag
mates located in the city Of New York.
Suggests Another Court.
cit may be we'll to create an addi-
tional court comprised Of men wise in
law and also intelligent in the matter
tain it is, that there should be some
power whereby these rates can be
promptly adjusted.
cit may be proper that the railroad
companies should, primarily, arrange
rates, subject to the approval of the
commission or court. The rates liked
by anybody empowered to do so, should
not only. be reasonable and just, but III
general harmony with each other thru
out the country. For instance: The
railroads in the northwest may mako
rates that are entirely reasonable, while
the railroads in the southwest may ma Ike
rates entirely different, either lower or
higher. In such case an injustice to
somebody or some locality is sure to fol-
low. AS an instance, rates on flour
from here should be consistent with the
rates made on flour from st. Louis or
points from the southwest. Unless these
rates are consistent with each other,
fair competition is at once destroyed.
"That the rates made by the rail-
road companies are, in many cases, un-
reasonable, there can be no doubt, but
no railroad is very likely to reduce a
rate that is too high, unless compelled
to do 50. That does not seem to be
human nature. have in mind rates
made in this section of the country
which I think are too high and sub
stantially as high as they were five or
ten years ago..
"With the improved methods in rail
road operation, by the REDUCTION of
grades, elimination of curves, laying of
heavy rails, and the use Of very much
heavier rolling stock, both locomotives
and cars, freight can be handled at very
much less cost than three, four or five
} years ago. [ can see no good reason
why the public should not share, to some
extent, to say the least, in this reduction
, of cost. An intelligent, competent rail
7 road commission can determine what re
4 duction would be fair and just to al
4 concerned.