The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-21
ISSUE JOINED.


 joined over the question of the enlarge
 ment of the powers of the interstate
 commerce commission, and we may all count upon getting out of the conse- duent discussion not a little of new
 knowledge of the railroad business. Duly authorized representatives of va
 ricus associations of shippers by rail
 have petitioned that power be given the commission, when it has convinced it. self that given rats complained of is in violation Of the interstate commerce
 law. to prescribe the rate to take it's
 place. the latter t6 be applied unless and until it be set aside on review by
 some competent court; and the people l in general, simply because they know l in a vague sort of way that some rail- roads have been caught charging un. fair rates, are apparently in favor of
 granting that petition at the earliest possible day.
 So also President Roosevelt, who has 1 evidently given some study to the question during the past year, or at sleast has been influenced by the conclu- sions of those who have. As a result 1 one of the few specific recommenda- tions in his message, is that the Quar-
 les Cooper bill be passed. The sub- stance of this bill is the comforting on the interstate commerce commission, subject to judicial review, of the power
 to revise railroad rates and regulations; and the President urges it upon con- gress as the most important legisla- tive act now needed as regards the reg. ulation of corporations. The gage thua openly thrown down has been quickly taken up by the railroad corr porations affected, which have put in motion all the influence they can com mand to avert the threatened interfer- ence with their business. That these Influences have been promptly and eff fectively felt Is seen in the announce ment that the leaders in congress pro- poses to pigeonhole the bill.
 If this plan is carried out those lead CTS must make up their minds to en- dure a considerable storm of adverse popular criticism; but it is not certain that they may not be right in at least |interposing a little delay at this point. The petition of the shippers is not un- reasonable, the popular belief that the railroads now have things too much their own way is well grounded, and the President cannot be gainsaid when
 he declares that either "the government must in an increasing degree supervise and regulate the workings of railways engaged in interstate commerce" or
 there is likely to be the alternative of a "still more radical policy" Neverthe- less, though that threatened alternative means public ownership, it Is at least open to discussion whetber the Quaries- Cooper bill is the best plan short of that; and 1t is not unreasona- ble that time be taken for that discus sion--perhaps more time than can be given 1t during the present short ses-
 sion.
 If the question were one of rebates only it would be comparatively simple.
 Rebates are already a violation of law.
 They were so made by the interstate commerce law seventeen years ago; a supplementary law intended to be still
 more effective was passed by congress
 at the last session, and it has not yet been shown that any new legislation can be more successful. But the Quar- iies- Cooper bill, asked for by shippers, iindorsed by the President and general Fly believed desirable by the public, un-
 dertakes to empower the interstate commerce commission not merely to
 stop rebates, but to substitute reasona- ble rates even in cases where there is no charge of discrimination between
 shippers, Now plainly it is a very del- .icate matter to decide between the shipper and the carrier on point like this; and the railroads, however op. pressive and unjust we may know some of their practices to be, cannot be blamed for protesting against giving the right of that decision to any gov ernmental board.
 We may say that the railroads have brought the menace of this drastic in reference upon themselves that they have aroused the antagonism now shown against them by their over readiness to violate and eyade the law.