Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-21
Third District Congressman
Comes Out Strong For Govern
ment Control Proposition
SUPERVISION is NECESSARY
Declares Five Men Practically Have
Monopoly Of the Railway Business
Of the Country and the Peoples In
terests Must be Protected-Favors
Immediate Action.
necial to Times-Republlcan.

Special to Times es-Republican.
Clarion. Dec. 21.--A representative OF
the Times Republican called on Con-
eressman Birdsall here today and OBJ
tanned from him the appended inter-
view. 1t will pay those Interested In
this now absorbing question of gov
ernmental supervision of common car
rlers to read 1t carefully, as it comes
from a man not afraid to express his
opinions us well as from former
Judge of Iowa, one who weighs his
words. 1t is o valuable contribution
to the discussion now engaging public
attention thruout the country, and, in
cidentally, your correspondent can as
sert his opinion that this interview
was with a man who stands for the in
teresls Of the people, his Iowa con-
stltuents in particular.
When asked II he thought further
legislation should be invoked to control
common carriers, Judge Birdsall re-
piled:
No. The time has arrived when
further supervision is necessary. When
we examine into the ownership of the
great systems of railways we find
them centralized in comparatively
few hands. The Vanderbilt system en-
braces 19,50O miles; the Pennsylvania,
$4,000 miles; the Morgan-Hill system,
43.0O0 miles; the Gould system, 10000
miles: the Hartman system $1,000
IN 10
railroad controlled by five systems or
in other words by FIVE men. We have
left the Atchison, Rock, Island, San
Francisco. Milwaukee and Great West
ern systems, aggregating say 10000
miles and these constitute the only
important independent systems. The
balance Of the railways are absolutely
dependent upon these great systems
for their existence. AS will be seen,
five men now have a monopoly of all
the railway business of the country.
Freight is a tax on everything that
enters into the commerce Of the coun-
try, upon the clothes we wear, the
things we eat, and 1t is tremendous
power to rest in the hands Of any five
men to dictate the tribute which shall
be paid.
For fully seventy years 1t has been
an established principle in the juris-
prudence Of this country, that railways
were and are, public servants in the
use Of the utilities at their command.
This proposition is not only firmly es-
tablished. but it's active maintenance
is imperatively necessary for the pre-
servation of our commerce.
What we need and what we are en-
titled to is as equal a distribution
of the benefits of transportation thru
out the country as conditions will per-
NIT Of.
Rebate Evil.
Railways have failed to conduct the
rate making power on that basis and
the only way we can correct the evils
of secret rebate rates, determinations
between individuals and communities
and excessive rates, is to exercise in
some form, in some proper form, sup
ervision over the railroad rate But
one other alternative is presented, and
that rests in government ownership.
We are not yet prepared to consider,
much less to adopt, this alternative,
but opposition now on the part of rail-
ways to reasonable control and sup
ervision will tend to thrust pub
lie opinion strongly in that direction"
Do you think congress can confer
the rate making power upon the COM
mission?'
Power of Commission.
This question has been resolved in
the affirmative by several state courts.
when like power was conferred upon
state commissioners and think would
be answered in the affirmative by the
supreme court of the United States
But do not believe that question will
be raised for railway companies will
hesitate to relegate the question back
to congress (Which has that power) to
become political issue upon which
that body Is liable to inflict the ex-
tremity of public opinion unfavorable
to them. Experience in the past has
demonstrated that we can not look with
safety to railway management for a
fair exercise of the power of rate maxi
ing. But to tribunal of impartial
men possessed of power to enforce
its DEGREES we can look for an
honest and impartial review of the
Subject and fair Judgment upon the
merits.
"If any five men are to dictate the
railway rate in this country I would
prefer 1t to be the five not interested
in the railways"
Quick Action Necessary.
when should the vote go into
effect?"
whether the rate is fixed by the
interstate commerce commission or
some other tribunal the rate should go
into effect at once. This is the only
effective remedy for the shipper If he
is entitled to a reasonable rate he is
entitled to it at once and all the time.
He wants to do business on 1t every
day. He can not regulate his business
on the chances of recovering it's excess
at some future time"
Question In Politics.
will the question enter politics?"
"Vhat depends on whether railway