The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-21
SUSPECTS MOVE
ON COOPER BILL
Bacon, Shippers Representative,
Would Limit Action to That
Measure. .
DECLARES RAILROADS
SCHEME AT DIVERSION
Brands Talk of Further Reforms
as Part of Fight on the
Cooper Bill.
By w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, Dec. 21.-The sentiment
Of the shipping interests, as voiced by
E. P. Bacon of Milwaukee, is strongly
against any proposition which will di-
vert the attention of those who are
talking government regulation OF rail-
ways, away from the Cooper-Quarles
"That bill is all we are asking at this
time" said Mr.. Bacon to your cores
pendent. "There is no occasion for
opening up a vast field Of discussion or
going Into numerous theoretical RENE ,
dies. Our: bill has been discussed now
for several years, and its provisions
are quite familiar to railway interests
as we'll as shippers. 1t embodles the
one principle which President Roosevelt
laid stress on in his message, the need
power to revise a rate and have their
decree stand until reversed by the
courts.
"When we ask for that we are not
asking for anything. experimental. we
ask simply that the Interstate commerce
which it had and exercised for ten
years, before it was taken. away by, the
courts. There is no occasion to make a
bugaboo of our bill.
Voice Of the Railroads. - ..
L
sion with more power than the govern
ment itself is not anything new and
does not deceive anybody. 1t is simply
the voice of the railroad which is OPP
posed to any government regulation, and
wants to 20 on treating the shipping
public in an oppressive and unfair man.
"'To do the railroads justice, not all
are opposed to legislation at this time or
q reasonable character. The more pro-
gressive and enlig htened roads feel that
It will be wise to have congress enact
some legislation along the lines suggest.
ed. But there are still many railroad
men who will use their influence to op-
pose our bill.
Raises Side Issue.
"All this talk of a court Of inter-
state commerce / regard as a diversion
of the issue and as raising side issue.
1t is a matter which may we'll be post
poned until later. We must proceed
in this matter step at time, and
long advance if we secure the points
covered in our bill. After that, if it
seems wise to create special tribunal
to hear railroad cases, that may be con-
sidered. '~ r. - .%,'sf@> r.
the pooling issue. There is no pooling
provision in our bill, and the congress
Of shipping interests which | represent
purposely omitted any reference to that
in their resolutions. That can be taken
up later. 1t is not essential to the
Cooper-Ouarles bill and it's discussion
can be deferred.
Let Commission Alone.
"Another thing to which I am
strongly opposed-or to which the ship
ping interests for which I speak are
opposed lis any proposal to change the
term Of office Of the interstate com
merce commission or to bring it under
the executive control by making it a
part of the department Of commerce
and labor. That was suggested and at
tempted year ago last winter while
the legislation for creating the depart
ment of commerce and labor was being
passed, and the business men Of the
trade and in other ways, raised thei1
voice most vigorously against it.
''The present interstate commerce
commission is body of able men, an6
their opinions and rulings on the sub
jects brought before them have beer
ed is to give this commission power tt
make it's rulings effective.
~ am glad to see, after all the year
of labor which we have put in urging
this subject on the country and the at
tention of congress-, that the time seem
complishment. We shall be greatly aide
in our fight by President Roosevelt. H
is pressing the matter on the attention
of congress, and I am hopeful that W
will get legislation this winter-I Nigh
say feel sure that we will
Differs from Morton's.
Mr.. Bacon said that he had enjoyed
very pleasant visit with Secretary Pat
Morton of the navy department, VIII
has been delegated by President Roos'
welt to aid in working out some sol,
ton on of i B Fo R be OF sean fro sg
foregoing statements of Mr.. Baco1
when they are compared with the recer
utterances of Mr.. Morton, that he an
the secretary Of the navy are rather fs
apart in their views.
Mr.. Morton has declared in favor {
legalized pooling, the creation of
court Of Interstate commerce and mo-
ification of the law relative to rebate
thru the instrumentalities Of privat
cars, switch tracks and similar device
Mr.. Bacon believes that the present la
will eventually reach the switch trac
and private car abuses.
Morton on Pooling.
In this connection it may be as we
b. repeat Secretary Norton statemel
in regard to legalized pooling. He say
WlIuOuI cIN1SlOu
but With such supervision every obje
ton to pooling disappears: shippe
say they do not care how the railroa
divide up the. money so long as thu
would permit railroads to stop freig
wars and disastrous competition.
would secure stability of rates, as
sirable to the shipping public as to t
roads, " -