Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-22
Counter Propositions on the
Rate Question Only Serve to
Divert Attention
WANT oUARLEs BILL TAKEN UP
Tho Measure Has Been Before Con-
gross Long Enough to Give Both
Shippers and Railway interests Time
to Acquaint Themselves With Its
Provisions.
Provisions.

Washington, Dec. 22.-The sentiment
Of the shipping interests, as voiced
by e. r. Bacon of Milwaukee, is
strongly against any proposition which
will divert the attention of those who
are talking government regulation Of
railways, away from the Cooper
Quarles bill.
THAT bill Is all we are asking at
this time,' said Mr.. Bacon, to your
correspondent. There Is no occasion
for opening UP vast field of discus
sion or going into numerous theoret-
ical remedies. Our bill has been dis
cussed now for several years, and it's
way interests, as well as shippers. 1t
embodies the one principle which
President Roosevelt laid stress on in
his message the need for giving the
government authorities power to re-
wise q 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 COM
merce commission be clothed with the
power which 1t had and exercised for
ten years before it was taken away by
the courts. There is no occasion to
make bugaboo Of our bill.
Voice of tho Railroads.
"The talk Of investing the commits
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 go on treating the ship
ping public in an oppressive and unfair
manner.
ITO do the railroads Justice, not all
are opposed to legislation at this time
of reasonable character. The more
progressive and enlightened roads feel
that it will be wise to have congress
enact some legislation along the lines
suggested. But there are still many
railroad men who will use their in
fluence to oppose our bill.
Raises side Issue.
Cali this talk of court Of inter-
state commerce regard as diversion
Of the issue and as raising a side issue
It is a matter which may well be post
poned until later. We must proceed
in this matter step at time and
we will feel that we have accomplished
a 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
considered.
Il am opposed likewise to raising
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 uarles bill and it's discussion
can be deferred.
Let Commission Alone.
Another thing to which am strong
ly opposed-or to which the shipping
interests for which speak are OPP
posed-is 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
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
country, speaking thru the boards of
trade and In other ways raised their
voice most vigorously against it.
"The present interstate commerce
commission is a body of able men, and
their opinions and rulings on the sub
iectS brought before them have been
of a very high order. All that is need
ed is to give this commission power to
make Its rulings effective.
81 am glad to see, after all the years
Of labor which we have put in urging
this subject on the country and the at
tention Of congress, that the time
seems to be at hand for some substan-