Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-30
FREIGHT RATE REFORM
NOTED IOWANS CONFIDENT OF
POSITIVE LEGISLATION.
President Said to Be Interested in Sc
curing a Square Deal for ALL
Opinions Expressed.

Ex-Secretary of State George L. Dobson
Is just back at Des Moines, Iowa, from
this city. He is confident that sentiment is
ripe here at this time for reforms in con-
nection with the freight rate question.
In an interview printed in the Des Moines
Capital he says:
II called upon the Iowa delegation in
Congress while / was in Washington and
found that the members have been at
work along the lines suggested by the Pres
ident with reference to charging the power
of the interstate commerce commission to
the end that they may be able to compel
the railroads to grant reasonable rates
TO the small shipper as the large one; IN
other words, to prevent discrimination OF
every kind. The delegation seemed to be
perfectly in harmony with the President
in regard to his ideas of controlling cor
porations in general.
"In my opinion there is no question but
that in the near future we will have some
very positive legislation along these lines.
The President seems thoroughly determined
that so far as 1t is possible to prevent
abuses by the great corporations. IT snail
be stopped. In other words, using his own
language, he wants square deal for all.
President in Hearty Accord.
1.-The President has been working on the
question of freight rates for more than
extremely silly for any individual to claim
that If it had not been for his influence
the President would have failed to make
any recommendation on railroad matters.
Ibid the President send for you to consult
with your
mo, he did not, and so far as I could
learn, he hasn't sent for any ocoer Iowa
man outside of the Iowa delegation. TO
consult with him in regard to these mat
tiers. but he is always glad to talk with
any person no matter where they come
from, providing they have anything to Of
fer which may be of advantage TO the ao-
ministration."
Views of Representative Smith.
There are fair prospects that Congress
will either increase the power of the inter-
state commerce commission and authorize
it to regulate railroad rates, or create
special court to perform that duty. If some
bill of this kind is not passed at the pres
ent session it will be due simply to lack
of time. Some such legislation is certain
in the near future, if not at this session,
then at the next one
This prediction was made by Represen-
tative Walter /. Smith at Council Biuf1s,
Iowa, upon his return home from Wash
ington for the holidays. Before starting
for the capital a month ago he was of the
opinion that some action would be taken
by Congress looking toward federal regu-
lation of rates, and he still thinks so. The
rate question, as viewed by Representative
Smith, has entirely obscured the tariff.
Business and shipping interests he
said, have been strongly united in their
demand for legislation along this line, and
of late the same sentiment has been aroused
among those interested in agricultural in
dustries. The Presidents message brought
the matter into prominence, and his rec
ommendation will undoubtedly be acted
upon in some way.
A Tribunal of Judges.
''As substitute for the original idea of
clothing the interstate commerce commits
sion with power to make rates. it has been
proposed to form a tribunal of judges to
pass on questions of the kind This plan
contemplates one judge in each of the nine
circuits of the United States to sit and de-
termine matters in their respective terri
tories. A court of appeals for the country
at large would be created to review the de-
cisions of individual judges.
THE sentiment of the ninth district seems
to be in line with that of the rest of the
country, so far as l have been able to
learn. The people seem to be a great deal
more interested in this question at present
than they do in the tariff. ] do not think
the tariff will be reached at this session.