Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-22
POWER TO FIX RATES
PROPOSED TO GIVE IT no THE IN,
TERsTATE COMMISSION.
Gov. Van SAINT Believes It Would Check
Some Of the Evils Of Transportation
Revision Of the Tariff.

Gov 8. r. Van SAINT OF Minnesota today
gave out the following interview concern
ing his conference with the President YES
terday on the question OF increasing the
powers Of the Interstate commerce COM
mission. and concerning his position on the
question of tariff revision at a special SEES
sion Of Congress. to be called next spring:
The object of the interview with the
President was to urge upon him the neces-
sity OF granting Increased powers to the in
terstate commerce commission. and to
quest him to recommend such action in
his forthcoming message. We believe the
best way to correct many of the evils of
transportation is to give to this commits
sion the power when a rate, after investi-
cation. has been found to be unreasonable.
to fix one. have 1t go into effect immedi-
ately and stand until the courts decide
otherwise. 1t was thought for some years
or until the Supreme Court decided to tho
contrary. in 1897. that it was clothed with
TINS power, and the commission acted ac-
cordingly. Until that time no difficulty
was experienced. Without this power the
commission Is of little value, except for
the purpose of gathering statistics and pub
licity.
No Desire to Injure Railway Lines.
1--WE fully realize that the growth and
development OF the country is dependent
upon the great lines of transportation, and
this action is not sought with any desire
to in1ure them or do them an injustice.
But as the great combinations of railways
have practically eliminated the question OF
competition. formerly a sufficient safe
guard, 1t seems the most feasible plan left
to protect the public from unreasonable
and unjust rates. No doubt there will be
fierce opposition, but / believe that an
aroused public sentiment will demand the
passage OF the Cooper bill. or one of SINH
lar purport. at the forthcoming session of
Congress. The railroad Is a necessity but
should not be allowed to become a monOp-
oily"
What about the merger?"
No More Open Mergers.
THAT is easily answered. There will
never be any more open mergers. no great
holding companies to be the receptacle of
the stock Of the various systems. The Su-
preme Court settled that question for all
time. But 1T does not prevent the heads OF
the various systems from meeting in New
York. or elsewhere. and agreeing upon plans
and policies for their special benefit and
the damage of the shipper and the other
patrons of their roads. 1t Is because of this
fact that this law should be amended so
as to give the government supervision of
rates when found to be unreasonable The
merger was mere incident in the great
transportation battle that will be waged for
years to come.
Tariff Revision.
What do you think of the proposition
that is being made for an extra session of
Congress to revise the tarif?''
AS is well known, I have for some time
favored tariff revision. and it is my earnest
hope that the President will see hts way
clear to call an extra session especially for
that purpose. On the platform, /, In. COM
mon with other republican speakers. have
claimed that the tariff would be revised by
its friends, and there never was more
opportune time than the present for doing
that work. Its friends are in control OF all
branches of the government, and the Presi-
dent has Just been elected by the most
startling and overwhelming popular vote
ever given President in this country.
with increased power given the inter-
state commerce commission and thu tariff
revised, the people would certainly be get
ting q square DEAL a