New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-21
RAILROAD RATES AND PREFERENCES.

A valuable contribution TO the current discus
SIGN Of railroad rates and federal supervision
over them was made in The Tribune yesterday
by q number Of leading railroad managers Its
interest was enhanced by the circumstance
that On the same page there appeared a sum
mary Of the Interstate Commerce Commissions
report which corrected some erroneous impress
stons and contained much important informa-
ton On points 10 which the spokesman for the
railroads did not allude 1t is perhaps. less sur
prising that many railroad managers are OPP
posed 10 p bestowal Of larger powers on the
commission than that others are inclined 10
favor sEcb action by Congress in conformity
with the recomm endation Of the Presidents
Message. II IS universally acknowledged that
extremely intricate questions are involved, and
rhst 10 legislation relating TO them should be
adopted in haste, and for that reason it is graft
flying 70 observe that the discussion is not only
srousing wide interest but is heing conducted
IL a dispassionate manner.
II the statement which he obligingly made
for publication in The Tribune Mr. William H
Traesdale, president Of the Delaware Lacks-
wanna and Western Railroad Company. said:
To take away from the railways the right 70
establish. in lawful manner. what they deem are
ressoLa be rates ard charges for the service
they VIII render The public. and empower a com
iZlsslo- 70 90 So. and require the railways 70
make effective the commissions rates denying
them the rjghr 10 appeal by giving proper bond
Is IN effect = denial Of justice the taking Of the
property Of the railways without due process of
Jaw, denial n the right which our Constit,I-
% ton guarantees absolutely 10 every one Of its
citizens. Neither the existing general business
conditions of our country nor those Of any par
oculsr section or community warrant or justify
any such radical departure from our past policy
n dealing with our great transportation prob
lem
Ii was for the purpose Of correcting just such
q misapprehension as is indicated in the fore
going quotation that the commission pointed
out that the proposed amendments TO the law
would confer upon il no power arbitrarily 10
initiate or make rates for the railroads and that
no such power seriously sought but mere
u such measure OF authority as the commits
SION was supposed 10 possess and actually ex-
ercisec for ten years without causing alarm or
dong mischief. II is important that this mis-
apprehension, whether dsingenuouslv or mis-
takeniy fostered, should be dispeIled To frame
q general schedule Of rates is one thing: the
revision. subject to judicial review Of partic-
uisr rate after full investigation, though posi-
bly objectionable is very different thing.
Railroad managers who object TO the pro
posed legislation seldom or never ATTEMPT 10
Justify rebates. Their argument is that such
arrangements for the benefit Of favored shin
pers have been almost wholly discontinued. and
mat there is an ample remedy in the courts
Tor any wrong Of that sort. Technically. their
statement Of the case may be correct. but the
Condition r@sll5luz ia what is equivalent 10 a