The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-25
REGULATION OF RATES
CONGRESS IS DEEPLY CONSIDER
 ING THE QUESTION.
Commissioner Frank c. Barry Says Progress is Slow, But satis- factory Withal--Three
 Notable Bills.
Advertiser Bureau,
 Colorado Building,

Notable Bills.
 Advertiser Bureau, Colorado Building, Washington, Feb. M. The important question of regulation 5s law of railway charges Is engaglrg thought of the leading men of Congress as much as any other issue before It. For some time there has been consid- erable agitation toward comforting upol the Interstate Commerce Commission power adequate to the purpose of is creation. Several bills have been int-c- among them are the bills introduced 3y Senator Quarles and Representative Cooper of Wisconsin, and Williams of Mississippi.
 National Board of Trade and Secretary of the Interstate Commerce Law Con- eention. m reply to what progT ess Was just now being made toward the enacl-
 ment Of any of the pending bills to amend the interstate commerce law. replied:
 "lrogress IS slow, but satisfactory y WithaL We are at present concentrating cur efforts for this legislation upon the House of Representatives, believing that the Senate will prove receptive towaid a measure of this character which may come from the House. am perfectly confident that our bill will pass the House by an overwhelming vote, if the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, in the hands of which 1t now rests, might be prevailed upon to cun-1 s1der and report a measuasv Thus far q majority of that committee has refused to accord us so much as a hearing, aud its chairman and several of the infiuer- tial members assert that they will not consent to spend any time upon the sub ject being wearied with the importu.ii- ties of the public during the last few sessions of Congress.
 "The committee is so constituted that the majority stands as stone wall to prevent any legislation winch may be disapproved by the railroads of the coun- try. Many railroads object to any ard ail legislation which may seem to cur. tail their unlimited freedom from Gov ernment regulation or control. They de- sire free license in the conduct of then Congress, as they have been for a nuIn- Der of years, to prevent, through theIr control of committee members. even cCn- sideration by Congress of any measure which does not meet their approval. think that they are short-sighted in ex sr- ctsing such power, which is because sole ly of lack of information on the part of the people generally as to how things are done at the Capitol; and I believe, before long, they w1ll commence to reap the harvest they have sown.
 "Eyer since the decision of the Su- preme Court, which stripped the Inter. to correct rates, which 1t may find to bs unjust or unlawful, power which it exercised, with the most beneheent re- suits for ten years after the law was en- ufacturing interests of the country haze been pers.stently pleading with the Con greSs to so amend the law with respect to the defect founG by the Supreme the Commission. Bills have ben intr0- duced in the last three Congresses to this end. In the last Congress the 3D. called Elkins law, which was but por- n 10 adEnnafad hu ized shippers, was enacted. It has pro duced active results in preventing ils- crfrEinations in favor of individuals and shippers have morally profited, but the principal and most substantial benefit has boen derived by the railroads. We arc now striving further to amend the law so aS to stop discrirnina tioEs in favor Of localities and clasJes of freight and to, prevent the exacting of unreasonable cnarges.
 T believe ttere is no subject before the present Congress which is of great importance equal to this question of Gov ernment regulation of transportation rates. The people realize more and more every day that the cost of transportation Is actually tax which must be paid by every man. woman and child upon every
 thing that they eat, wear or buy, ard that this tax is imposed, under existing Conditions, no. by the Government, but at the will of few men who control the transportation rates of the country, whom
 
 not restrain in the exercise of this enCr-
 nous and arbitrary power. The people know that merely upon the principle the they need the money the railroads have within the past three years made gen- eral advances in rates which, in lJuj, l brought to the lines operating in the east ern and central States a revenue of S142,- 0OO,0OO more than they received for the same service in 1900. It does not seem | wise or proper to permit such taxing power to remain vested entirely outside | of the control of our National Govern | ment. The people realize that in consid- | eration of valuable franchises and priv ] ileges received from them the law holus the common carrier and public servant | subject to duties and obligations very l different from those imposed upon ordI- | nary business concerns, and they feel that while there exists a certain right | of control by the Government over the l conduct of the arteries of commerce, 1t
 is now insufficient or not properly eXer- cised. This sentiment is rapidly and
 forcibly growing While a man may be exempt from, or evade, payment of taxes
 on real estate or personal property, ne
 well knows that he has got to pay the freight Realizing the fact, he becomes
 directly and intensely interested in the subject of Government regulation of Government transportation rates; and
 this question will certainly force Itself upon us as vital issue in national leg | islation.
 As evidence of the feeling that now l exists, 1t Is necessary only to point to | the fact that the present Congress has before 1t concurrent resolutions pasJ.d | by eight State Legislatures. asking fer | this legislation, like petitions from over | forty national commercial and manufac- turing organizations over the countcy l such as the National Grange Patrons of Husbandry, supported by twenty or more | State Oranges. Cne National Gram Deal | CTS Association. the Netional Hay AsS)- | ciation. the Miller's National Association
 national live stock, lumber, grocers, shoe
 and leather, hardware and cotton asso-
 citations, and about To local boards ar | trade, chambers of commerce and manu- | featuring organizations, embracing with
 in their membership over half a million | of the leading shippers of the United 1 States. Such pressure is surely strong
 enough to interest any member of our
 National Legislature who desires eard-
 estIy to serve the needs and wishes of
 the people. Since the opening of tlAe | special session of the Fifty-eighth Cen gress last November, and up to the pres | ent date. the Congressional Record re- | ports numerous petitions and memorials, | nled every day. more, with the exception | of three issues than upon any other sub | Ject. Hence it Is strange that relu@t- | ance should be evinced to meet and l solve the question. The opposition that 1 We are encountering merely demonstrates plainly the power of obstruction wiclded by the railroads" R. H. watkins.