Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-12-10

problem was presented 10 him by a
large delegation including governors
OF two states and representatives Of
many commercial organizations. II
Is n subject OF fundamental import
ance. II now comes up In the shape
OF n demand for an enlargement Of
the powers OF the Interstate Com.
morce commission. so as 10 AXE Il
practically n court Of last resort as
regards railroad rates.
Whether railroad rates be regarded
ns n transportation tax or as the
price paid for transportation service.
there Is nevertheless need OF the es.
tablishent OF some system which shall
Insure the making OF stable. equitable
rates, thus preventing discrimination
either between localities or individuals
The question has been raised as TO
whether the advance In railroad rates
In the past three years has been
equitable. In view Of the fact that by
cancellations and lnterchanges OF
stocks the railroads have been able to
| get rid Of excessive competition, and
have reduced almost TO an exact sci
ence the business OF transportation.
But whether this advance Is un war
rantcd and due 10 an arbitrary excess
OF a monopolistic power. or whether
II In only In line with the general
increases 10 prices OF commodities.
which have added TO the cost OF liv.
Ing. the fact remains that some solu
ton OF the railroad problem Is do
manded Speaking generally, there
are three ways Of dealing with the
railroad problem.
First. by letting the railroads alone
to do as tey please, depending upon
economic laws to protect the public.
Second, by selling them Ia the gov
ornment for their operation as public
property, the same nv the postoffice
department.
Third by leaving them under the
ownership and operation of corpora.
lions to be carried on as independ
ont business enterprises. but subject.
Ing them 10 supervision and regula.
tIon by the government
The third Is the system under
which we are now wording But II Is
held that the powers OF the officials
Of the government having supervision
over The railroads should be increas-
ed so as 10 prevent those inequalities
In rates ms serve 10 favor one Sc.
ton AT the expense Of another. To CT
rich one individual at the expense
OF many. aud TO confer powers scarce.
~ less than those OF the government
Itself upon individuals who. however
capable and conscientious they mny
be, have no direct responsibility 10
the people, We believe there is irs.
tice In this demand, We recognize
tina, tho making OF rates Is a very
delicate thing. involving many intrl
cate problems. and that It is a func.
ton which should be performed by
qualified experts, We recognize that
a government commission having pow.
or Ia regulate railroad rates might
work much mischief and that 10 cop
fer such powers upon d commission In
wolves the possibility OF political evils,
But however great those evils may
be, they are less than ,iaosa which
would attend either 80 tornmnt own.
cfship or an entire absence OF gov
eminent ~ pervision
The Wow Of "a leading railroad
lawyer" given In our columns a day
OR two ago that tho scope of the
Interstate commerce commission
should be lifted TO public invcstiga
tion and public hearing In cases
whore differences cannot be privately
adjusted, would reduce that body to
the status Of u referee who hears n
suit, hut Is unable TO decide Il, being
compelled to submit the evidence TO
the court which appointed him.
The making OF railroad rates IL so
important that It should be the joint
work of railroad officials who are
responsible only 10 stockholders and
~ government officials who are 70
sponsible TO the people The former
should make the rates, but the latter
.houid have the power TO regulate
them Something more than mere in.
sostigation Is needed.
TREASuRER'S REPORT.