Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-13
OOPER-QUARLES BILL
Another Hearing Today by
the House Committee.
THE RAILROAD RATES
EFFECT OF THEIR CONTROL BEING
INQUIRED INTO.
Increase in Freight Rates Said to Fall
Ultimately on the Con-
Su1ners.

The statement was made to the
House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce today that the
freight rates paid in 1908 were $I55,-
100000 greater than would have
been paid if the rates OF 1899 were
in existence. 1t was said that this
tremendous increase in freight rates
falls ultimately upon the consumers,
and in a measure accounts for the
increased cost of living.
At the Capitol today it was said
that there is revival OF the talk of
placing the interstate commerce
commission under the Department
of Commerce and Labor, thereby
subjecting it to executive control.
The House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce today resumed consid-
Grafton of the subject which is attracting
such widespread attention in the west and
is reflected in considerable extent in Con-
gress, namely the proposition to obtain
some governmental control of railroad rates
and fares. Mr. Bacon of Milwaukee. repre-
senting organizations Of shippers through
out the country, was again before the COM
mittee and was subjected to rapid fusillade
of questions from Chairman Hepburn of
the committee. The hearing did not result
in any definite action or understanding and
will be resumed at some later date.
Chairman Hepburn started in by asking
Mr. Racop a nl1rnher Of uueStjOna ma rent
ly designed to bring out whether Mr.. Bacon
or his organization was cognizant of the eff
forts intimated to have been made by the
interstate commerce commission to push
the agitation in behalf of the pending legis-
lation, and whether the organization was
cons answers were all in the negative, in
dicating a lack of knowledge of the inti-
mated action of the commission.
Chairman Hepburn brought out the fact
that the interstate commerce commission
did in 1899 adopt resolution directing the
secretary of the commission to send out let
ters urging the legislation and to assiduous-
ly pursue efforts in that direction. 1t was
brought out that the result of these efforts
was the preparation Of the so-called Cullom
bill, which,. however, was not enacted.
Chairman Hepburn also brought out the
fact that Chairman Cooley of the interstate
commerce commission within three months
of the organization of the commission ex-
pressed the opinion that the commission did
not have the power to regulate rates, and
that between that time and the rendering
of the maximum freght-rate decision by
the United States Supreme Court the lesser
courts repeatedly declared that the power
did not exist in the commission.
Mr. Bacon insisted that the courts had
ruled that the commission had no power to
make rates primarily. He went on to say
that the pending legislation does not have
that object in view either, but aims to give
the commission power to regulate a rate
upon complaint and to say what 1t should
be reduced to if it is found unreasonable.
Evils Complained of by Shippers.
Chairman Hepburn asked Mr.. Bacon
what were the serious evils which the ship
pers complained of at this time Mr.. Ba-
con replied that there were two evils, re-
lating to the rates between competing
points and the rates given competing prod
ucts. Above those, however, was the ques-
ton of the general raise in railroad rates
extending over the past four years.
Mr. Bacon said that in the year 1903 the
increase over 1899 had amounted to $685.
100000. He said the burden Of this increase
fell upon the consumers who bought food,
clothes, fuel and manufactured products.
Mr.. Bacon drew a distinction between the
complaints of the shippers and the COM
plants of the public at large. The shippers
were aggrieved mostly at discrimination,
but were in sympathy with the consumers
who felt the burden of the increased rates
The hearing was concluded by the arrival
Of the hour of II o'clock without action be-
ing taken by the committee.
There was revival today of the talk of
placing the interstate commerce commits
sion under the Department Of Commerce
and Labor. 1t will be remembered that
when the original bill for the organization
Of that department was under considera-
ton 1t was proposed to place the Interstate
commerce commission under direction of
the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. OBJ
lection was raised by the Senate, however,
and the interstate commerce commission
was permitted to remain an independent
body. Some of those who advocated the
original bill are saying now that If 1t Is de-
signed to increase the powers of the COM
mission it certainly will be advisable, in
their opinion, to place the commission un-
der executive control
AS a counter proposition to President
Roosevelts suggestion that the interstate
commerce commission be permitted to reg
ulate railroad rates the plan is now being
suggested in some quarters of organizing
a court to correspond to the circuit divi-
sions Of the country which shall have the
power to interfere in the complaints of ex-
orbitant rates.