Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-30
RAILROAD Tux IS s,,s PER FAMILY.

RAILROAD Tux IS $t16 PER FAMILY.
AS soon as congress convenes the
Cooper Quarles bill will come up fol
discussion. In brief It's provisions are
intended to give to the Interstate COM
enerce commission authority to name
freight rates on all railroads within
the United States, wherever 1t shall
adjudge the present rate unreasonable.
When the commission was establish
cd in 1887 1t was popularly supposed
that this was the main purpose of It's
existence, but the lawyers OF the spe-
cial interests evidently got In their
work on the piraseology OF the bill for
the supreme :ourt soon decided that
oil the commission had power to do
was to say that certain rate was I'M
reasonable. The railroads would then
change their rate fraction of cent
either up or down and 1t would take
another interninable hearing before
the commission, with possibly a law
suit, thru several successive appeals to
high courts. before decision could
be obtained. For months and months
the rate would stand. and when q de-
cision finally came another immaterial
change would be made and the same
circumlocutior practised.
1t Is now proposed that the COM
nission have power not only to say
that given rate Is unreasonable, but
when so deciding to have the power to
name q rate that 1t thinks Is reason
able. which rate shall go into effect
immediately and continue until the
commission it reversed by higher
court. AS 1t Is now the railroad can
keep up Its unreasonable rate while
At badgers the public with almost end
less litigation. Under the proposed
rev law the commission would name
the rate which would stand while the
railroad itself was doing the litigating.
Presidents Cleveland and Mckinley
both recommended such legislation to
congress and It is expected that Pres
tdent Roosevelt will do the same.
One thing Isl now very evident, name
", that either the public must be
given some protection in the matter of
freight rates or the public will soon
take up with wild and radical policy
and proceed to operate its own rail-
roads. The common carrier is too much
OF public institution to be allowed
free range to. do as 1t pleases under
the unrestrailled management Of half
dozen men.
When railroads were independent OF
one another and bidding against one
another for business the public was
content to let the low bidder establish
the rate, but this was hard on the
roads in many instances and they
combined. They have kept on COM
bining until five groupes are now said
to control practically the entire rail-
road mileage Of the United States.
Five traffic managers under demands
from five boards Of directors for more
dividends to float more stock can take
dinner together In New York City and
the transportation tax on the business
interests Of eighty millions Of people,
which Ex-Governor Larrabee says
amounted last year to $116.55 for every
family Of ave. persons in the country
or 1864, 100000, is determined and es-
tablished. In fixing the rate Of tax
alton Of $3.50 per family tor the
support Of the United States govern
ment all the heads Of families are given
q vote at the polls. but five men can
name the transportation tax Of three
times that amount. 1t Is no wonder
that farmers,' grange conventions.
manufacturers associations, livestock
associations and such champions Of
the peoples rights as Cummins. Van
SAINT and LaF'ollette are clamoring for
relief from such arbitrary power. The
railway owner who opposes the reform
is merely inviting storm.