The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-04
WOULD REGULATE
RAILROAD RATES
Interstate Commerce Commission to
Have Large Powers Under Bills
Pending Before Congress.
Only Intended to Make Transports.
ton Mono ,pe n,at Subject to Eea-
sonable Control by Courts

New York Sun Special Service.
Chicago, Jan. 4.-Walter Wellman,
in a Washington special to the Record
Herald, says:
One of the most important bills to
be considered by this congress was in
troduced in the house by Mr.. Cooper
of Washington and in the senate by
object is to make the interstate COM
merce commission something more
than a fgurehead and give it power
to enforce it's decisions.
Mr.. Cooper has given much study to
the problems offered in the proper adj
justment and control of transpOrta-
ton facilities of the country. The
bill I have introduced represents an
agitation of several years standing by
organizations of shippers thruout the
country for the purpose of securing
| legislation to give power to the inter-
unjust rates on railroads." he ex-
planned to-day. For many years the
interstate commerce commission in its
annual reports has complained that as
a result of a decision Of the supreme
court of the United States it's only
| power under the interstate commerce
act is to point out abuses and request
that they be abated. The commits
sion is, however, without any power
whatever to prevent the abuses or
compel their discontinuance.
1T is not the purpose of the bill, as
Mr.. Hill of the Great Northern seems
to apprehend, judging from his inter-
/ views continued Mr.. Cooper, ito have
the interstate commerce commission
violently disarrange all the railroad
| tariffs of the country. Some of these
tariffs are proper and will remain I'M
| changed; others, however, are grossly
unfair and ought to be corrected.
/ ''The bill does not provide that the
| Interstate commerce. commission shall
initiate any changes in railroad tariffs.
Under the bill the commission could
4 not touch railroad tariff except some
aggrieved shipper should first file his
written complaint, setting forth the
wrong which he demands to be right
!. ed. Then the railroad is to be
notified, and it is to have due time
: in which to file it's pleadings. The
a issue thus joined will be tried before
7. the interstate commerce commission
an importial board, having no desire
: other than to give justice between
shipper and corporation. After the
shipper and the railroads have pre-.
scented the testimony for their. re.
spective sides the commission vii
commission fixing a rate goes into i'm.
mediate effect and is presumed to be
just and air.
Appeals Provided For.
eff the railroad company is no
satisfied, it may within twenty day:
: appeal to a circuit court Of the United
States. That court may try the case
upon the record brought up from t}s:
: Interstate commerce commission, or
5 att the instance of either party, ma!
: hear new witnesses. In due time TIT
court will make an order. II 1t sus
J. tains the findings of the commission
: the railroad may appeal to the su
! preme court of the United States ant
!. the appeal will have precedence owe
8 all business except criminal cases.
: the supreme court finds that the rat
: fixed by the commission is just 1t vii
!, dismiss the appeal. but if it finds tina
= the order of the commission was mad
= under some error of law, or is, upo
:, the facts, unjust or unreasonable,
y can modify or annul the same by ap
: propriate decree. Meanwhile. pend
q ing these appeals, the tariff fixed b
n the commission will be enforced.
: 'sThe only object of the bill is to Sc
r cure just, equal and reasonable rate
e to all shippers without discriminate
o as between persons or localities an
l. this can be done best by extending tn
g powers of the commission so thu
t.. when it finds an abuse it cannot onl
e point it out, but make an order Whic
n sshall put a stop to it. At present til
d average individual has practically n