Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-22
AS A RAILROAD MAN
SECRETARY MORTON ON REGULA-
TON OF RATES.
Views Expressed Five Years Ago Favor
Supervision by the Interstate
Commerce Commission.

The views of Mr.. Paul Morton. Secretary
Of the Navy, on railway Determinations, on
which subject he is eminently qualified to
speak are being referred to with interest
by men who are watching events In con-
uection with the proposed legislation for
the enlargement of the powers of the IN
terstate commerce commission.
When the United States industrial COM
mission was taking testimony on transport
tation in Chicago five years ago, long DC
fore Mr. Paul Morton was spoken OF as
possibility as a cabinet officer, and When
lie was serving second vice president OF
the Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe 'aI-
road system. he was called before the COM
mission and questioned about many of tie
matters that are now being discussed in
T. tion to the railroads.
Results of Consolidation.
The results of consultations Of small
railways into large systems has boan to
lower the charges for transportation, i'm
prove the service rendered and advance
wages" said Mr.. Morton on that occasion.
He spoke in favor of stable railroad rates
and declared that the giving Of passes by
railroads should be stopped.
II am not in favor declared Mr.. Nor
ton. of governmental establishment OF
maximum and minimum rates. unless at
the same time maximum cost of wages,
rails ties fuel and other supplies are Gr-
ranged for. Transportation is in every
respect a composite service. and unless the
prices of component parts are fixed the
iGea of fixing maximum price on the
whole seems unreasonable.
A Universal Classification.
IL think there are more freight classif-
cations in use than there ought to be, ana
believe in universal classification. al
though the effort to bring about such a
change fails because of the various opin-
ions respecting classification held by men
from different parts of the country. The
Pittsburg man was in favor of very low
rates on articles of iron, because they
comprise large portion of the tonnage on
his road while the California man thought
the PittSburg mans proposition was too
low. because his lines in California only
hauled iron incidentally, and II constituted
very small portion of his tonnage. Thus
il was with many other articles. l favored
the appointment of an expert commission
to make railroad classification and be-
EeVe. once adopted and adjusted to our
commerce. that it would be wise meas
ure."
Mr. Morton favored legalzed pooling and
believed it would result in general good to
the railroads, to communities and to indi
Viduals vbgkqjt tn thei
Unless" he said, 'legalized pooling is
authorized by Congress the railways of the
country are more than likely to pass into
the hands of a few owners. and then, with
out being legalized a pool of the earnings
accomplished.
in view of the poor outlook for legalized
pooling. this concentration of ownership
has already commenced. j am in favor of
r.. and think that such combina ton would
insure better service to the public without
any unreasonable advances in rates. In
fact, think the the rates would be lower.
Interstate Commissions Powers.
I believe the interstate commerce COM
mission. or some similar body has come TO
stay. l am in favor of its having proper
authority, and am willing, under legalized
pooling, that it should be empowered to
pass. subject to review, upon the reason
ability of rates. l go further than most
railroad officers in stating that | should
like to see all transportation, both state
and Interstate subjected to the supervi-
sion OF a federal commission.
There is too much conflict between
states to suit me. | do not like the idea
Of state railroad commission taking ac-
ton to nullify order issued by the in
terstate cOmmi SSion l do not believe that
any state should endeavor to adjust its
rates of transportation as to unjustly dis
eliminate against shippers outside of said
state. For this reason L believe the public
generally and the railroads, too would be
better off if federal commission could
pass on all matters pertaining to our in
land transportation. / want to emphasize
this point and to add that 1 doubt very
much II federal commission can accom-
plish what it ought to and what will be ex-
pected of 1t unless it has control of state
rates. The state and interstate rates are
50 interviewer that they must necessarily
be considered together"
Opposes Government Ownership.
Nv afl he
ernment ownership of railroads. Where
such ownership occurred he said. the rates
are higher than with us.
There are many" he said who believe
that left to competition and other natural
laws. the railroad problem will adjust itself,
and l am of that opinion. But the large
majority of people do not recognize this,
and therefore federal regulation is with US
as q permanent condition
This being the case, | think that railway
construction should be subject to super
vision of the federal authorities. L do not
believe that new railroads should be built
unless good reason can be shown for their
necessity.
One of the chief causes of our last two
Uaulcs was an overconstruction of rail-
roads. The unnecessary paralleling or du-
p!ication of lines in the invasion of territory
already well served, and new railroads
projected to blackmail existing lines, should
not be permitted
In revising the interstate commerce act
this should be well considered If il is fair
TO regulate the transportation lines of the
il is likewise just that they should
receive ample protection.
In reply to a question by Commissioner
Kennedy, Mr.. Morton said he thought there
were unjust determinations of rates. and he
believed they should be dispensed with.
Birth of the Moon