New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-24
.GAYN0R HAS RATE REMEDY
gTPHOLDS THE PRESIDENT.
Justice Would Haze Federal Gen
craL Freight Agents.
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuSE.I

Pougfkeepsie, ". Y, Dec. 2o.-Jusllce " 'Aiioii'
~ Caynor, Of Brooklyn. the principal SPEAK
or at the dinner OF the local New-Ensla'l @0-
ciety. at the Nelson House, tonight. His toast
was 1.-THE Effect OF the New-England Mind and
Conscience on the Mind and Conscience Of the
I Country at Large" After referring to the in
l1uence of New England in times past. he SAID;
.It may be more useful 10 observe or antlci-
pate the working of the New-Engiand mlho
and conscience dispersed throughout the coun-
ifIy. on the questions now pressing forward and
the unrighted wrongs Of the hour"
Judge Gaynor then took up the subject OF
unjust freight rates. He declared that the IN
terstate Commerce Commission had failed 10
remedy the evil, ana that It needed summary
executive treatment instead of the slow processes
OF judicial procedure The speaker advocated
that the federal government should appoint the
general freight agent Of every railroad. He
also spoke in high terms Of the President, and
maintained that it the duty of all to give
him 'our most strenuous support in this move
rnent' The address is, in part as follows:
The greatest crime Of our day and generation is
faTori,Ism in freight rates on our puDaS G
an the land for the benefit OF Few OF thelr
crime than the public hghws>s Of country, which
are open by law TO the free and equal use OF al,
destroy their competitors in business? Dlscrmiha-
trusts The first and greatest trust was built
zyhoIlv by IL ana all Of the injurious trusts
Sostered IL not wholly sustained, by it.
If there be any that makes many poor to
make few rich, that suits not a commonwealth"
when he said it. That the public highways OF
country should be used to aggrandize few by de
stroy1ng many Is so infamous ana so heartless
f7nat shall be looked back upon generation
10 continue so long. II has done more wrong than
all the other crimes defined IN our statutes. But
and r. nat be So The boSr Of its estr Is is a.
a for
fore ii!
After declaring that the railroads were as much
public highways the dirt roads. although
built Dy private corpora tons Justice Gaynor
Hnued:
The public is not to be deluded with the state
mont that rebates are no longer paid back by the
railroads 70 shippers OF freight OF course. such
rebates have not been directly paid as rule in
But The same result has been accomplished by
hidden and indirect methods. The public has known
common law proof 10 know g. thing; business men
go not regulate their conduct that way. But now
have common law proof of furnished by the
Testimony before the recent session of the Inter
state Commerce Commission in the city Of New
I. BY means Of private freight carrying companies
largely participated in. Il noc wholly controlled, by
ithose who control the railroad companies. the same
result IS acconpIsneq- Inc cars or tnese private
companies are hauIed by me railroad companies
Eunoer arrangements which bring about the same
a rental. real or pretended. paid by the railroad
accompanies for such cars. or in some similar way.
hRuled by the railroads mileage rates and under
arrangements which make competition with them
The evil OF freight rate discrimination has
before long. The Interstate Commerce Commits
fsion was created 10 stop II. but has failed 1t
brought before it meet with an sorts OF delays.
tand business T1en at a distance who make them
Publication Of the laws delay which Shakespeare
land which seems be eternal The evil needs
summary executive treatment instead OF the slow
: nPa Ny-
pound Of Judicial cure.
. Some advocate the taking Of railroads by
government II the possibility Of this experience
we have lad with freight rates had been fore
seen, the government would never have turned
lover these highways TO corporations. But the
resumption Of them now would be a enter
Prise. All that We need. II seems 10 me- is that
ne government appoint the general freight agent
fof every railroad That would end all dscrinl-
3naton IN freight rates The local freight agents.
o-ll pc i-leo TO the general freight agent
lEppolnted ny the government and dismissed for
the slightest discrimination in favor OF any one in
l5TelghL rates; ana IN addition il should be made
that # should lie 5es+ Win II as as OF TonopoHes
right settlement wiz lie souud 10 settle TnnS, -
tIne Other questions also. if not all Of them II
viii restore free competition at a controlrne
Point for freight rates enter controllingiv into
IssreSosl on every commodity at the end Of its
t9ouTneE-HaToely, as il is produced 20 the con
The, The gTeat man who is at the head of this
'o%n motion and not at the behest OF any political
strenuous support and to declare in season and
5or t stSon with the persistence of Cato calling
ton in freight must be utterly ' destroHed
no matter what means must be adopted. y '''
Justice Gaynor advocated the adoption Of the
hAuatFe and referendum as a solution OF the
.PIobiem OF how TO prevent legislatures from
passing laws which the people oppose and how,
49, :, O'7 me people 10 get laws which they