The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-15
MAY HAIl new
C0M|M|ER:CEC0UR
President Considering Advisa-
bility Of Movement Of This
Character.
BILL SAID TO BE DRAWN.
Colonel Harwood Calls at White
House iii Behalf Of
"a T. P. A. Men.
. (Frcm our Regular corrcspondent.)

sA.'i2ll. ~ Ii AZ tlNlCllt sszi.t5sf ~
(Frcin Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 14.-Col. John 8.
Harwood.f OF Richmond, chairman Of the
National Legislative Committee Of the T.
3 r. A,; r. W. Crandall, OF st. Louis, chair
man OF the Railway Committee Of the
same organization. and John G. Simmer,
Ing. a national director Of the organiza-
tion, had a talk to-day with President
Roosevelt BY invitation. concerning the
proposed legislation by which the regula-
tioh Of freight rates is 10 DO given to
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
The Presidents callers assured him that
the commercial men OF the country would
uphold him In his efforts to4secure leg
islation OF this character ana the Presi-
dent expressed his qualification.
The President Expressed great interest
In an Instance cited by Colonel Harwood
10 Illustrate the arbitrary manner IN
! which rates arc fixed by tho transporta-
5 ton companies. Until about six weeks
ago. the freight on barrel OF oil from
New York to Richmond was nifty cents.
Railway Company secured the control of
tfe Old Dominion Steamship Company
and at once, the rate was put lat ninety
* two cents Tho lonely excla nation With
4 which the President greeted the story
OF tho rapid rise in rates Illustrated the
(, deep interest he takes In tho subject.
Interstate Commerce Court.
The President intimated that the propo-
t,,f ut
court to take the place OF the com mis-
sion was being considered. bill OF
{ this charac tar was introduced some years
ago but received scarcely any attention
as the then President had not urged the
+ enactment OF that kind OF legislation. The
President had long talk on the subject
with Judge Grosscup. OF Chicago thls
week, and to-day he spent some time
q discussing the Same matter with Judge
s William Morrow, Of the United states
Circuit Court OF San Francisco. He Is
trying To- get to the bottom OF the cues
f tIons5 and those who oppose tho tlcgisla-
lion which he asks feels that his studious
attention to tho subject bodies them no
good.
Tits understood that the mind OF the
President is not ut all made up az Q
tho wisdom OF establishing court hav-
Ing The Jurisdiction OF the Interstate
$ ~,
,n.rged powers. among others. and chieil2.
mat to nix freight charges, It 70 be-
licycd he thinks there arc several COED
arguments in favor OF such tribunal,
which would occupy the position OF
> supreme Court OF Appeals In addition 10
& acting in an executive capacity
The Commerce Committee OF the Sem te
,sfil5rneSlr riday. and the subject sotleE-
fslat,on along the lines proposed ~ me me
President IN his message. with reference
TO railroads. will be fully cons dered. -! It
Is a forcgone conclusion that there Wll
be no legislation, on the subject THIS
session. ne Senator Elkins, Chairman Of
he committee, has assured the Pres dent
II that II will not be; possible to get the
bill through In such d short time.
Necessity for Action.
Colonel HarwootI and bis associates.
i urged upon the President to day the ne
cessity OF governmental action. and call
cd his atten ton to the fact that the rail-.
roads had advanced rates in spite OF {
fact that traffic was heavier than eyer
q IN the history OF the world. They pro-
) ,,uced figures to show that had the ton
mage OF 1893 been carried at the RI es
prevailing in 1883, the result would have
lsran a reduction in the earnings OF the
railroads for 1865 OF over SIX, 100 900, con-
versely that this Is the profit made by
tho roads In 1903 from increase IN III es
alone, Answering the statement OF the
railroads that these advances were maze
necessary by lncrea sed operating OK.
penses, a tho committee showed thai tho
gross earnings per mile OF line averaged
for 1897, s6112.l operating expenses, *4.loS
net earnings, s2,olG, X. Is
Il For 1906 g. 1853, operating expenses, -, :
1877: net earnings, 3,ls6.
SO that the net; earnings per milo OF
limo for the entire United States In spite
#of Increased operating expenses had In
creased nearly Il fty-e ight per cent IN six
years. @ IN q e 3, ~ So
The committee advances the theory
thnt tho regulation OF tax on the basis
OF 81, 900 900 people Of s2s.3l per capita and
n tax which had Increased since 1898
thiIty-seven per cent. was 40 important
n n matter to DO left in the present condi-
tlon. and urges a line Of action. which,
3 while conserving the interests OF the
legitimate owner and operator Of rail-
roads will protect the people from rates
fixed so as to y!cld a revenue on watered
stocks and Inflated valnatlons''
'tWc arc for governmental supervision.
not ownership or CONTROL said Colonel
Z 1Iarwood.. 4. f.s5iS ~ Ia
The committee believes this the atll-
tude OF the President.
The New York Herald Of yesterday
ErI,,fste t.ff8t ,t.trpOri 500 54bt nsut4lsa a
( basis Of legislation along tho line OF IN
Interstate Commerce Court. This bill Is
sa.4 to be now In the hands Of Attorney
General 'A,nodN. for pnn at.f& ftun sndtisf-
lection. 1t is almost word for word the
MEASURE drawn up by Richard Olyey,
formerly attorney-general,l and introduced
Z In the Senate by Senator Sawyer, OF Wis
consn. In January, 1893, a