The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-12-17
DECEMBER IL 1904
The President and the Railroads.

The President and the Railroads.
Next to agriculture the railroads arc
tho greatest industry In America. 49,
tween eight and ten million people de-
d rend on the railroads directly or indirectly
for their daily bread and there are thou-
sands and thousands Of people OF mod
crate or small estates who have invested
their entire worldly wealth III railroad
securities. In addition to these econsld-
erations there is the further influence OF
81 the billions OF dollars invested In. rail-
roads and the enormous political power
welded by the capitalists who control
them It must not be thought that Presi-
cent Roosevelt does not understand these
things or that he will undertake cru-
SADIE against railroads. But he feels that
{ BY his demand for an act on these lines
Il He says:
.'ln my judgment the most important
legislative act now needed as regards
the regulation Of corporation is this act
to confer on the Interstate Commerce
Commission the power to revise rates and
regulations, the revised rate to at once
go into effect and to stay in, effect UNI
less and until the court Of review re-
verses it,
From every Indication the fight has
Just begun and es The Times Dispatch
said yesterday morning tho railroads
have already begun to urge a court IN,
place OF the commission as a subst!-
tute for the Presidents plan OF making
4 the rates. One OF the vital issues at
stake is that little phrase In the Presi-
dents &c that "the rate shall take
effect Immediately and obtain unless, and
until it Is reversed by the court Of re-
view. This. the railroads maintain is a
great hardship on them as it will dis
turn and disorgnnizc their rates without
any assurance that the rates as made
by the Interstate Commerce Commission
( will be approved ny the court OF review.
tcrested in the public welfare can with
terrific force urge the past record Of
dilatory tactics on the pant of the rail-
roads in fighting all such cases, a spe-
ces OF obstruction which has hitherto
nullified to all ntents and purposes any
power OF Interstate Commerce Com
mission towards enforcing equitable
freight rates. Tho railroads have urged
that they he allowed TO give bond to re-
fund any excess rate that may have been
u charged If the court upon review de-
cides that the rate as fixed by the In
terstate Commerce Commission was
proper. On the other hand it Is urged
by those who take the Presidents view
Of the sc that no re'und In rates can
repair the damage which Is wrought by
the Dedication OF trade consequent upon
a change in rates. Suppose, for example,
that tho freight rates to Newport News
and Norfolk from western points were In
dispute and pending settlement bond were
given that the excess would be refunded,
The case might he argued and DELAYED
Tor couple OF years. at tho end of which
time the shipper might win and receive
his rebates. But in all likelihood the
trade for those points In matters cover
ed by the rate in question would nave
been irreparably damaged, II not wholly
! lost.
The question Is one OF the utmost dI1ii-
Guilty. hut 1t must be met and it can be
settled II only the railroads will consent
TO meet the proper demands of the people
IN a broad spirit. Already the Depart-
ment OF Commerce has made inyestira-
tons which arc conclusive in establishing
the fact that abe growth and power OK
the great trusts, Ihe beef trust for rx-
ample, is almost entirely due to the spe.
cial advanta ges accorded them in the mat.
( terof freight rates, This rebate is made
TO the beef trust under the euise OF an
allowance TO the owners Of private car
lines for the use OF such equipment. AS
this has resulted In putting In the
power OF the beef trust to crush out MI
composition and as result, this monop-
Oily, which is In practical control of the
meat supply of the country and every
other food product has so strongly en-
renched itself as 10 be almost hopeless
~ beyond competition, The public is
waking UP and the fight made by La
Toilette in Wisconsin, and Van zant in
Minnesota, against the aggrAssions OF
railroads demonstrate that the railroads
ara not inpincible and that Mr., Roose.
welt Ia not without support in his de-
mands. To-day Throughout, America we
see without comment laws being en-,
forced against railroads which twenty.