The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-22

< CONGRESSMAN B. P. BIRDSALL, !.
!. Who Takes Advanced Ground Rail- s
). way Rate Question. 8
Ssx;.xxxyx .. Q =. 3 ~. xx:sX
Special to The Journal.
Clarion, Iowa, Dec; 22.-,Congressm1an
B. P. Birdsall of the third Iowa dis
trict in an authorized interview for
TIL g j Journal here today, declared
himself unequivocally in favor of gov
eminent supervision Of railway rates.
Z He also declared that law should be
enacted and put into immediate effect.
He said:
The time has arrived when further SUI
pervision Is necessary. When we examine
into the ownership of the great systems
of railways we find them centralized in a
comparatively few hands. The Wander
bilt system embraces 1850 miles; the
Pennsylvania. $4,000 miles; the Morgan
Z Hill system, $4,000 miles; the Gould sys-
tenn. $4,000 miles; the Hartman system,
$1,000 miles, or a total of $4,000 miles
of railroad controlled by five systems,
or. in other words, by five men or five
combinations. We have left out the
Atchison. Rock Island, San Francisco,
Milwaukee and Great Western systems,
aggregatng say 30, 900 miles, and these
constitute the only important independ
ent systems. The rest of the railways
are absolutely dependent upon these great
systems for their existence AS will be
SEEM these five men. five groups, now
have a monopoly of all the railway bust
ness of the country.
Freight is q tax everything that
enters into the commerce Of the country,
upon the clothes we wear, the things we
eat, and 1t is a tremendous power to
& rest in the hands of any five men to
dictate the tribute which shall be paid
For fully seventy years it has been an
established principle in the Jurisprudence
Of this country that railways were and
are public servants in the use of the
utilities at their command. This propo-
sition Is not only firmly established, but
& Its active maintenance is imperatively
necessary for the preservation of our
commerce.
What we need and what we are en-
titled to is as equal a distribution Of the
benefits Of transportation turnout the
~ country conditions will permit
Rebate Evil
Railways have failed to conduct the
rate making power on that basis and
. the only way we can correct the evils Of
secret rebates, Determinations between
individuals and communities, and exces-
s1ve rates, is to exercise in some form,
in some proper form, supervision over
8 the railroad rate. But one other alterna-
tive Is presented, and that Is, government
ownership. We are not yet prepared to
consider. much less to adopt, this alterna-
u tive, but opposition now on the part of
railways to reasonable control and super
vision will tend to influence public opin-
ion strongly in that direction
DO you think congress can confer the
f Grate-mak1ng power upon the commission
Power Of Commission.
This question has been resolved In the
nv
like power was conferred upon state
commissions, and I think would be an
Il sWered in the affirmative by the supreme
court of the United States. But do not
believe that question will be raised, 70,
railway companies will hesitate to rele.
III gate the question back to congress (Which
has that power) to become political issue
upon which that body is liable to reflec
the extremity of public opinion unfayor
able to them. Experience in the past ha!
# demonstrated that we can not look will
& safety to railway management for a. fail
exercise Of the power of rate making, ISu
z TO a tribunal Of impartial men possessed
Of power to enforce its DEGREES we car
# look for an honest and impartial review O
the subject and fair judgment upon tn,
merits.
"a If any five men are to dictate the rail
way rate in this country I would prefe
lit to be the five not interested in tn
N railway properties.
Quick Action Necessary.
When should the rate go into effect:
Whether the rate is fixed by the inter
state commerce commission or by SOM
.B other tribunal the rate should go int
u effect at once. This is the only effectiv
remedy for the shipper. If he is entitle,
5 to a reasonable rate he is entitled to /
at once and all the time. He wants to d.
business on 1t every day He cannot reg
ulate his business on the chances of re
covering the excess at some future time
5 Question in Politics.
Will the question enter politics.?
That depends on whether railway man
2 ayers are wise enough to realize the sit
uation and are willing to approach a set
tlement Of the question on the basis O
mutual interest All the people desire i
that the highways Of commerce be KEEP
open to all on equal terms. The publ
mind is not hysterical, but is thorol,
aroused to the Importance of the ques
IS ton and the people will move withou
malice but firmly to proper and fina
assertion Of their sovereignty and set
81 Element Of the problem