The DeLand weekly news. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1887-190?, 1904-05-06

In addressing this paper 10 yOu. :
20 Il with the zole purpose u giving
yOa some insight into = question o.
mOst vital Importance 90 our peOple
We are confronted wlth grave Qaes
tons % vital moment "a the State
and Nation. and in the selection ~
public servants the great responsible.
ity rests first with ~ In wisely -
lsctihg the best men To represent rs
A Vital Question 10 FIoridisns
One % the most vital questions "a
FiOrid.ans. and the one that we are
most Immediately and materially inter.
ssted In. i securing such Legislation
as will strengthen aud enlarge the
powers % the Inter State Commerce
Commission. which In. practically
speaking. the Nat .onal Railroad Con
mission. That Commission should
have the power Ia make and eafOrce
Interstate rates. a power which they
have RO, ~ present
Freight Rates uniUssIy Advanced
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sioR In It's last report dwslls az length
On the fact that for me last three
yesTS the general policy Of the car.
Tiers has been TO raise their rates.
claiming that a. the cost Of equip
msnt has been 50 materially advanced.
they should therefore be allowed To
raise rates Ia enable them To share
In the prosperity Of the country.
Nov | claim that they are sharing
10 the prosperity 81 the country With
out raising a single rate talthouEh
they have raised IhsmI by reason Oi
the immense Increase n the business
VI the c0uhtfy
People shoula share IN Properly.
The grsas Increase In traGhc. beth
freight and passenger. has enabled
them To operate up To their full eapae-
III: therefore the tendency has been
% minimize the cost Of operation and
the eOst per ton per mils Oi handling
and hauling
To illustrate II an engine and
crew haul 20 cars leo miles. instead
Of 10 cars leo miles. a. the same rate
Of freight. surely the profit per ton
Per mile will - greatly increased.
True. Il will re,laire moTs equipment.
. feW more meR aud s1ms more fuel
20 run the train u 20 cars than q
does the one 81 10 cars. but the fact
remains that the profit per ton pr
mile h greatly ineT,a,ed and 50 you
see that their rates don't have % be
raised "a ensure them the full enjoy
meui Of the prosperity % the oouBiry
IN tact. they are getting more Of in.
creased profit frOm the prosperity u
the country than the people are
Rvle that ooat Work Beth Waya
nNe grant the railroads contention
that they should b. aIlowes 20 raise
their rates In order To share In the
prosperity of the country. then. In
common sense. What p0uer oa earth
have the people 20 COMPEL them 10
be lowered In the sbsence Of legssla
tam emPOwerihg the Interstate Con
meree Commission Wlth ths right to
make these rates. should hard tines
o0me Hpon the country None What.
ever. save In . feN remote Instances
uhere competition regulates the rates.
and competition B. 80 mihim.ksd IN
this day % trasts. railroads mergers
and combinations. a. to BE worth Nc
ale or nothing
And whOeyeT heard % railroads low
Ing the people % the country enough
90 lower their rates without being
compslled IN do 80 by composition.
(which - already practically . thing
% the pasp OF BY some power nzst
~ law
FIsrlaa More Iatsrssasd thaa Aay
This b q question that Affects The
whole country. and Affects each one
% us In Florida. Tor Interstate rates
Ia F1orids have been raised. and they
sannsa be reached ~ the Interstate
Commerce Commission under Its pres
ent Limited pOWsFs OF By the Ststs
RSilroad Commission.
This question IL. IN fact. q more W |
tal importance 20 the people q Flor
Ia thsa % the people q any other
state in the Unioa. Cor the reasos |
that no other state In the Union pays
Fatss SO high. Or nearly - high. Ger |
- fr.nss.trt nfisrn ~ "a nrnAncfa "A