The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-12-06


complsh the purposes OF It's creation by
cooperation. not antagonism; by making
constructive legislation, not destructive
prosecution. the immediate object OF Its
inquiries: by conservative Investigation OF
law and fact. and by refusal 10 issue in
complete and hence necessarily inaccur-
ate reports. Its policy being thus one OF
open inquiry into. and not attack upon.
business. the bureau has been able TO gain
not only the confidence, but. better still.
the cooperation OF men engaged in legiti-
mate business.
The bureau offers 10 the congress the
means of getting at the cost OF produc-
ton OF our various great staples OF COM
merce
or necessity the careful Investigation OF
special corporations will afford the COM
missioner knowledge OF certain business
facts, the publication OF which might be
an improper infringement OF private
rights. The method OF making public
the results OF these Investigations affords.
under the law. a means for the protection
OF private rights. The congress will have
all facts except such as would give TO
another corporation informant ton which
would lnjure the legitimate business of a
competitor and destroy the Incentive for
individual superiority and thrift.
The bureau has also made exhaustive
examination into the legal condition un-
der which corporate business is carried
on I'm the various states; into all judicial
decisions on the subject: and into the
various systems OF corporate taxation in
use I call special attention 10 the re-
port OF the chief OF the bureau: and ear
nestly ask that the congress carefully
consider the report and recommendation
OF the commissioner on this subject.
INSURANCE.
The business OF insurance vitality affects
the great mass OF the people OF the United
States and is national and not local in it's
application. Ii involves a multitude OF
transactions among the people of the
different states and between American
companies and foreign governments. 7
urge that the congress carefully consider
whether the power OF the bureau of cor
porations can not constitutionally be ex-
tended to cover interstate transactions in
insurance.
REBATES.
Above all else, we must strive to keep
the highways OF commerce open to all on
equal terms; and 10 do this II is necessary
TO put complete stop 10 all rebates.
Whether the shipper or the railroad is to
blame makes no difference: the rebate
must be stopped, the abuses OF the private
car and private terminal-track and side
track systems must be stopped. and the
legislation of the Fifty-eighth congress
which declares II to be unlawful for any
person or corporation tn OFFER, grant, give.
solicit, accept or receive any rebate. con
cession. or discrimination in respect OF
the transportation Of any property i'm in
terstate or foreign commerce whereby
such property shall by any device what
ever be transported at n less rate than
that named IN the tariff published by the
carrier must be enforced. For some
time after the enactment Of the act To
regulate commerce IL remained a mootel
question whether that act conferred upon
the interstate commerce commission the
power, after II had found p challenged
rate TO be unreasonable, to declare what
thereafter should. prima facie, be the
reasonable maximum rate for the trans
portation in dispute.
The supreme court finally resolved that
question In the negative, so that as the
law now STANDS the commission simply
possess the bare power to denounce a
particular rate as unreasonable While
] am OF the opinion that at present Il
would be undesirable. if it were not inn
practicable finally to clothe the commits
sion with general authority TO fix railroad
rates, | do believe that as "A fair security
to shippers. the commission should he
vested with the power, where a given
rate has been challenged and after full
hearing found To be unreasonable to de-
eide. subject 10 judicial review what shall
be reasonable rate to take its place.
the ruling of the commission to take ef-
feet Immediately, and to obtain unless and
until ii is reversed by the court OF re-
views.
The government must in increasing de-
gree supervise and regulate the workings
or the railways engaged in interstate
commerce; and such Increased super
vision Is the only alternative TO an in
crease or the present evils on the one
hand or still more radical policy on the
other. In my judgment the most import
ant Legislative act now needed as regards
the regulation OF corpora tions is this act
to confer on the Interstate commerce COM
mission the power to revise ra tes and reg
ulations. the revised rate TO at once go
into effect and TO stay in effect unless
and until the court OF review reyerses IL
Steamship companies engaged i'm inter
state commerce and protected In our
coastwise trade. should be held 10 n strict
observance of the Interstate commerce
act.
CITY OF WASHINGTON
In h. a.