Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-09
THE RAILROAD RATES
Meeting of the House Com
mittee Today.
COOPER -QUARLES BILL
Mr.. BACON, GRAIN SHIPPER,
URGES ITS PASSAGE.
Significant Questions as to Effect of
Enlarging Interstate Commerce
Commissions Powers.

The fight between the shippers
and the railroads for increased pow
ers for the interstate commerce COM
mission, in line with President
Roosevelt's recommendation, COM
menced in Congress in earnest to-
day. The House Committee on In
terstate and Foreign Commerce
was urged by representatives of the
shippers to Immediately report the
Cooper-Quarles bill.
The shippers representative was
closely questioned by the commit
tee, the question opening up many
of the objections which have been
urged against the bill and indicating
that the bill will be vigorously op-
posed.
1t is claimed that the Presidents
recommendation was not suggested
by the tri-state governors, but was
brought to their attention by the
President upon his own initiative.
Great interest attached to the meeting
of the House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce today. 1t was known
that an effort would be made to have the
committee take up the Cooper-Quarles BILL
which vests in the interstate commerce
commission power to regulate railroad
rates and fares in conformity with the
ommendation to that effect of President
Roosevelt in his recent message. Mr.. E.
p. Bacon. chairman of the executive COM
mttee appointed at the recent convention
of shippers at the worlds fair. together
with Secretary Berry. was present. as we'll
as Representative Cooper of Wisconsin,
the author of the House measure. Mr.
Bacon stated that he represented about
400 organizations of shippers existing in
forty-four states of the union. They had
organized in 1850 and had held great
convention at the worlds fair last Octo-
ber. and had authorized the executive COM
mittse TO continue the work before Cog
gress in behalf Of reform of railroad ates
Mr- Bacon's Statement
Mr.. Bacon is grain shipper of Milwaukee
and former railroad man. He was active
in securing the enactment of the original
interstate commerce law and has made a
study of railroad rates. Mr.. Bacon told the
committee today that great deal of good
the Elkins anti-rebate law in February
1903. He said the beneficial results had
been most surprising and gratifying. The
shippers We're encouraged to go further and
seek additional relief from the burdens of
unjust and discriminating freight rates.
Mr.. Bacon pointed out that the commit
tee on interstate and foreign commerce had
gone over the questions involved in the
Cooper-Quarles bill in an exhaustive series
OF hearings extending from April until June
in the last session. He did not believe that
anyone had anything more to say and he
earnestly urged the committee to proceed to
consideration of the bill and either to vote
it down definitely or to report it,
Questioned by Chairman Hepburn.
Thus far Mr.. Bacon had proceeded with only
occasional questions from members of the
committee, but when he had concluded he
was examined by Chairman Hepburn of
the committee in line of questions which
was considered by all who were present as
being exceedingly significant. 1t was evil
dent from the character of the chairmans
questions that the committee had by no
means made up it's mind upon the bill, and
that there were number of points in the
measure which presented serious obstacles
to its enactment. Chairman Hepburn be-
gan by asking Mr.. Bacon if at the time the
interstate commerce law was under prep
aration any one had an idea that the scope
of the law extended SO far to give the
commission power to regulate rates. Mr..
Bacon replied that the question had not
been raised at that time, and although he
was closely pushed by the chairman, he
could not say that he thought the commits
sion ever had such power, or that 1t was
ever proposed to give it to them.
Chairman Hepburn then asked him If his
had not tried to create public
sentiment in favor of the pending bill and
If the effort had not gone to the length of
denouncing members of Congress who were
opposed to It, Mr.. Bacon replied emphatical-
ly in the negative. Mr.. Hepburn asked him
II it were not fact that no later than
last summer Secretary Berry, at the mo-
ment present in the room, had not endeav-
ored to create sentiment for the bill. Mr..
Bacon replied that during the summer Mr..
Berry had not been employed by his or
ganiza ton, but was working with the In
terstate Cattlemen's Association. In answer |
to further questions, Mr.. Bacon said that |
no member of the organization, save the |
secretary received any compensation, but |
that on the contrary, members of the or
ganiZatiOn were put to considerable In |
dividual expense.
Mr. Hepburn then asked him if the or
ganization was aided in the dissemination
of literature by the interstate commerce
commission and If any of the officials who |
are employees of that commission were as
sisting the organization in its efforts to |
enlarge the commissions power. To all |
these questions Mr.. Bacon answered in the |
negative.
More Significant Questions.
Then Chairman Hepburn started in upon
another very significant series of questions.
He wanted to know whether the organiza-
tions had considered the bill In relation to |
the possible disturbance of the respective |
rights of the three coordinate branches of |
the government. In other words, If the bill |
did not propose to confer legislative power |
upon the executive branch of the govern |
ment. Mr.. Bacon answered that the ques- |
tion had not been raised. Chairman Hep
burn then asked him II the advocates of |
the bill HAD considered whether there is |
any power of review of the commissions |
regulation of rates by competent court,
to which Mr. Bacon replied that the bill |
specifically provides for review by the cir- /
cuit court. Chairman Hepburn said that |
the Supreme Court had specifically decided /
that it could not pass upon the reason /
ableness of a rate fixed for the future and |