New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-07
RAILWAY RATE CONTROL
SENATOR QU4RLES'S BILL.
Presidents Recommendation IN Mes
sage Endorses the Measure.
rrpo,, THE TRIBUNE BUREAU


Washington Dec 6--The Presidents declara-
t,on I'm his Message to-day that. in my Judg-
raent tie most important legislative act no"
needed as regards the regulation OF corpora
lions is THE act confer on the Interstate COM
rnerce Commission the power TO revise rates ana
regulations the revised rate at once to go INTO
ERECT. and TO stay ia effect unless and until the
c,urt of review reverses it." Endorses the bill
en- bodyfng precisely this provision, which was
introduced a year ago by Senator Quarles of
Wisconsin.
The President shows his wisdom III recon-
mending this measure Of rational control OF the
railroads" said he Wisconsin Senator this even
ing. He evidently clearly perceives the dan
ger OF State interference with railroads that are
national IN their scope the still further menace
Of socialistic agitation for government seizure
OF railroads. and on the other hand, the danger
of leaving shippers and the general public with
out any recourse from possible eNtortion, when
latter extreme must ultimately and inevitably
rrecipitafe extreme legislation in the opposite
direction.
u am naturally much pleased that the Presl-
dent has taken occasion 10 commend TINS DILL
which is intended TO reha bilitate the Interstate
Commerce Commission. After successful
career of ten years, IN which time II met the
expectations Of its friends the commission was
shorn of its power by a decision rendered by the
Supreme Court in 1897. Since then it has been
a cripple. commissioned TO find fault, but with
out power to remedy the defects it discovered
or enforce its mandates In this condition II
has excited sympathy in some quarters and rid
icule IN others by its abortive efforts TO curb
railway evils.
The commission should have additional pow
crs or be dispensed with altogether The people
know that through Congress they have an I'M
questioned right to exercise control over the
rates fixed by railways engaged in interstate
commerce. They are moreover. in a frame of
mind to insist that Congress no longer delay the
enactment OF legislation TO that end Populistic
sentiment is manifesting itself in several legis-
latures IN the form of drastic measures confer
ring on State commissions the power to fix rates.
There can. Of course be assurance that
state institution viii be able take a suffici-
entity broad view of the transportation situation
TO enable it 10 act intelligently on so compre-
hensive a subject.
Under the recommendation of the President,
as under the provisions of my bill, the Inter
state Commerce Commission would not have
such extraordinary power. It's jurisdiction
would be confined a particular rate which had
been challenged by formal complaint Even
then change could be made only after formal
hearings which both sides could submit evil
oenCe and ultimately a change of rate by the
commission would be subject to appeal TO the
courts and reversal by them on the establish
ment OF proper ground for such reversal.
no scheme Of regulation which would regu-
late could he more mild or AFFORD more speedy or
complete means OF correcting errors of admin
isJratiOn. This recommendation is a logical step
IN the progress toward equitable railroad regu-
laJion which was virtually initiated by the
President when he urged the enactment of the
anti-rebate act which became a law last session.
in fact. II had been my purpose TO include that
in the bill now under consideration, but it be-
came obvious that the end could be easily
attained by taking step at a time. In my
Judgment opposition TO the pending measure will
he unfortunate. for II the people find il impos-
11,so
they will naturally turn 10 the advocates Of
government ownership their only friends"