Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-12-07
Interstate Commission and Rail
road officials Discuss the
Presidents Message
GOVERNMENT CONTROL RATES
Members of the Commission Heartily
Endorse the Plan, While the Rail-
road Officials Say It Would Work an
Injustice to the Carrier Interests
"A Momentous Subject.

Chicago, Dec. Z. - Members of the
interstate commerce commission heart
lily indorse the presidents rerommen-
dation for legislation empowe ring the
board to fix rates. Railway officials
take the contrary view.
Commissioner Judson c. Clements
said there was urgent need of some
such authority.
THE presidents recomm ,ndations
show his appreciation of the growing
necessities for actual control or regu-
lation Of the most important matter at
issue-that is, rates." said Mr.. Glenn
ents. There Is no good reason why
the commission, If 1t finds a rate ex-
cessive, should not have the right to
substitute another in its pla e."
During the last fiscal yetr, ended
June 80, 1904, for which full statistics
have been furnished by the railroads,
they collected in rates, in round num-
bers, $1,000, 100000, a sum equal to the
entire value Of the exports Of the
country and the total receipts of the
government from all sources added. 1t
is hardly to be supposed that in the
adjudication of rates producing such
result there would not be some rates
In violation Of the requirements Of the
law that all rates should be reasonable
and just"
Commissioner G. A. Prouty said:
"For years have advocated such legis-
lation and feel proud that President
Roosevelt OF his own volition has
come to the conclusion that the COM
mission must have the power to COM
pei the railroads to make q reasonable
rate If the rate made by the railroads
lis found to be unreasonable, IL the OBJ
jects for which the law was originally
passed are to be obtained. The railroad
question Is the most imp >rtant one
in the country. Millions Of dollars
are annually taken from the pockets OF
the people by the railroads maintain
ing unjust and unreasonable rates. 1t
is fortunate for the country that Pres
ident Roosevelt has taken such
sound view Of the matter. Nothing
will win him more credit with the
people than the attitude he has taken
IN this matter"
Commissioner Joseph w. Fifer, said:
ct is a good recommendations. II 1T
crvstalizes into law 1t will strength
en- the hands of the commi ssion. Ihe
fact that the Recommendation comes
from the president will have great
effect with congress-"
Railroad Officials Object.
Not a railroad official could be found
who was in accord with the recommen-
dation. Traffic Manager &. ]. Gram
mer of the Lake Shore expressed the
on,n,on Of most other traffic officials
when he said:
II consider the recomenc alton TO al
low the commission to fax rates ex-
ceedingly wrong. The int rstate COM
merce knows nothing Of the art or
making rates. The commissioners are
politicians who secured their position
thru political influence an6 they would
be apt to make rates to please their
constituents. It requires years OF study
and experience to figure out fair and
equitable rates, and even the chief
traffic officials of the rad have to
rely on the Judgment o.. their rate
clerks in arranging traffics."
Burton G. Hanson general solicitor
Of the Milwaukee & ST. P.lul, said:
I'VE do not object to II e position of
the president that the commission
should have the power to say what a
reasonable rate is, If, upon complaint
of shipper, it should find that rate
is unreasonably high. We object, how
ever. to the recommendation that such
q rate should be put in effect at once,
and stay in effect until judicially re-
viewed, because 1t reve,'ses all ju-
dicial rulings and procee lings. Where
the system Of jurisprud ence provides
for review by appellate &C urts that sys-
tenn has always staid those judgments
pending appeal"