The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-22
CURB RAILROADS,
URGES Van SAINT
Governor Explains Purpose, Of
Delegation at the White House
Monday.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, Nov. 81 Governor Van
SAINT of Minnesota today authorized
T he Journal to quote him as fol-
lows, concerning his 4 conf with
President Roosevelt yesterda on the
question Of increasing the pde b10o
interstate commerce commission, and
concerning. his position on the question
of tariff revision at a special session Of
congress to be called next spring:
:" The object of the interview with
the presldeat was TO urge upon him the
by congress to the Interstate commerce
commission, and to request him to re-
commend such action in his forthcOm-
ing message. We believe the best way
to- correct many Of the evils Of trans
portation is to give to this commission
the power, when rate. after investiga
to fix one, have IT 20 into effect imme-
diately, and stand until the courts de-
eide otherwise. It was thought for
some years, or Nntn the supreme court
decided to the pntrary in 1897, that
the commission Was clothed with this
that time no difficulty was experienced.
.. Commission Useless.
"Without this power the commission
is Of little value, except for the pur-
poses Of gathering statistics and afford
ing publicity.
pendent upon the great lines Of trans
portation, and this action is not sought
with any desire to injure them or do
them an injustice. But as the great
combinations Of railways have practic-
ally eliminated the question Of compet!i-
tiQn,, formerly sufficient safeguard. it
seems the most feasible plan left to pro-
tect the public from unjust and unrea-
sonable rates.
emo doubt, there will be fierce oppo-
sition, but j. believe that an aroused
public sentiment will demand the pass
age of the Cooper bill, or one of similar
purport, at the forthcoming session. Of
but should not be allowed to become a
monopoly
."What about the mergerf" :
-.- No More Mergers.
'fThat is easily answered. There will
never be any more open mergers, nor
great holding companies to be the recep-
tacle Of the stock Of the various sys.
TENS. The supreme court settled that
question for. all time. But it does not
prevent the heads Of the various sys.
TENS from meeting in New York, OF
elsewhere, and agreeing upon plans and
policies for their especial benefit, and
the damage Of the shipper and the
other patrons Of their roads. It is be-
cause Of this fact that this law should
be SO amended as to give the govern
meqt supervision Of rates when founG
to be unreasonable. The merger was
a mere incident il this great transporta
t Ii ed aast@s thss wased for year,
! - AS to- Tariff Revision.
"What DO you think g. the PROPOSE
| tion that is being made For an extra
session of congress toareVise the tariff =
Gas is well known, have for SOM
time favored tariff revision, and it i
my earnest hope that the president will
see his way clear to call an extra SEES
sion especially for that purpose. o.
the platform I, in common with othe
republican speakers have claimed tina
the tariff would q be revised by it
friends and there never was a more op
perfume time than the present for doin
that work. Its friends are in contro
} Of all branches Of the government an
, the president has just been elected b.
the most startling and overwhelming
popular vote ever given a president i
this country.
"With increased power given the in
terstate commerce commission, and tn
: tariff revised, the people would certain
ly be getting square deal.