The sun., 1905-05-23
HE WARNS The RAILROADS.
COMMISSIONER FIFER on THE
RATE MAKING PROBLEM.
He Says Government Rate Making VIII Not
Lead TO Government Ownership, Which
VIII Como when the Railroads Arc Too
strong for the Courts and Government.

Tie SAYS Government hate Making VIII Not
Lead TO Government Ownership, Which
VIII Como Whom the Railroads Are Too
strong for the Courts and Government
WASHINGTON, May 22.-Interstats Com
merce Commissioner Fifer to-day, before
the Senate committee which is investi-
eating the question Of rate regulation, in
referring to the arguments of tho attorneys
for the railroads that rate making by the
Government would lead to Government
. ownership, declared that in his opinion the
contrary was true. Government ownership
OF the roads would come, he said, when the
people got the notion that the railroads
we're too strong for the Interstate Com
merce Commission, too strong for the
courts and too strong for the Government.
That time might come sooner than was
thought,
He was no alarmist in fact he was an
optimist, and he believed the Government
would take care Of itself. But the mutter-
hgs we're already being heard, a notabl
instance being the recent election in Chicago,
where the people had voted to for mu-
rcipal ownership. and once the idea spread
it would be hard to stop it. He warned the
railroad people that they would fare much
better if, instead of working overtime cry
ing out on behalf Of the widows and or
phans who would not be hurt by rate reg
uation, they would devote their energies
10 allayng the constantly increasing fric-
ton between the roads aud the people.
Citing the we'll known fact, the tendency
Of lures to always award damages against
the railroad for personal injuries Mr..
Fifer said that condition did not exist
in Europe, as there was no enmity against
the railroads there, and it would cease
here when just laws were enacted and
Justly administered. He ackno VI lodged that
much of the talk against the railroads was
without foundation. Speaking generally
the rates throughout the country, with few
exceptions, were not excessive. There
who was injured had no redress under the
existing law
Mr.. Fifer said he stood with President
Roosevelt on the question OF comforting
additional power on the commission or
some other tribunal, for in his opinion. the
power. The cry Of the railroads that the
fixing OF rates by the commission would
upset business conditions, Mr.. Fifer
termed bugaboo. The mere fact that the
power was there was great reason why
Il would not be necessary often to exer-
careful in making rates. He mentioned
the recent action of the traffic agents in
chan ging hundreds Of rates through re-
classification, and said that il the COM
mission had suggested such sweeping
change the roads would have declared it
revolutionary.
Mr., Fifer outlined the scope Of the power
II was proposed to confer. which was, upon
complaint and proof that a rate was un
reasonably high, to fix the reasonable
rate, which would 60 into effect within
thirty days. This. however, should not
apply to competitive rates between points
on different lines. He agreed also with
the other members Of the commission
that the executive duties of that body
should either be divided among the other
departments or separate body created
to investigate and fax rates. He thought
a commission OF lawyers. trained by ex-
perienoe, better qualified to pass upon
rate matters than one composed OF traffic
experts.
Former Senator Cockrell. also a member
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission,
spoke on somewhat similar lines as to rate
regulation and discussed the private car
evil. He recommended an amendment
to the clause placing upon the railroads
the responsibility for refrigeration or any
other charges for special transportation,
and if necessary would compel the roads
gradually to furnish the cars.
The committee will hold an executive
session tomorrow morning to decide upon
the question OF closing the Investigation
TINA th;c