The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-18
RAILWAY RATE Law DANGER.
No Limit TO Power Of Commission Under
Cooper-Quarles Dill.

WASHINGTON ,Jan.l7.-.. Under the Cooper
Quarles bill--that is to say, under any
measure giving the Interstate Commerce
Commission the power 10 FIX a rate or rates
cannot every rate in the United States be
challenged and fixed by the commission
inquired Representative Lamar OF Florida
OF c. p. Staples, railroad and warehouse
commissioner Of Minnesota, to-day at the
hearing before the House Committee on
: Interstate Commerce.
Somewhat reluctantly the witness replied;
81 will have TO answer that question in the
Affirmative. Yes. sir, ! think they could. =
Then | don't see the use OF our trying 10
humbug any one else or ourselves with the
idea that we can give the night 20 challenge
one rate and forbid the challenge OF az
rates or to confer authority, to establish az
rates without granting authority TO NIX all
rates. said Mr.. Lamar.
Continuing, Mr.. Staples said that in Min
nesota the commission not only hpd the
ri ght to consider complaints against rates
within the State, but to initiate inquiries.
The commission. he added, was very care
f,ll in exercising the power OF initiative.
Representative Mann took up the ques-
ton of the rate on grain from Iowa points
via New Orleans, which Is lower than That
by way Of Chicago and New York on gram
for Liverpool the lower rate having been
T "a
purpose Of building up Southern ports.
In such case Mr.. Mann asked II the WIT
ness thought IL would be wise TO permit the
! commission 70 force the Southern roads
! To raise their rates and thus deprive these
/ roads and Southern ports of the business
I they now have.
Mr.. Staples Thought there was no danger
I of the commission raising rates generally
/ but that the commission should nave such
/ power.
Asked If he thought the. Interstate Com
! merce Commission would have the physical
/ capacity to handle all the business when
/ would come before It. Mr.. Staples said there
would be great difficulty and probably dur
/ ing the first four or five years the commits
/ sion would be overwhelmed with Complaints -
! but that was not an alarming feature.
/ He thought the commission could handle II
| through it's agents, by assistaroe from the
/ State commissions and through dlstrlct
! commissioners.
d ". smith Of New York, representing
/ the Board Of Trade and transportation
| presented resolutions adopted by that or
! ganization in opposition TO the cooper
! Ouarles bill. ,.
/ THE committee will continue its hearings
A new method Of dealing with the rail
| way rate question is proposed in bill in,
/ troduced to-day by Nj Shacklsford OF
| Missouri, one OF the Democratic members
Of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign
/ Commerce. II requires the Interstate Coin-
meroe Commission to prepare and promnl-
gate on Jan. l. 1905 freight classification
10 be used throughout the United States.
The railroads are to have three months
In which TO make objections. The com,
| mission Is TO hear the complaints. ana IL
| they are well founded TO correct the classi
fcation. But in the mean time the ciassi-
fication Is to remain in force. Tho com
mission ia - have power to change the
classification either upon formal complaint
or upon its own motion.