The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-08
STEVENS EXPOSES
RATE Bill FLAWS
Declares Esch- Townsend Measure
Will Not Do All It's
Friends Expect.
D.. o.. ...--4s-. 49, -fa... .i.--- 70 s-
BY w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, Feb. s.-The speech
made yesterday by Representative Ste
Vens of Minnesota, in favor OF the pas
sage of the Esch-Townsend railwayfate
bill, was perhaps the most illuminating
and best balanced speech yet made on
this subject before the house. Mr..
of the bill, and points them out clearly.
He shows the strong points OF, the pro-
posed legislation, and also the weak
points.
Mr.. Stevens makes the statement that
the bill will fall very far short OF dong
many things which advocates Of this
legislation think it will do. What fol
lows is a summary Of his speech:
"This question is of the greatest I'M
portance, touching as it does every
locality, business interest and person IN
the country, and any error in legislation
would work injustice and possibly de-
struction to many business interests
and persons in the United States. The
time has arrived in the history OF the
country when the people demand. and
Have right to demand, two things:
First, the strongest and most efficient
regulation of interstate commerce by
/! the federal governments; second, the
creation of government tribunal to
!, hear and determine all controversies
affecting railways and rates. .-s - -.
5 Criticisms on Bill.
81 "These are accomplished to some ex-
,4tent by the present bill and for that
reason I supported it in committee and
will vote 70: its passage by the house.
@but I do not think it will accomplish
the good results expected by it's friends,
fnor will it work the evil predicted by
;3its opponents, -
E5vided against by the original interstate
commerce act. The first is excessive
and extortionate rates. This will not
be much remedied by the passage of
the present bill, because the great mass
:of rates are reasonable now. Some are
undoubtedly too high, some too low,
land there is as much complaint about
sthe one as the other. The constitution
Eprotects the railroads in the enjoyment
Fof reasonable rates and in earning rea-
Fsonable profits. This cannot be changed
lby an act of congress. Consequently
lit will be extremely difficult, under the
provisions of this measure, to prove any
great number OF rates eXtortiOnate OF
excessive. The chances are that bust
mess conditions will cause the railroads
Ito reduce rates themselves much faster
than can be done under the operation
iUf this bill.
: - Evils of Rebates.
II "The second provision of the origin
;hl Interstate commerce act was against
1.-THE evils of drawbacks and rebates il
flavor of individuals. There is nothing
An this bill either extending the presen
law against these evils or enforcing tn
sgpresent provisions of law.
Sss" Third, the evil of Discrimination
against commodities is met by this bill
by allowing the commission to fix rat
% place Of the discriminatory one. Thi
will work to the advantage Of the shiI
pers.
"Fourth and fifth, the provisions @
the original interstate commerce &C
were against the evils Of discriminate
against localities Not much relic
will be received from the pendingsbn
The words unjust discrimination cove
only points on the same line Of railwa,,
ways. Such evils will bring by far til
largest amount Of complaints before til
commission and the limitations Of til
bill preclude relief except. in a fe
places. To this extent the bill will
a disappointment to the shippers, WI
expected to have cured the evils Of e:
tortionate rates and rebates. !
Is Business Conditions Changing
HTo large extent the natural co:
ditions of business are changing. Hug
industrial concerns are now taking pro
ucts from the producer to the consu1
er. This is gradually eliminating tt
middlemen who have made the create
agitation in favor Of this bill. I'll
same reasons apply to localities. Evel
.simportant business locality in Il
United States feels that it is being di
lcriminated against by the railroads al
most of them will be disappointed
the operatio on Of the proposed law
"Confusion is likely to arise becaq
the basis for making rates under tn
9ill must be essentially different fro
che present basis. Rates are made
ditions and not on any scientific basi
Under the constitution the commissi<
: must endeavor to fix reasonable rates {
the basis Of the value of the proper1
and of the service rendered. -
"But the most important thing is tt
enforcement of the present law or al
aaw which may be enacted. ,Congre
and the executive are to blame for tn
defect. History and experience sho
THAT union Of the great governme7
Functions Of executive, judicial al
Legislative authority in one body of MT
cannot be efficient. The class of me
needed to enforce the law are not fittt
10 act as judges for the great interes
(which they prosecute, and in the ne:
Fplace are not fitted for the broad lin
Of craftsmanship required for legislati'
foresight. For this reason the who
theory of the pending bill is to promo
The efficiency and accomplish what tt
people want and need.'