The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-19
SO THEY HAVE A PLAN
1t Appears to Coincide With
Suggestions Of Roosevelt.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
fin Railroad Circles.

washington. Nov. 18.-With the
converting of congress but a few short
weeks away It becomes more and more
evident that the railway men are be-
ing convinced that rate regulation Of
some sort will be enacted and they are
preparing to compromise with the
leaders who are inclined to support the
propositions advanced by the presi-
dent.
Many of the presidents Of the great
railroads, and included in this number
are those who are considered among
the wise men of the country, have
been forced to take notice Of the fact
that the president has behind him the
support Of practically the whole peo-
pie. Public sentiment in favor Of rail-
way rate regulation has become
stronger instead of weaker during the
congressional recess. and this despite
the fact that the railroads have been
spreading broadcast throughout the
country all sorts Of literature IN an
effort to show that rate regulation
would in the end be inimical to the
interests Of the people.
Men like President Mellen Of the
New York, New Haven & Hartford
President Cassatt of the Pennsylvania
and President Baer of the Reading
have come to the conclusion that IL
viii be impossible to prevent the
passage of a law providing for the
regulation of railroad rates by a gov
eminent commission, as urged by
President Roosevelt. These railroad
magnates. and others, have according
~ begun to frame a compromise bill,
which, after ALL is largely along the
line taken by the president, but which
aims most particularly to strengthen
and dignity the commission
This railroad proposition is that
M M aef ion oh h
created, composed of about nine mem
bers, who shall each be given a salary
OF $1,000 month, and who shall be
professional railroad experts or law
yers- In this way it is hoped to i'm
prove the personnel of the commission
TO such an extent that its decisions can
be followed safely by the railroads
themselves.
In addition to this the measure
which is being drafted by the railway
men embodies a proposition that any
decision Of the commission shall be
subject to a writ of Injunction by any
competent court Of federal jurisdic-
ton This is merely putting into
words what would be the case anyway,
because under the original rate bill
passed last winter the interstate COM
m cree commission could be enjoined
from enforcing the rate. The right of
Injunction is not being impaired In any
way under the legislation proposed by
the president.
rms SO-called compromise by the
railroads so far as it has been outlined
Is practically a suFrend der. It gives
color TO the report, which has been
current for some months, that the
railroads were so much in fear of
prosecution under the antitrust laws
for their combinations between com
peting lines. that they were willing to
accept a rate regulation law to escape
something worse
Another reason for this manifest
change of front On the part of the big
railway men is the fear of radical
public sentiment in the direction of
government ownership of railroads
It IS feared that if the railroads sic
cessfully cOmbatted rate regulation,
and it is presumed that they could if
they put the screws on there might
grow up demand for government
ownership which some subsequent and
more radical administration might be
disposed to grant.
As usual thing the so-called com
promise offered by railroads and other
corporations, when legislation is pro-
posed that affects their interests in
any way, are rather jug handled and
likely to contain jokers that make
Ehem worthless, and any measure of
rnat kind that comes from a railroad
source viii be erutinized with the
greatest care by those men in con-
gress, and particularly ia the house.
VINO are honestly in favor of federal
regulation of railroad rates