The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-05-10
SENATE INQUIRY INTO
QUESTION OF RAIL
ROAD RATES
ONLY RAILROADS HEARD
Testimony Trimmed into
Shape fOrPublic Record.

D
roads have bad their innings" before
the United states Senate committees on
/ Interstate commerce. and ID there is no
objection. the majority OF Senators COM
posing the tribunal would now like TO
adjourn II ey have made up their
minds. Here are their conclusions:
2-The Esch- Townsend BILL passed by
/ the house OF representatives is SO bad
as 20 be unworthy OF serious considem-
/ tion.
/ 2-Rate-maving by a federal commits
sion would be unwise unnecessary 81
not unconstitutional
/ UNWIsE Because It would lodge
dangerous power in Che hands Of q small
! body of men subject 20 political and cor
/ rupt Influences
Rates might become q political and
sectional ISSUE
/ Rates would lose elasticity and ad-
antlon to economic changes
UNNECESSARY. Because present law
Is sufficient ii enforced
/ Orders Of the Interstate Commerce
commission have been oSeyed I'm prac-
tically an instances.
ENLARGED Powers Given.
/ Rebates are "a thing OF the past
Enlarged powers given to the law by
/ the Elkns act passed two years ago
never have been invoked
UNCONSTITUTIONAL 90. Attorneys
/ for the roalroads agree that congress
| has power under the constitution to del-
| egate legislative g. q. rate makng)
power TO commission that such com.
/ mission would have constitutional auth-
ority to make rates TO go Immediately
/ into force. such rates to come within the
/ limits Of the "extortionate" on the one
hand. and Of the "conhscatory" on the
other. These limits OF "reasonableness'
would be determined by the courts.
Clause g. section q. of the constitu-
tion-the mo preference" section pro-
badly does not apply except to efforts
Of the federal government to give an
artificial advantage to one state as COM
pared with another state.
A vigorous protest has already been
aroused by the suggestion that the COM
mittee adjourn without looking into the
other subjects enumerated In the
"Kean resolution" This resolution. be-
ing the one under which the committee
is acting. enumerates other topics 10
be inquired into. namely:
Methods Of Evasions.
Violations or eyasions OF the anti
/ rebate law and the devices ana methods
10y which evasions are accomplished. I'M
Guiding refrigerator ana other private
car systens. Industrial railway tracks.
switching charges and the like; and also
to consider what legislation should be
enacted i'm relation 10 the liability OF
railroad companies engaged IN Intcr-
smte ranic for injuries received by
their employees when ia the discharge OF
their duty"
Not witness has been called or
qeustion asked on amy Of these topics
Up TO tho present time the hearings
have been an absolutely one-sided af-
fair The only witnesses called have
been railroad lawyers and traffic mana-
gers aud their testimony has been care
fully directed by Chairman Stephen b.
Elldns with q view 10 making a brief
against grant of mte-making auth
ority TO the government, and with
further view to excluding any evidence
which might be opposed to this general
argument.
The Printed Record
For The better accomplishment Of lhls
purpose tho printed record of the hear
iugs whioa pUrports to be d verbatim
and accurate account of the testimony
has been daily received hy the witnesses
and senators of the committee. and parts
Of it stricken out
But the hearings have had suu more
remarkable feature. Since the opening
day on the 21th OF April. the voice and
directing mind OF the associated railway
Interests which are opposing this legis-
ation have been present in the commit-
Tee room IN the person Of former United
states Senator Chas b. Faulkner OF
West Virginia, who has occupied a scat
directly behind that of Chairman Elkins.
, suggesting with whispered questions tho
line OF evidence to be brought OUT. IL
is matter OF common knowledge
about the committee that FaullAer Is
in charge Of the associated railroad
lobby and that he is present in an ad-
! visory capacity 10 aid the chairman.
/ The railroads represented by Faulx-
4 ner include the Atchison. Topeka &
santa Fe the Chicago Burlington &
quincy the Northern Pacific ana Great
Northern. the Louisville & Nashville
. 'Ae Southern, the New York. New Hav-
on & Hartford, the Boston & Maine
the Delaware Hudson, the Missouri
Pacific, the Erie, the Rock Island ant
: some others
Il is understood, though the mfor
nation cannot now be confirmed. tha
the Vanderbilt interests and the Penn
sylvania have declined 10 join IN,
Z league Of railroads which Is making thi
Z concerted effort 70 kin effective rail
" road legislation.