New-York tribune., 1905-01-14
NO MENACE TO RAILROADS
ALARM WITHOUT CAUSE.
Only Safe and Sound Rate LegiSta-
tion WI Satisfy the President.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BuREAU.l


Washington, jan 13.-Senators and REPRE-
sentatives are surprised at the character OF the
inquiries which reaching them with refer-
to the proposed railway rate leslsiatioh'
some OF which indicate an alarm entirely un-
warranted by the facts prospects. The Presi-
dent has indicated his desire for legislation
which win remedy existing evils and his inten-
ton to call special session of Congress TO con-
slider the question and. if possible. frame legis7
lation but that should caVse no alarm IN the
estimation of the leaders in both houses OF
Congress. for the reason that the maJorltles In
both chambers of the next Congress VIII be SO
strongly Republican to insure conservative
and equitable legislation or none at all
Attention is called, also TO the fact that those
who seem most alarmed at the prospect are
those who have least opportunity 10 consult
members of Congress, whereas, on the othef
hand, a number of the most prominent rahroad
men in the country have talked with the leauers
In Congress and some Of them have seen the
President and they have no fear that all their
proper interests will not be protected IN any
legislation which may follow.
1t is believed that the chief cause for alarm
Is the radical measures which have been pro-
posed by some members of Congress. some
doubtless sincere and others responding only to
the exigeucies of local political situations, while
still third class is proposing radical leglsia-
tion, with the hope Of preventing any action.
The facts are that in response to the Presloehts
wishes. some OF the ablest members or Con-
gress are devoting considerable time to studying
this question, although 1t must be admitted that
the problem is complex as to afford little
encouragement to the seeker after an equitable
solution. Not the least difficult phase of the
question is clearly to outline the evils which 1t
IS proposed to remedy. and thus far little prog
haap de In
conservative members of Congress properly in
sist that the defects in the existing law which 1t
is proposed to remedy must be clearly and ac-
curately defined before intelligent action look
ing to their correction can be taken 1t is point
ed out that an efficient anti-rebate law was
placed on the statute books ct the last session
Of Congress-, and it requires only proper enforce
ment to remedy all injustice growing out OF the
rebate system. The enactment Of that law was
not attended by any suggestion of panic among
railroad men or Of depression or stocks or rail-
road values. From this fact it is argued that
all expectation of disaster from further legis-
lation is equally unwarranted in the present IN
stance 1t is believed that the ultimate effect of
the anti-rebate legislation will be beneficial to
the railroads. and it is held that the legislation
which the President who is committed to no
particular form of enactment, urges VIII prove
Social affairs have called TO Washington in
the last week number of prominent railroad
men who have thus had an opportunity OF earn-
ing the actual situation at first hand, and they
have gone away reassured and confident that
radical and revolutionary legislation, while it
may serve the political ends Of certain lesis-
Iators viii never find its way into the United
States statutes. They have learned that no
law which = not absolutely just to all concerned
will sntisfy the President or be approved by
him that some of the best minds in Congress
are intent on carrying into effect his recon-
mendations along lines which will reflect credit
on the authors of the legislation and rebound
TO the benefit of the nation and the Republican
party and they have gone away satisfied that
Nsr,rr sTaf1f a
and sound" TO eliminate all occasion for anxiety
or alarm.