Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-07-27
Will NOT Be RADICAL
RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS WILL
ACT C0NSERVATIVELY
According to John S. FtCftiIIin, in a
Recent Portland Interview. Main
Effort Will be to Bring About an
Understanding Between Shippers
and Railroads.


John S. McMiilin, a member of the
state railroad commission has been in
Portland this week and gave the follow
ing interview to the Telegram
"Among the problems that have arisen
in America in recent years, and that
must be solved, is the question Of trans
portation affairs. No one few years
ago comprehended what live question
il would become. just as no one can at
this time foretell the ultimate solution.
1t is great national question and one
that the COVE: Gment has found will not
down, SO sr,ely the state governments
may take it up in the features applying
to local conditions and safely attempt a
solution.
"Whle we have no jurisdiction over
Interstate business, our relations with
Oregon, and particularly with Portland,
are so close that no doubt many ques.
tions will originate here that will come
to our attention. We are engaged in
getting together information such as is
necessary to enable us to take up intelli-
gently the matters that will come under
our supervision with relation to railroads
and express companies. Nothing has
yet been presented that calls for judicial
settlement, those complaints 30 far pre-.
sented concerning differences OF local
character that did not involve funda-
mental questions and have been adjusted
by the shippers and officials Of the roads.
ut is our belief that we can better
serve the commonwealth by bringing
about understandings between shippers
and proper representatives of the rail-
roads. We are not ambitious to conduct
matters in way to engender strife, but
in attempting to prevent necessity for
judicial action must be careful not in
any way to PREJUDICE. In trying to bring
the real shippers and railroads to better
understanding, We do not propose SO to
conduct the office a. to serve the pur.
poses OF those who are not real shippers
and seek to make political capital out Of
it. We have much to learn, are all new
to the work, and are first enGeavoring to
qualify ourselves by obtaining as con-.
plete information as possible, bringing
together library of reports, pubIica.
tions and proveenings of other like bodies
bearing upon the subject, which will not
onlv be of great assistance to US, but Of
material value to the state"
Formally organized June %, the COM
missioners are now engaged in accumu.
lating information bearing upon the sub.
jects with which they will have to deal,
bringing together library Of transac-
| tions OF the interstate commerce commits.
sion, reports OF state commissions, and
qualifying themselves for taking up the
manifold questions intelligently that will
be brought to their attention through
complaint of shippers Direction OF the
office at Olympia, and compilation OF
necessary records and blanks is being
gradually worked by temporary secre.
tary. John G. Lawrence, the eastern
Washington member, has been east for
some time to call upon commissioners OF
others states and acquire knowledge as
to the manner and method of procedure.
Chairman H. A. Fairchild, of Belling-
ham, and Mr.. Mchillin will start from
Olympia August 5, for a trip through
9 stern Washington, making stops at
Yakima, Walla Walla, Spokane and
other important shipping centers, where
they will meet with shippers. members
of commerce to get their views and at the
same time make preliminary inspe :.
tion OF the roads in that portion Of the
state. Concluding their conference with
residents of the various towns, they will
proceed to Deadwood, S. d., to attend
the annual convention of the National
Association OF Railroad Commissioners,
which convenes there August IS, and
where all Of the members will attend,
with the idea OF obtaining considerable
valuable information upon which to ba
kI,air f,,t,