The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-26

!. ca. PRoUTY, s
|. Interstate Commerce Commissioner, Who ::
8 spoke on Rate Laws. s
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New York Sun Special Service
Boston, Jan: 26.-Interstate Com
merce Commissioner Charles A. Prouty,
speaking before the lumbermen 8 asso-
citation last night, made strong plea
for the establishment of board Of ar
bitration to regulate charges made by
railroads for both passenger and freight
traffic. He attacked the present sys-
tenn, declaring the commerce commission
had been shorn of its powers, and said
the railway men "pra for an ineff-
law "to regulate in fact as well as in
theory.' Mr.. Prouty said:
Not long ago read in some Boston pa
per, with great interest, some remarks Of
Mr. futile, the president Of the Boston &
Maine railroad to his trainmen. I know
Mr. Tuttle and have the greatest respect
for him as a man and q, railroad manager.
He has a faculty of saying what he act
ually Thinks and he said on this occasion
what most opponents Of railroad regula-
ton really assume but do not plainly
state. 4a}a = s-5r.
The transportation which the Boston &
Maine has to sell is as much a commodity
as is the cotton cloth which the Manches-
ter mills have to sell, and the government
has no more right to fix the price of one
commodity than the other.
T, wish to glance for minute at the
Illustration used by Mr.. Tuttle.
Tuttle's Statement Punctured.
The Manchester mills, in the manufac-
ture of their product employ water power
and require land for their buildings. I
have water power or a piece Of land
which one Of these mills desires to use.
Can be compelled torsell it to that mill?
Most certainly not. But If Mr.. Tuttle's
road desires to use my land or my water
power in its. business he can take 1t, no
matter how strong my personal objection.
Why is this? For the obvious reason
that Mr., futile is engaged ina public
business and may appropriate my prop
erty for the public good. The right, how
ever, to approximate my property in the
construction of his read is upon the condi-
ton that he shall refader to the public the
service: Of transportation for reason
able price. He is compelled in taking my
land to pay me its value.
Protection from Extortion.
: There IS still another reason for ttis.
If I hire a. cab at Mr. Tuttle's railroad
station to take me. to my hotel an ordi-
nance of the city of Boston prescribes the
maximum fare which that cabman may
charge. The cabman owns the horse and
he owns the cab, and why should the city
Of Boston limit his right to- receive from
me whatever he can get? Obviously, once
more. because when I leave Mr.. Tuttle's
froi IN, ofo ,io r ho1
time to look about. I must take the first
one which offers, and in order to protect
me from the possible extortfon of the cab
man the city establishes the price. The
cabman is not obliged to devote his prop
erty to that use, but If he does it is under
that limitation.
rs Railroad as a Monopoly.
In exactly the same way and to much
greater extent, when I desire to come
from my home to the city Of Boston ]
must come, as practical matter, by Mr..
Tuttle's railroad, I must pay whatever
tariff is in force. He has a complete mo-
nopoly. of that avenue of transportation,
and, therefore, the public in self-defense,
must regulate the price which he charges,
The cotton cloth which the Manchester
mills produce is private property; no
body is compelled to buy 1t, nor is the
owner compelled to sell it. The Transport
tation he must sell, must buy, and there
in consists the. difference.
The interstate commerce commission
has been shorn by judicial Interpretation
Of every power but one. Concerning the
dealings of the railroad with the public,
1t has the right to investigate, and that
right has been sustained by the supreme
court to- the last degree. "t..
The idea that the: railways of this coun-
49,, Jz-S.~ - :,,+1 -
MERGE commission for its inefficiency is
a fit theme for comic opera. Why, my
friends, these fellows grow fat on the in
efficiency Of the men who are supposed
to regulate and prosecute them.
.. :. What Railroads Pray For.
What the railway companies Of this land
pray for, in season and out of season, is
an inefficient commission. What they
fear is efficiency 49, -
There is one further observation OF
profound consequence to the public gen.
orally, which I wish to make. ~'Distrust
the Greeks even when they bring you
gifts" said the wise man q of ancient
Troy This bill and any bill from that
source is a wooden horse. When the pres
ent act to regulate commerce was enacted
ighteen years ago, much the same condi-
ditions prevailed as today. The public
demanded legislation and it became evil
dent that this public demand must be
yielded to. 81
Enemies Altered Bill.
Then appeared the same horde of rail-
road presidents and railroad lobbyists,
and railroad attorneys that surround the
capitol today, and the result was that
they managed to write into that@ bill a
dozen MISUNDERSTANDING phrases which
have rendered every substantial provision
abortive.
Let not the men who for eighteen years
have defed this law and successfully re-
sisted all attempts to correct it now write
Its amendment. The interests of the
public and he railway Should be alike con-
served, but some fair measure of regu1a-
ton should be enacted which can, If ap-
piled, regulate in fact as well as in the
DRY.
TO CURE a COLD m ONE DAT
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