The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-04

S!edt StdpleS Ol pTOQucC1On Tor long
distances. It would destroy cities and
cripple all kinds Of productive indus
tries, and reduce the tonnage trans !
ported to such an extent as to ruin the
railway companies. /"
. Methods of Rate Making.
Mr.. Stickney argued for the reason
ableness of a schedule on the basis of
the recognized rules of indirect taxa
the methods of making a schedule of
import duties and schedule Of rail
a commodity than # will bear.
a.: AS matter Of fact,' said Mr..
Stiekney, ''this is the way schedules of
and this, in effect, is the way the gov
eminent schedule maker will have to
make them. And if commission of
congress ever undertakes to make
| schedule Of Interstate rates, it will find
that 1t will not be possible to substan-
italy change the existing schedules
without: playing havoc with the whole
ecqnomic system Of the country
machinery which the interstate com
merce law provides for enforcing it's
! provision against determinations, Mr..
! Stickney said: IT,. -:
Fifteen years experience makes it EVIL
dent that neithe. the companies or the in
div1duals will set the machinery of the
courts in motion to enforce this law, and
thru fear Of the extraordinary penalties Of
| the law. not enforce it,. Hence II the
law is to be enforced, it must be enforced
by the government. -,<%
= Footing for Commission.
i Mr.. stickney advocated putting the
1 interstate commerce commission on a
footing Of equality with the inland
! revenue department. of the government,
] employing expert accountants, with
4 powers and duties similar to national
to- time, and for such length of time as
might be- necessary, check each item
collected and each item Of expenditure
by each railway; and inspectors, who
should supervise the weights and classi-
l fcation, and detectives and attorneys
} to detect and punish.
: HThe public examiner, an executive
officer of Minnesota said Mr.. Stick.
3, ney, els authorized thus to check rail
way accounts, and at his first check
ing he discovered the details of all the
rebates which had been paid out, and
obtained payment of the gross earn
ings taxes to the state" t~ -
But Mr.. Stickney objected to the in
terstate commerce commission being
> given power to enforce as we'll as tia
rates, saying:
Just word about the Interstate com
o MERGE commission. It would seem that |
> congress gives it the authority to max,
Z the schedule Of rates, and more especial!
II it confers the power to fix after a hear
ing, a rate which has been complained Of
q it's time will be fully occupied, and tina
I it ought to be relieved Of all other duties
= Besides, the making Of rates is the en-
. actment of laws, it is legislative func
t1on-the enforcement Of laws Is an execu
tive function It is Inconsistent witt
American ideas that legislative and execu
L tive functions should be vested in on
Z commission.
r Cutlery Against Passes.
r In Mr.. stickney's Judgment tho pub
y lie outcry against railways is directed
: moro against passes than against un
l. just rates. On this point ho said:
= If we inquire into the heart-burn1ng
Il growing out Of railway Determinations
4 which are breeding class distinctions an
= class hatred, and even anarchism, amoni
: the so-called lower classes, we will f1n
e that the bltterest feelings are aroused b.
being compelled to pay fare while richie
men ride free.
II we so among the laborins classes
= either as individuals or in their publ
-. meetings, we will hear bitter denuncia
a tons, not Of unreasonable or discriminat
+ ing freight rates, but of free passes.
a In times Of railway strikes we can hea
= the park orator proclaim why shout
a we work for scant wages In order tina
a rich men may ride in the trains free?
y Probably 80 per cent Of the entire popu
:, lation pays fares, while not more thar
say. 6 per cent pay freight rates.
i. The law which makes it a misdemeano
: for any Individual not an OFFICER or EN-
y, - ployee OF a railway company to use pas
= was enacted by congress and approve
:. by the president fifteen years aeo. and a
= an Individual rule of action It was ignore
u by the congressman who passed it and b
; : the president who approved; It. and subse
!. ouent consressmen and presidents. wit
y rare exceptions have ignored it's pro