Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-25
WHEAcONCRESSMEETS
Trouble Likely Over Railway
Rate Legislation.
ESCH- TOWNSEND BILL
WHAT ITS OPPONENTS AND AD-
voCATEs WILL DECLARE.
Fight Now Going On in Georgia On
Account of Its Railroad COM
missioner's Position.
ESCH TOWNSEND BILL

Nhen Congress meets and the discussion
OF proposed railway rate legislation Is taken
up an anomalous condition VIII soon be
developed in relation To at least one phase
OF that subject. Opponents of the Esch-
Townsend bill will declare that such rate
hxing legislation by a government commits
sion will tend to introduce artificial con-
diuons. for the fixing OF rates not in con-
formity with trade conditions and to the
detriment of the commerce OF the country
generally: On the other hand some ad-
voeates OF rate fixing by a government com
mission Will claim that the policy of state
railroads should be to build up home indus
trlal interests at the expense of others in
dehance of natural advantages.
Gov. Cummins' Claim.
When Gov. Cummins of Iowa was before
the committee on Interstate CONNIE rec ne
claimed that the railroads had decreed that
Iowa should be an agricultural state. and
that by the fixing of rates discriminating
against the manufactured products of that
state and in favor of manufactures ar
New England were in a fair way TO maxi.
| their edct effective for all time He claimed
that the railroad rates and not the coudi
uons of the state had prevented Iowa from
being manufacturing community. Nv
putting boots and shoes I'm the territory adj
Jacent to Iowa from New England AZ r,tcs
oi freight as low as those secured by the
nearby factories. he claimed the ADVANTAGES
OF the geographical position of Iowa bad
been taken from her. He wanted practi-
SaiF a mileage rate on manufactured goods
Dy which his state would have "A great "a
vantage on sales in and near Iowa
Il believe that every community should
nave lts natural advantages in trade" de-
cared Gov. Cummins, and if those natural
advantages are ever taken from that com
munlty ii ought to be for the public good
alone Who shall determine what public
GOOD requires? would rather have a com
MISSION mission appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate to determine that
question than to leave IL to the railways.
That is the whole question"
pug when GOV Cummins was asked
whether he thought there should be a mile
age rate on the corn of Iowa to the sea
board so as to give the geographical ad-
vantage OF the eastern states its full weight
III regard 10 agricultural products he was
not quite SO positive about the enforce-
menf OF the mileage rate
A Fight in Georgia.
But now a vigorous fight Is going M, +,
Georgia because the railroad commissioner
of that state has taken the ground that the
railroads entering Georgia should fix their
rates so as to build up Georgia interests
against the interests of manufacturers on
Grating outside OF that state. That declara
ton has brought upon the shoulders of
commissioner Brown an immense amount
or abuse. Some newspapers of Georgia have
declared that the railroad commission can-
not nave the right to build up home manu-
1acturers by any such method as that.
that in fact, the declaration of the conn
missioner Is equivalent to saying that the
railroads and the consumers of Georgia
should pay for building up the manufac-
turing interests of the state. The position
is taken that trade should flow freely i'm
natural channels with the assurance TO the
people OF Georgia that If her natural con-
ditions are favorable for any class of in
dustry she will be able to compete with the
world for trade. and that If her natural
conditions are not favorable she should de-
vote her energies to other things.
Attention is called by the Savannah News
to the fact that Georgia can manufacture
certain kinds of cotton goods cheaper than
New England, and the question is asked
whether Georgia would he willing to have
railroad rates fixed SO that that natural
state.
A Difference of Opinion.
But there are many people who believe
that Commissioner Brown, in demanding
that the railroads OF Georgia shall dscrim-
mate in favor of local industries, is serving
the interests of his state. The principle
enunciated by the railroad commissioner of
Georgia is that has already found n
good many sympathetic responses from
other localities
This condition of protest against the rail-
roads for favorng specific industries on the
one hand and the declaration by a railroad
commissioner. who is supposed to represent e
the people of the state against the railroad
or any other special interest, that It is the
duty of the roads to discriminate in that
way will add greatly to the confusion In
considering the subject of railroad rate leg
islation.