The Washington times., 1905-10-22
Nj. Taft on Rail Rates.

The speech of Secretary Taft, de-
livered in Akron, Ohio, last night,
touched many issues, national and
local, but none of more general in
terest, or greater Importance, than
the question of the regulation of rail-
way rates.
Judge Taft's training, ability and
experience as lawyer and a judge
qualify him pre-eminently to speak of
the legal effect of the proposed regu-
lation and his close association with
the President gives to his utterance
all the force of a declaration by the
Administration. AS he expounded
the attitude of the President, and
commented upon the opposition to
the proposed regulation of railway
rates by commission, probably the
Interstate Commerce Commission,
his auditors were borne along by the
irresistible tide of his logic to a
clearer view of the subject.
Taking a rapid and wide survey
of conditions in this country Mr..
Taft outlined the ground for the pro-
posed regulation of rates as being
the increase in communistie sentf-
ment throughout the land, particu-
larly as voiced by the more radical
elements of what is known as the
Democratic party. He pointed out
that in his judgment the railways of
this country. at least those of them
whose managers are active now in
opposing the proposed amendments
OF the President, are making a great
mistake, and should they through
their influence and evidence which
they have brought out before the
Interstate Commerce Committee of
the Senate. succeed in delaying or in
defeating the proposed amendment,
they are merely heaping up wrath
against day of wrath, and will live
to regret that they did not accept
reasonable restriction on Inem
rather than to have to meet the agi-
tation for much more radical anli
possibly most ill-advised measures
concerning the government of their
property. In other words, the rail-
ways must face regulation now, OF
Government ownership later on; and
in any case the demand for Govern
ment ownership can best be defer
red by Government supervision al
this time.
The growth OF this sentiment has
been fostered by the abuses practiced
by the roads in defiance of the rights
OF the people, and of the common
and statute laws; and these abuses
he briefly summarized as favoritism
In the matter of rebates, unjust dis
elimination as between individual
shippers and as between different
localities. and rates that are exces-
sive in view of what would be reason
able for the service rendered
II is undoubtedly true, as Mr.
Taft so forcibly said, that: 1.-The
railroads have become an arterial
network in the life of this country,
upon the proper and just operation
of which depends the business health
OF the country, both in agriculture
and manufactures Partially and
discrimination in favor of an indi-
vldual or shipper, or of a community
or locality, is as serious an injury
TO some other shipper or community
as If something of value were taken
from the latter. Men have been
ruined, men have been made rich.
settlements have been destroyed,
settlements have been enlarged to
prosperous towns, through the favor.
aud tie unjust favor, OF ,ne man
ayers of railroads"
That is severe but just state
ment Of the known misfeasances of
managers of railroads. The facts
are too widely known to admit of
successful rebuttal, and, indeed, the
attempt is scarcely made TO contra
dict them; the efforts now made be-
ing largely to show that whereas
In the past they now see the errors
OF their ways, and, the inducements
to virtue and equity being stronger
than formerly, they win be good in
the future
Mr.. Taft paused to outline the
origin, nature, operation and defects
of the present statute laws, particu-
larly those creating the Interstate
Commerce Commission, and said
two changes are necessary to make
these laws effective:
First. a provision authorizing the COM
mission in declaring rate to be un-
reasonable to declare at the same time
what is a maximum reasonable rate and
TO make an order requiring the company
20 reduce its rate 10 that maximum; and
Second that the is~ should. under
proper penalty. require obedience to the
order OF the commission and thus COM
pei the carriers to .treat the order with
proper respect reserving to them the
opportunity 20 avoid its operation by a