Mexico weekly ledger., 1905-12-07

fngs ana Of the resaf cf tennsrats ana
eaattc1s action In securing 81 Ishould
~emph2ue1iIy protest against frprop-
eriF radical or hasty action The hrst
thing to do Is 70 deal with the great
sorporations engaged in the business
% interstate transportation. A I said
In my message OF December S last the
immediate ana most pressing need. 50
far as legixi2tion is eonrerned, is The
enactment into law Of some scheme 10
ri to the agents Of the govern
msnt such supervision and regulation
Of the rates charged by the railroads
81 h country engaged In Interstate
.haAfc as shall sumnarIIy and efee-
lively prevent the imposition Of unjust
or unreasonable rates. II must Include
putting = complete stop to rebates In
every shape and form This power to
regulate rates like all similar powers
I've the business world. should be ex-
eFcised with moderation. caution and
sesf-restraint; but II should exist. 50
that IL can be effectively exercised
when the need arises.
ms first consideration TO Be kept
In mind IS that the power should be
Affirmative and should be given TO
some administrative body created by
the congress II givsn to the present
interstate coumercs comufsE1on or to
q re~org1nirsd Interstate m
commission. such commission should
be made unequivocaiiy administrative
1 DO not believe In the government in
tsrfering with private business more
than is necessary. I do not believe In
4he government undertaking. any work
which N with propriety be left In
private hands. But neither 90 I be-
Lew in the government finishing from
overseeing any work when II becomes
evident that aliases are sure 20 OBJ
tain therein unless there 10 gorern-
mental supervisien. II Is nat my prov
inee to Indicate the exact terms OF the
law which should be enacted but /
cali the attention Of the congress to
certain existing conditions with which
II 10 desirable 20 deal. In my judy
ment the most important provision
which such law should contain Is that
cenferring upon some couspetent adj
mintstr1tfve body the power to decide.
/ upQn the case being brought before II.
whether a given rate prescribed BY a
railroad is reasonable III just. and
10 II is found 10 be unreasonable and
unjust. then. after fun investigation
Of the Complaint to prescribe the limit
/. OF rate beyond which IL shall not be
lawful TO go-fhe maximum reason
able rate. as II Is commonly called
this decision 20 20 into effect within q
4 ~LlL&NLAUl- aME ana u UZLAAh 1--WE
thence onward subject to review By
the courts 1t sometimes happens at
present not that a rate Is too high
but that . favored shipper Is given too
low \ rate. In such ease the commits
sson would have the right TO TX this
already established minimum rate as
the maximum. and II would need only
one or two such decisions by tha com
mission to cure railroad companies OF
- .---&. .Gwfa@ g-nnrrRar mtnI-
mum rates I call rot attention 70
the fact that my proposal Is not p
give the commission power to initare
or originate rates generally. but TO
regulate a rate already Gxed or crigi-
mated by the roads. upcn complaint
and after Investigation A heavy
penalty should be exacted from any
corporation which falls 20 respect an
order Of the commission. l regard this
power to establish = maximum rate
Is being essential 20 n scheme OF
real reform IN the matter Of railway
regulation The first necessity Is 70
secure 81: and unless IL Is granted to
the commission there IL little use I.
;oaehing the subject at all
Rebates Really Bisckmail
TrsxaI transactions often occur IN.
der the forms Of law. IL has often oc-
cured that a shipper has been told
BIZ a trz1lc oeEcer to buy q Large
quantity Of some commodity aid ther
after IL has been bought an open re
ducfscu is made in tie rate 70 take
eject Immediately. the arrangement
resulting to the profit Of the a ship.
per and the ore railroad and TO n
Faunare Of al their competitors fol
il must not Sc forgotten that the BID
shippers are az least a. much q
blame as any railroad in he matter
OF rebates. The law should make u
/. clear 50 that nobody car fail to Under
stand that any kind Of commissior
PAID on freight shipnentA whether II
this form or IN the form Of nctuo1'
damages. or of a concession q fre'
PASS reduced passenger rate. or pay
rent of brokerage, Is Illegal II u
worth While considering whether 4
would mot be wise to confer on tn
government the right Of civil action
zxzinst the Beneficiary Of a rebate 10
at least fwice h value OF , rebate
this would help stop What Is re21ll
/. biaekmail Elevator allowances shorAi
be stopped for they have now grow
} TO such an extent that they are &c
morsiIriuR and are used IS rebates
The best possible regulation Of rate
would, OF course. be that ragulutioi
secured by an honest agrecunen
, among the railroads themselves 4
carry out the law. Such q genera
: agreement would. for instance. a. ono
! pat a stop 20 the efforts OF \ on
big shipper o. big railroad TO as
erfuinzfe against or secure advan
] taxes over some rival; n such agree
: neat worId make the railroads them
: selves agents for enforcing \ Law
, Tha power vested In the governmen
10 put a stop to agreements TO N
sstriuent Of the pubic should. In n,
{ judgment be accompanied By power :
, permit under specified eonaiuons an
careful SUPERVISED, agreemenss cts
: " in the Interest Of the public But
? = nv Judgment the necessity 10
giving MS further power Is By n
} nesns as great IS the necessity 10
J giving the commission OF zduinlstra
live body the other powers 1 hav
: enumerated above and IL may we
. be fuadvisabie TO attempt 70 vest m
: particular power in eonnasslon 2
E other administrative body until " Al
0 -eadv Possesses and is exercising whA
: I regard as By far the most importan
AZ ali the powers I recommeno-s IN
z ssed the vitality Important roWere-
4 thzt to tx q given maximum rat
which rate, after the LAPSE o. q re.son
n able tine goes into' fun eaee- sno9eS
: 70 review By the courts
D An private car lines. Industrial roaa
5 REFRIGERATOR charges. ans - nks 49,
] - exurez<fy put under the E9pertA9
a shs snterxtata ccume<cs eornZtEzss
{ = saue similar body - far As rates Al
y s~re~ments practically affecting rates q;
~o-esrned. Ths private car owners A
~ owners Of Industrial railroads are e,
d tssfsa 10 A fair M reasonable ecru2ezz
: ttsn On their Investment but netther y
n 80 ezrx nor industrial railroads ncr sd
.-.r<s should be utilized IS deyfces Il
4 ss~urlnr preferential rates A rebate
Il s~snr eharxeS. or IN mileage, or In = DIV
sso1 az re rate for refrsger2ting eharg'
= ssszt a. pernlc1oas as : rebate IN an
Il other way. No lower rats should app
s ~ goods irnported than actually ootai'
d an domestic goods frou the America
u aboard to destinations except IN cas-
il where water ~compstition 5 the control
- inauence. There Should b puh1cli
4 Of the accounts OF eoEzen carriers,
q Common carrier engaged IN interztzi
{. h~s,sIness should keep ms books Or nez
e-anaa other h these reported pu
II ssant to law Or regulation. and the
- hooks 5r memoranda should Be open
~ ~ inspection Of the government On
- his way can Violations or evasions
fhe faw Be surely detected A system
sx.ninstion Of railroad aecoants skoa
- - crowded similar 70 that row conducts
int5 the national hanks By the hank e
aniners q few frst-eizss railroad .
cosutantA II they had preper dtreetii
ard proper authority 70 Inspect books a.
T. papers could accomplish much In Pr
le effects varying anywhere betwee
/, fourfold pressure and sixteen 10