Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-07-29
WOULD IT MEAN A DISTANCE
TARIFF

From the New York Evening Post
There can be no doubt that any Inter
state Commerce Commission composed
OF right thinking men would disregard
the distance theory in adjusting rail-
road rates. provided they had the pow
er to act on their own judgment But
few government agencies do have, or
do retain this power. The fact that the
commission has disregarded the dis
lance view in the days of it's weakness
and ineffectiveness is not proof posi-
tive that it could do it in the days OF
It's strength. If the commission We're
actually doing things actually adjust
ing rates, and throwing upon the rail-
roads the burden of showing in the
courts that these rates were unreas-
enable. the pressure upon the commits
sion to influence it's decisions would
be hundredfold what 1t is today.
Would it be as free then to reflect its
own opinions, or the opinions Of in
telligent men in general, as 1T is to-
day? That is the great question. It
is one that Mr.. Prouty cannot answer,
nor can any one else. Experience
| would have to furnish the only guide.
That there is a difference between
a government agency with, and one
without, real power In it's ability to
express It's own Judgment, goes with
out saying. The difference is much
ike that between a majority and mi
nor1ty party in congress. The demo-
Gratis, for example, in the house this
winter will take positions as a minor
| ity party when their action will be in
effectual and sure to be overridden by
the majority, which they would not
take If actually intrusted with author
| ity. Men out of Office are repeatedly
proposing plans much more courageous
that they would, or could, carry out
| # responsibility really rested upon
them. Public life affords countless ex-
amples Of this principle.
| The reason for thinking that gov
eminent rate regulation would ulti-
mately approximate distance basis
is that government agencies are neces-
sarily inelastic. A rigid formula is the
only refuge against political pressure
In private life self-interest accom-
| Fishes this, but under the government
| with the element of personal profit re-
moved, political pulling and hauling
begins, which can be ended only by
compromising on some easily executed
but inelasttc system Of action. The
seniority promotion Of the army and
navy and of congress Is an excellent
example Of 1t. 1t is the best thing
that can be done under government
auspices. But private enterprise finds
a much better basis Of promotion thar
seniority
If the government were to regulate
railroad rates, would congress allow
the commission, or any other agency
| to exercise the wholesome discretion
such as was set forth in the quotation
already made from the interstate COM
merce decision? What would Denver
say to such a judgment, if it were
really effective and controlling? Den
Yer would threaten to turn the electora
vote of Colorado against any party
responsible for such a judgment. New
York would threaten in the opposite
way, and it might happen that some
rigid system of rate adjusting would
| be the necessary compromise. Thai
Is the weakness of the present rate.
Regulation campaign