New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-05
THE RATE-N4KTNG POWER
arguments against and For Giving
1t to Commerce Commission.

Washington, May 4--Professor H. r. Meyer,
assistant professor Of economies at the Univer-
sity Of Chicago. appeared before the Senate COM
mittee on Interstate Commerce to-day. He dealt
chiefly with the railroad conditions in Prussia
and Germany. where railways are owned by the
government He said part:
One Of the leading objects of Prussia's nation
alizatiOn Of the railways the desire TO
abolish or minimize railway discrimination and
there was the ultimate object Of attaining Ger
tain social economical results. The evidence
now before US shows that Prussia has succeeded
on the whole, IN the first. but has failed
pletely in the second.
Speaking particularly Of rate making, Pro-
fessor Meyer said:
To have the federal government, or its agent
the Interstate Commerce Commission. exercise
the power TO make railway rates would IN 40
way prevent secret rebates. Railways would
hnd il no more difficult TO depart secretly from
rates made by the government than they have
FOUND II to depart secretly from rates made by
themselves, and they often would be under
much greater pressure to depart from the rates
mace by the government, Tor il is the verdict
OF al experience JhaL government VIII not ana
can not make railway rates that viii meet the
lleeCs OF expanding trade and industry. EffeC-
tive effort by the government TO regulate rail-
way rates II general viii arrest the decline of
railroad rates by producing q deadlock of con-
ficting sectional interests WIN prevent RAILWAYS
from developing q volume Of traffic sufficiently
large 10 justify the maintenance or building
OF railways Of the highest attainable efficiency
VIA tlltCh A4lb QckclOpinenI or the resources of
the country and viii demoralize the politics OF
the country. American railway rates are the
result Of arbitration and warfare and are a bout
as nearly right as practical people can make
them. Federal regulation Of rates would engen-
der a sectional struggle and result in mileage
rates and provincial industries
Ex-senator William T. Harris Of Kansas
representing livestock interests in the South
west urged legislation giving the Interstate
Commerce Commission power TO fix rates He
spoke Of the increasing cost Of raising livestock
IL the West and Of The increased price Of meats
20 consumers, the prices to some people being
almost Brohibitiye. The cattlemen had no de-
sire for government ownership but wanted
practical governmental supervision. He COM
planned particularly Of the rates from the West
emo Southwest on young cattle shipped north to
the feeding grounds He believed that impartial
ofhcia1s appointed by the government could ar
Eve al q Idlr rate as well interested persons
S@ttle rates had been increased from - TO 70
PEI cent ana, besides lower rates. the cattleYnen
Aesaed rapid transportation for stock
replying 10 Chairman Elkins Mr. Harris ga id
Lhe roeos complained OF were the Santa "a
RoSk Island, Burlington and Union Pacific
when had advanced rates. The cost of trans
Yo1tAuon mad increased. but rot in proportion
70 the rates The Interstate Commerce. Com
.nisslcn ne maintained, could fix rates as we'll
- so-caueo experts, who often could do no more
than "cut and try" '
Xaere Is complaint Of the advance OF tho