The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-26
RAILROADS SHOW
CHANGE OF FRONT
They Support Rate Legislation,
but Are Exacting as to the
Kind.
BY w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jernane.
Washington, Sept. 26.-As the time
draws nearer for theassembling Of CON.
gress, the line of attack Of railroad in
terests on the president g policy Of rate
regulation assumes some defniteness.
It looks as if the railroad interests
would begin by claiming that they are
they think legislation is highly neces-
sary, but that such legislation should
be Of character that they can consist
emily support. IF they can make the
public believe that this attitude is sin
cere, their fight will be almost half won
This attitude, however, does not tally
with that which was assumed by them
and their friends in the senate commit
tee hearing last spring. The bulk of the
testimony then taken was that there
was already sufficient law, and that the
that congress should let we'll enough
alone. Scores of heavy shippers from
all parts Of the country were brought
to Washington to echo this cry, and it
is quite clear that at that time it was
the purpose of the railway interests to
fight legislation of any kind.
Elkins as Weather Vane.
Now, however, there seems to have
been change Of front, due in all prob
ability to the discussion of the summer
months and to the increased interest
which the public has taken in the sub
iect. Senator Elkins, interviewed sew
eral time in New York, says that legis-
lation is greatly needed, and that con-
gress will certainly pass bill next
witer. Me then tells the people what
kind Of bill he thinks should be
passed, and, as in this matter he is the
mouthpiece Of the railway interests, his
words are of a good deal Of interest:
rates up to the federal courts. He plays
upon the confidence which the country
| has in these courts, and takes no note
of the exhaustive opinion Of the attor-
ney general that rate-making is legis-
| lative and not judicial function. The
| courts, therefore, would decline to ex-
ercise the rate-making power, even if
commanded to do so by congress.
spenser for Commerce Court.
President Samuel spenser of the
Southern Railway system, who headed
the railroad lobby in Washington dur
| also quoted as being in favor Of leg.
islation. He so testified before the sen.
ate committee, and his testimony is
now reproduced by James H. Maddy
of New York, at the head Of the rail-
way publicity bureau, who says il
"should be taken as the attitude OF
the railways in the present agitation. ;
Mr.. Spenser would have an interstate
commerce court created to have juris
diction over all cases arising under thu
Interstate commerce act, this court tx
commission on complaint and hearing tt
be unreasonable, before the rate shall
take effect, there being no appeal to tn,
supreme court, save on questions O.
law, and no stay during appeal"
Railroads Are Particular.
The one thing which makes it impos
sible for this situation of apparent hal
: mony to result in one long, loud az
, claim of joy is the demand Of the raj
, ways that this legislation must be of tn
, kind that they map out. They will nc
. accept the president s kind, and the
are eternally opposed to permitting an
. rate fixed by the interstate commissio
: to become effective in advance Of il
being tried out by the courts. This
: the crux Of the entire controversy an
= it renders the seeming consent Of tn
!, railways for legislation Of no consi
i quence to all who believe that the p,
:. sition of the president is the right p,
sition. ~: ~ Ill., r.
New Railroad Plan.
There now comes along anotht
9 scheme for legislation, bearing also II
: earmarks of the railroad pool. Undt
t this scheme the interstate commert
/, commission is to have, in addition to i
present authority, the right to impos
fines in the event any railway compar
refuses to accept it's findings. The pr
mulgator of this scheme SAYS that it
! great stuff, and predicts that it will /
the basis of a compromise between ii
president and his railroad opposers. III
objection to such a program is ebviou
Under its operation the railways cou
escape the fines by making even
very slight change in rates, and thu
matters would remain just as they we
before.
Hiding Behind Tariff.
While all this discussion is going
friends Of the president 3 plan shou
keep both eyes on those railroad int
ests which are trying with might al
main to bring the tariff into the fol
ground and make it an issue, taking a
vantage Of the federal deficit for tn
purpose Should they succeed in tn
railroad rate legislation is doomed, f
the public, as has been proved maj
times, not in this country only, but eli
where, cannot, or will not, follow mo
same time The cleverness Of this tar
ruse is found in the fact that the gre
middle west is strongly for revision, a
~ is at the same time the hotbed Of agi
tion for railroad legislation.
Your Chance to Go West.
I>41 %o cnff "a Or Ga lr