The Caldwell tribune., 1905-12-23

the Commission cannot be given
the power to fix rates. !
But, again granting that this
body of men sitting in Washing
ton could be given this power,
Ssnce there are no kasoaOn rules by
which rates can be decided, and
since what is reasonable rate one
day may, because of some uufore-
seen event, become unreasonable
the next, it is quite evident that
this body. even if given plenty of
the most able assistants, avould not
be competent to fx rates for all
parts of the country, and so should
not be given the power.
To prove my second point, that
the proposed remedy would not do
away with present evils, l have,
for convenience, divided the dis
criminatious in question into two
kinds, secret rebates and preferen-
tial rates. The shipper is affected
by the former as an individual, by
the latter as a class.
Rebates have already been more
or less fully discussed; but, that you
may better understand what I wish
to say, l will give Mr.. Ray Stan
nard Bakers definition of them.
"Strictly speaking, a rebate is
sum of money secretly paid back
by railroad company to a favored
shipper, as a refund upon his
freight rate" For a moment,
please suppose that the Commis.
sion has this power. and has liked
either an absolute, a maximum or
minimum rate. Now what is to
prevent the railroads from giving
rebates as before? Under the pres
ent law, there must be and is a
legal published rate of charges on
all railroads. Under the proposed
law, the rate dictated by the Com
mission would become the legal
rate, departures from which would
be subject to the same fines and i'm
prisonments as from the present le-
gal rate? Now, just as the rail
roads, in the face of the present
penalties, have dared to grant re
bates and other secret discrimina.
tions. is it unjust to suppose that
they would feel anv more com
FUNCTIONS of conscience in depart
ing from the Commissions lega
rate than from their own; or is il
unjust to suppose that, under the
increased temptations which woulc
necessarily exist, more rebate:
would be given than at the presen
time?
For some time past, the contin
ual complaint of the public ha
been secret rebates. Yet why doe
1t complain? II is simply because
the people. do not know the thre'
following important facts:
I'd Rebates are seldom given
(2) Railroads are as much opposed
, to rebates as are the people. Is
Rebates in every form are forbid
den by law.
(I) The first point has alread.
been proved by the first speaker OF
the negative, by reference to tn
Elkins law. If, then, the Elkin
, law has proved sufficient in tn
past, should 1t not be deemed com
) petent of meeting all future rat
evils of this kind, while rates hav
! been and steadily are, of their ow'
accord, becoming less? Commo
sense and a national desire for pre-
gress say it should, but my honor
5 able opponents say it should not.
(2) Why are rebates given2 T
increase the earnings OF the road
! Never! On the contrary, they d.
crease the income, and are give
1 only to help so1e shipper wh
wants them, and who howls if b
doesn't get them. Railroads hav
Il not yet come SO close to giVin
their last penny to charity th'
o they are hunting people to give r
II bates to.
l. (3) The Interstate Commer'
Il c -oo1 prOhihitS rai1Da