New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-06
COMM ENTS ON MESSAGE
MANY TARYING VIEWS.
Chief Interest in It's Railroad RatE
Sections.

From The Tribune Bureau.I
Washington, Dec. 5.-The Railway Rate Sec
tons Of the Presidents message were warmly
commended by many members of the House and
Senate. but were declared to be distinctly disap-
pointing by many more Some of the radicals
declared that the President had abandoned the
position he assumed year ago when he recon-
mended that TO the Interstate Commerce Com
mission be delegated the authority to prescribe
specific rates. Others said that they lamented
alleged notifications in the message. They
wanted provision authorizing the commission
to fix water as well railroad rates; and also
a recommendation that the commission be en-
powered to fix minimum as wei as maximum
rate; and they deprecated the inclusion OF
passage which is held TO be virtually an indOrse-
ment of traffic arrangements" where the Presi-
dent says:
THE power vested in the government to put d
stop to agreements to the detriment of the public
should in my judgment, be accompanied by
power to permit. under specified conditions and
careful supervision. agreements clearly in the
interest of the public"
Such agreements 1t is maintained by outspoksa
antagonists of the railways. would not only bs
equivalent to those involved in the famous trans
Missouri case which were declared Illegal by
tie Supreme Court, but the expression OF the
President constitutes, they maintain, definite
Endorsement of the legislation proposed by Sen
anti-tr.st law, which forbfds Agreements i'm
restraint of trade" should be amended as
TO prohibit only ''unreasona ble'' agreements In
restrain of trade.
Some of the radicals insist that. falling to
confer on the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion the power to prescribe a minimum rate
Congress would leave that organization power
less to remedy some of the most obnoxious dis
examinations now practised whereby certain
10 = f1f 1nf
belongs to them. because of disproportionate
rates.
Conservatives in Senate and House, on the
other hand. object to the part of the Presidents
statement that
We wish to insure fair treatment for the
small town as for the big Cities
they arguing that while they all wish TO see
every one treated fairly, the statement is mis-
leading and is certain to be taken to mean that
the small town shall be accorded the same
treatment as the big city, even though the Dig
city be a large shipping point enjoying the adj
vantages of being the terminal point of numer-
Gus railroads and of water shipments Excep-
ton is also taken to the statement:
We do desire to see the system of railroad
transportation so handled that the strong man
shall be given no advantage over the weak man.
It is said that literally this means that the
advantage over the shipper by the box or bar
rel or bale. and that this is obviously imprac-
ticable.
Great emphasis is laid by the conservatives on
the reconlrr endation that, where a railroad Is
detected granting to a favored shipper ii rate
lower than the established and reasonable rate
the commission shall have the right to fix this
already ests blished minimum rate as the maxi
num-"
- a. ,,-ro5 ~, these Conservatives that this
if put into practice, would have
the effect of penalizing every competing road
which had dealt honestly with its shippers for
the fault of the one road which had violated the
law that single road among several COM
petitors. prompted by dishonest management,
might cut its rate between given cities to point
which was far more profitable and even ruinous
to competitors giving high grade service, and
that the commission. acting under this provision.
would be compelled Immediately to force all
competing roads TO adopt the same ruinous
Still another objection urged by the conserva-
tives is based on tire statement:
Elevator allowances should be stopped, for
they have now grown TO such an extent that
they are demoralizing and used as rebates
Ii is maintained that many of the elevators
along the lines of railroads are private enter
prises. that they owned by individuals or
companies wholly distinct from the owners OF
the railroads, and that to abolish their right to
charge for elevator service would De SIMPLY con-
fscatory.
The conclusion of that portion Of the message
which deals with the subject of corporations in
which the President declares that the only cure
for existing evils is the regulation and super
vision of corporations engaged in interstate
by the national government. is de-
elared TO be an Endorsement Of the idea pre-
sented in the last annual report Of the Commits
sioner of Corporations. in which he advocated
that all corporations so engaged be required TO
procure a federal license
The Presidents declaration thar the later
State Commerce Commission should be made a
purely administrative body" when accom-,
panied by the further recommendation that A.
be empowered Z" perform administrative Judi
eial and legislative functions. Is regarded by the
Presidents critics as presenting a problem yvhiel,
IS beyond the ablest lawyers in Congress
1here is general approval of the conservative