New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-27
RATE HEARING RESUMED.
". d. Hime Speaks again against
Government Control.

Washington. April 26.-Chairman Elkns Of the
Interstate Commerce Committee announced to-day.
when the committee assembled. that he had
quested the State Department to procure the rail-
road laws OF Great Britain. Germany and France
and the portions Of these laws bearing on the
question before the committee will be printed $
part of the hearings
Walker D. Hine. formerly of the Louisville and
Nashville Railroad. continued his statement. He
insisted that competition the of lower
rates for long hauls than for short hauls.
Senator Dolliver called attention to the an
nOuncement that a certain association had met and
determined to lower rates In territory reached by
a group of railroads in the South Mr.. Hne
piled that these associations were bureaus of in
formation. I'm which representatives OF railroads
met and exchanged views. Where there was to be
a change Of rates all roads, the witness said, ought
to make the change at once. He expressed the
opinion that pooling would be of little advantage
10 railroads.
Mr.. Hine, explaining differentals. said that the
competition between the Gulf ports and Southern
railroads and Atlantic ports and Eastern railroads
for the grain traffic Of the Northwest was respon-
sible for them New-Orleans secured a low rate,
and New-York wanted an equal rate. DifferenttaIs
were the adjustment Of competition between rival
lines There could be no government interference
in these differentlals. government tribunal could
not figure out what proportion of grain traffic
should go to New-Orleans and how much should go
10 New-YOrk.
Senator Deliver asked if the fact that the matter
Baltimore,
Philadelphia and New York had been unanimously
submitted 10 il Endorsement of the
commission
Mr. Hine replied that these communities were
willing that the commission should be the arbi-
traitor and the railroads also satisfied But
Orleans with enterprise and energy and its
railroads might not be satisfied. If the commits
sion had power to fix rates ii would be compelled
10 fix a specific or minimum rate the differential
would be destroyed. II minimum specific rate
should be fixed then competition would be destroyed
The commission could not move quick enough to
hx rates TO meet changing conditions II the gov
eminent should assume the power TO fix rates il
also would have to assume the responsibility for
| the welfare OF communities which had unfavor-
| able natural location Just the railroads do now
Under the constitution the commission. Mr.. Hine
/ commended could not give preferential rate II
/ probably would be within the power OF Congress
he added under it's authority to regulate commerce
10 acquire the railroads Then oil course, Congress-
would have to fix rates In order TO carry bust
ness but II aid not follow that without ownership
] Congress should nix rates
Mr. Hine asserted that government tribunal
could not FIX ratos because Il would not have time
In the region east Of the Mississippi and south az
the Ohio and Potomac rivers. comprising II DeF
cent OF the mileage and u per cent OF the earninEs
OF the rairoads OF the United States. there were
FIVE vica-presidents. twelve tnaffc managers and
assistants foTty-four general freight agents 1--WE
foreign freight ana from twenty-five 10
| thirty chief rate clerks, all engaged In making
rates There were in addition, from four hundred
to Ave hundred travelling freight agents, who were
men were working all the unss N sA@ aajustEnsas
Of Eafea