The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-05-23

All the eastern states.
+ Then YOU Justify an these IN.
ouualitica OF rates. aud their Incl.
dents OF oppression on this person
OF that locality. - The ground that
Il ia best for tho country a.
whuln3
r.: OF course II "a host The
past thowa u. The experience OF
Germany aud France proves a.. The
best German authorities agree that
the system has been very Injurious
To the general commercial develop
mont of the nation. II IL not az
strong a competitor Lea the wnrld'a
markets as Il would have been II Il
had not been hamperod by this artl
Nrtas system II rates. They have
only been saved b. their rlyora and
canals. They weuld be Flaa e DO
rid 0f me whole thing. but tho
strugglo between the different com
munitics is now a political one and
the government Ia deadl0ckod DO.
tween them
p You hold that the railroads
develop the country along tho lara.
est notaibie lines. for their own
selfish intereata3 For the rovenueY
r. Exactly They want the
country 10 prosper 90 their road
VII prosper. II is money In their
pockets TO see that nobody gets the
worst OF H.
p but you admit that some
times u Is necessary 10 give tho M.
tie fellow. OF tho little community.
the worst % a "a order TO develop
the country on "the largest possible
lines You would have the wheat
farmer Ia south Germany put out
of business 20 develop the castY
r It's a case 81 survival OF the
flttest. That IA the way II Is in
every huainesA 1t Is often best for
the little fellow 10 so down. II
may b best for a community 10 40
Into another line % business.
P. And lt'a sometimes necessary
10 tax the fellow along the line tthe
chap who has no competing line 20
ship by a little more. so the road
can carry for the terminal fellow at
cost. OF less than cost. In order 10
Keep business or 10 develop
new line OF tFaffief"
r.: Well. & doesn't hurthlm. We
never tax him 50 hard "a 10 put
him out % business. That would
not be 20 our own interests.
2. Then you claim that the
thing 10 be kept in view il the big
eest commercial development Of tho
country a. n whole--thhf the lnai.
vidual will act along we'll enough
II the whole nation Is big and
strong In the economic wnridf
r. And that the railroads are
/ the hlEEeat agents for such con-
merelal development. and that they
viii remain 40. II let alone.
p Then you haFs no room FOR
any consideration Of the little fei-
low. or the little community Tho
weak and struggling have no part
In Your sehsmsg
n; They must take their chance
with the reAt.
p. Hut suppose tho government
says that this IL commercial an
I Rruhgf suppose the government
says that Il n one % the duties Of
government 70 protect the weak
% SO that the little fellow h not
trud down by the big and stronKs
r.: That isn't the function q the
/ government II should Keep ia
hands off Of commercial and eco
monte laws let tho government
keep the peace and maintain an
army. and let the commercial World
alone.
p But the government never
/ has let II alone. There IL the tariff
system. subsidining manufacturers
The railroads exist b. virtue Of
/ special government subsidies and
land grants. not 70 mention the To-
I gal power Of eminent domain By
which thcy got their right of way.
r.: Hut what can the govern
ment DO In this complicated rail
road rate mattsrf wouid you have
the government cripple the roadaf
p How about some kind Of a
tribunal which might decide on
thesa questions which involve the
/ determination OF one community
and the bulldlng up Of another
II. The railroads arr disposed 10
| deal fairly and kindly.
p. Providing II doesn't impair
/ their income.
n; OF course they must consider
their revenue.
p. A government tribunal would
not decide the controversy on the
one basis OF revenue. such a tri-
buual might be a little more fair.
/ n not more morciful.
H.. You have such a tribunal
now. the Interstate Commerce Com
I mission.
p Which has no power 10 deal
with determinations between local
I tiles
r.. The present interstate com
merce act IL a bully Law and per
I fectly satisfactory 10 the railroads.
O.. Because Il has been proved 10
be entirely Intellectual
r. Well. amend Il so n compe-
tent federal court could pass on
these questions We are willing 60
leave Il 10 the courts.
p: Because the attorney gener-
I al has rendered hts opinion. Whica