Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-13
A Vital Matter.

A Vital Matter.
The issue. in word, ia as To whether
or not the power TO fix rates shall be
given TO the Interstate commerce COM
mission or some similar administrative
body. There are minor details. OF
course. but it is conceded on all sides
that they could be compromised. The
placing of the rate making power in
the government is the bone of conten-
ton. II is a vital matter; how vital
the present generation perhaps does
not realize. IL is fundamental, being
the difference between private contrui
and public control. However yelled or
befogged. this remains the chief con
tention. Stripped of all side issues, the
question is simple. Has the nation the
right to regulate transportation tOllsI
However complicated or mysterious
the details OF rate making may appear.
the issue Itself is plain ana clear 1t
transcends any mere question as to
whether freight schedules are too high
or too low or even as To whether there
is discrimination or fayoritsm. All
these things are involved. but they do
not constitute the crux of the matter.
of the United States over its common
carriers. Having got this one point
fixed, il Is possible TO wade into the
labyrinths of the subject without los
ing ones bearings. Before the aver
age lay mind tackles II matter 50 mys-
FERROUS AS the modern railway rate
some such precaution il necessary.
One other thing in clear. that the rail
road question in interviewer with that
of the industrial trusts. The Standard
Oil agitation and the beef trust trials
showed that. These two concerns were
built up largely on the rebate. The
same is true of practically every other
trust that ships or receives produce,
so that In taking up the freight rate
matter the president seems To have got
at the tap root of the whole trust plant
This makes the issue before congress
fundamental in more senses than one.
More Publicity Advocated.
Another point is fairly plain-conced-
ing the abstract proposition that the
government has the right 10 fix rates,
then what is the real evil ut which this
proposed legislation is aimedI Is IL not
this very giving of rebates. discrimina-
ton. unequal treatmentI There seems
no very general complaint that freight
rates are too high But there Is general
complaint OF favoritism. Attorney Gen
eral Moody after long and laborious In
NeStigation reports as his deliberate
Judgment that secret rebates are still
given; that. while the bald return of
part of the charges is not INDUCED In
SO much as formerly. the same end II
reached by other means-through the
private car system. for example,; re-
frigerattng charges. fictitious damages,
terminal tolls aud the like. The presi-
dents desire is 10 ciOthe the commits
sion with power To get ut these things
and correct the abuses IL determined Co
exist. for example. IL railroad Is
granting some trust an especially low
rate. that the commission may declare
as low a general rate for all shippers.
More publicity il advocated. IL is de-
sired that the commission may have
access TO all books. that hearings may
be expedited and that power may be
given to remedy an evil when found.
Unequal treatment. then. is the meat in
the second cocOanut The ROOseveltian
idea OF a square deal is 10 give John
Doe or Richard Roe the same rates as
Armour. One firm shall not he favored
at the expense OF another. The poor