The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1905-05-09

The railroads have had their TN
nings" before the United States sem
ate committee on Interstate coin
meFce. and. n there il no objection.
tho majority Of senators composing
that tribunal would now like 20 adj
iourn.
The committee has made up It's
mind. Here are It's eoucmaionHi
1. The Eseh-Townscnd bill
passed by the house Of representa-
lives. Is - bad "a 60 be unworthy
Z OF serious consideration.
9 Rate making by a federal COM
mission would be- uuwise. unuecea-
| sary. IL not unconstitutional
| UNWtsE: Because Il would lodge
a dangerous power In the hands of
a small body OF men subject 10 polit-
tcai and corrupt influences,
/ Rates might become a political
and sectional issue
I Rates would lose elasticity and
adaptation % economic changes
UNNECESSARILY because pres
ont law Is sufficient u enforced
orders OF the Interstate COM
merca commission have been
ohoyed In practically all instances.
Rebates are = thinE u the past
Enlarged powers given 90 the Law
I BY the Eikins act. passed two years
aEo. never have been invoked
UNCONSTITUTIONAL 90; At
tornsys for the railroads aEreo that
congress has power under the con-
stituilen "a delegate legislative q e.
ratio makingl power % = commits
sion that such a commission would
have constitutional authority to
make rates. 90 so Immediately into
force. such rates 20 come within tho
I limits OF the ''extortlonata- on fhe
one hand. and OF tho "coufiacatory'
on the other. Those ilmits of ''rca-
sonahlenoas'' would be determined
I by the courts
Clause s. section ?. o. The eonstl-
tullon-tha no preference see
ton. probably does not ARMY OK
cont % efforts oe the federal SOW
I eminent q give an artificial ad-
/ vantage 30 one state as compared
with another state
4 A vigorous protest has already
been aroused b the suggestion that
the committee adjourn without
/ looking into the other subjects
enumerated In the "kcan fesola-
tea. THIS resolution. being the
o2a under which the committee -
acting. enumsrates other topics 10
BE- inquired iRto. namely
Violations o. evAsloua OF the
nnfi-robatS Law and the devices and
methods By which eyasloua are ae-
eampiished. including refrigerator
and ether private car systems, Va
dustriat railway tracks. switching
charFns and the Ike. and also 60
consider what legislation should b
enacted la relation 10 The liability OF
railroad companies engaged In In
terstate traffic for Injuries received
BY thelr employees whea In the dia-
+ charge Of their duty
+ NOT A WITNESS has BEES
+. CALLED or A QUESTION
f ASKED on ANY or THESE
F. TOPICS.
I Up 70 the uressat time the hear
+ ings have been an absolutely oao-
sided affair. The only Witnesses
E EalAstA nave MEAA NAAAMAa ~ ~ :
and traffic. managers. and their tes-
tlmony has been carefully directed
by Chairman Stspben Il EIkina
with view to making a brief
aKninat a grant of rate making an
Ithorlty 20 the government. and with
a further view to excluding any
evidence which might be opposed
20 this general argument
For the better accomplishment OF
this purpose the printed record oi
the hnaFinga. whieh purp0rts 10 BE-
a verbatim and accurate account ci
the testimony. has been daily TO
| viaed By the witnesses and senators
Of the committee. and parts Of Il
stricken out.
But the hearings have had a still
/. more remarkable feature Since the
opening day on the nth ~ April the
voice and directing mind 81 the az.
ISOLATED railway interests which ars
opposing this legislation have beer
present IN the committee room r.
the person OF former United state
] Senator Charles y. Faulkner. 81