The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-19
why GOVERNMENT RATE MANI
ING MEANS DISASTER.
AstrikinE Argument by President Earring
or the Chicago, Milwaukee & st. Pau.


From, Harper's Weekly.
In framing the Constitution one OF the
important subjects OF debate, az Is well known.
was the provision respecting commerce
among the states. The power to regulate
TINS commerce was finally given to Congress:
out not until a limitation had been placed
upon that power providing that no resula-
uon OF commerce shorld give preference
TO the ports OF one state over those OF an
o'her. While the Importance OF the con-
Rressonal power to regulate commerce can
not De overlook ed, the limitation placed upon
~ Us OF quite as much Importance: and IL Is
oiear from the debates in the constitutional
convention that, but for the Imitation the
power never would have been granted.
with this limitation upon the power OF
Congress to regulate interstate commerce.
there Is no basis upon which rates for trans
portation can be fixed by the Government.
except the memorable basis of distance In
no other way can rates of transportation be
made TO and from ports OF different states
without giving to some Of them preference
over others.
The effect Of this upon the great agricul-
tnral districts Of the Middle West would BIO
more disastrous even than upon the manu-
facturers. The system OF transportation
has been so adjusted by the carriers them
selves that the products of the farm. both
grain and live stock. though produced
thousand miles or more from the seaboard.
are able to compete in the markets OF the
world with the products Of other great pro-
ducing regions in this and other countries.
The great national food producing district
comprised in the region drained by the Missis-
sippi Is so situated that It could not profit
ably ship it's products TO foreign markets II
the arbitrary differences Of distance were
applied against them. II the varied resources
of this region were limited to local markets
that Is. to points Of consumption nearer TO
them than to any other competing regions OF
production the paralysis Of It's great aRri-
cultural and live stock raising industries
would amount to an appalling calamity.
Nothing but the most intricate and scientific
adjustment of rates with each other, 40 skill
fully arranged as to overcome the ineauali-
ties OF distance and the disadvantages OF
location. has given TO the great prairie States
of Illinois. Iowa, Nebraska. Kansas. Wis
consn and Minnesota, or to the wheat fields
of North and South Dakota. the marvellous
prosperity they have attained and the po-
stion which they occupy in the markets OF
the world. To build across the channels OF
their commerce the impediments of con-
stantly increasing distance from the market
would be to render desolate and barren the
garden spots of American agriculture.
I have seen this Western prairie country
develop as the railways have opened up its
resources and the comnany I renreaent has
ALWAYS been identified With its DEVELOPMENT.
Therefore 7 may he hardened IL T look with
M small degree Of annrebensjon upon the
threat NJ serious imnairment OF the interests
~ this largo and impor,ant section of the
country which A distance tariff would in
ovi,ahlv make
The manufac,urer of ,,rher In Uisconsin
or Michigan or Ni,resota Distributes his
n,oduct With, n certain n,ar;et reoion nat
ura,l,, tributary IN his mill The extent of
THO t.rr;torv which be ran roach with his
nrodrc, denen,s unon tho rates NJ transnor-
,otion no r,ust nav I-nder tho nresant avs
tom or nd ius,n,ont nil those manufacturers
whose mills IRA srhtec, n tho sa,ne oeneral
cos, of nroduction and who draw from ann.
stantialiv tho same SUNNY ~ raw material
have tho SAME roto to common erket noints
I-ndor tho distn,ce ,arir sr.,em Win tho
CONSEQUENT incrcase II, tr,nsnorta,;on ratea
wbich must rosrI, from r,overnmen, rate
,otin, tho mil, which ia neorost n part;cular
,,orrat viii how. a, adr.ntore ovnr everv
nthar nil, !, thot market and will ho NJ n
daoid.d d;sodrontags in everv o,her n,orLet
In o,sar ,rords ,ho r.su,, ~ srinc trananor.
,,,ion r,to. IN n dis,ance sis will he a chanue
,-o,, ,b, ,r,s,n, broad general comnetitivo