The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-01-15
RAILROADS WILL
GIVE ASSISTANCE
Ia Solving Rate Question, Says
Samuel Spencer
cnIiTuEpN'o DREolnEnT
SOUTHERN'S PRESIDENT
SAYS FURTHER LEGISLATION is
UNNECESSARY AND THAT 1T
is USELESS TO CONFER
MORE AUTHORITY
ON COMMITS
SION.

senUmtulS Oh the New IOIh teHtldAt
ere, Chicago, Milwaukee and St
Paul Illinois Central, Delaware. Lae1-
wanna and Western. Northern Pa.
life and other railway companies, ap
leared before the committee in oppo-
siticn to the passage Of the Quarles.
Cooper bill or any oher proposition
permit the interstate commerce
commission TO fix rates. Mr.. Spencer
vas the first railroad official to ap
Dear before the committee, and his
Jews are taken by the members Of
he commi tee to represent those Of
,ther railway presidents ana officials
While Mr.. Spencer admitted thar
abroad rates were .033 OF / per cent
lgher in 1903 than in 1899, and That
leeause Of this shippers had pala
155. COO. 600 more in freight charges,
said tho earnings Of the railroads
tina year were less than in 1899
md that this was due 10 the increased
cost of commodities and the resulting
Increase in the cost of operation.
"Rthates are Wrong"
The interstate commerce law and
he commission, he said, had been in
peration for eighteen years Before
is operations the rebate. the secret
,ontraet and discriminatory devices
# various kinds were the rule. Now
he reverse is the case. Rates are sub
tantially maintained.
There is no difference Of opin'
on" continued Mr. Spencer, be.
.ween the railroads of the country
congress and the president on the
subject that rebates are wrong We
igree with the language OF the presi'
lent that the highways of transporta
ion must be kept open to all upon
equal terms On that basis the rail.
road companies are ready and anxi-
)us to aid and cooperate. But do
not think any additional legislation
q necessary in order 10 proceed
against that particular class OF
abuses. If such legislation does not
appear to congress to be necessary
the railways of the country will Ger
ainly stand, and have no hesitation
saying so, In cooperation and aid
o that end. That particular phase
If regulation has already been pro
bounced by the commission as fully
covered by existing statutes. 1t sim
DIV becomes a question of enforce
nent OF the law.
Commission Can't Stop Il.
But the question before you is not
If that character; 1t is that of the
power to name a rate upon the part
| If the commission after complaint
and hearing. 1t has been claimed this
will be a means Of stopping reba es.
This claim | have no hes!tancy IN
iisputing."
In denying the necessity for the
proposed legislation, Mr.. Spencer said
that about 80 per cent of all the
claims Of questions Of various kinds
which have been presented 10 the in
erstate commerce commission dur
ng eighteen years have been adjust
ID without formal hearing and decis
on on the part of the commission.
THAT. he said, does not indicate
either a fight or non-co-operation OF
he part of the railroads"
| Concerning the proposition to cen
er power on the commission to sab
titute a rate for one complained Of
unreasonable, Mr.. Spencer said;
"a IA fixed by the commission
an be related or evaded just as east
as any other. The use Of tina
geapon, if given the commission
rould punish not the evader OF h'
ate. but the road which upheld tn
ate. as exercise of the power woult
to let the rate down 20 the lowe
CURE. thus working no hardship OF
he road making the less rate, hu
,unisaiag the road maintaining III
egular rate.
Row Rates are Adjusted.
The problem of adjusting rates be
[ ween localities Mr.. Spencer said
e vas the most difficult and intricat
q # all. The present adjustment wa
e he outgrowth of natural eompetitioi
+ Tot only between localities which ha
J. md would always ezis but betweel
I railrca ads as we'll To disturb tn S az
|. iustment or to begin It's disturbane
vould not only be task SO enormou
hat no statement could convey
comparison of IL, but would be impo'
}. sible Of satisfac DRY completion
the hands Of a body with authoTit
)nly TO take into consideration tn
s 1ne phase of adjusting rates wit
81 reference to thir equalization 50 "a
b as the carrier was concerned. an
], leaving Oh the question Of compe.
r Acn between Localities
G He instanced the competition b
is tween mining eenters. agricultur;
~ eeniars manufacturing ceniers ct
stability as to prices OF commoli il
t could net exist, ne maintaine
should such be the case commerC
er would become absolutely stagnant.
Taking the commissions repof
" Mr.. Spencer said that in The te
years prior to 1901 only thlrtyor
cases ct discrimination between