The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-11
.CZIlNAlX Nv DE,BAIE
or RATE QUESTION
BLOCKED, DECLARE
SENATE AND ROADS
Deadlock Is Approaching in Rate
Question, Is View of Presi-N
dents Opponents.
By w. w. Jermane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
WASHINGTON, May ia deadlock be-
tween the executive and legislative
branches of the government over the
Question Of the railroad rate-maklng
The president and Secretary Taft
have declared themselves in favor of
giving power to make rates to federal
Commission, while it is everywhere adj
sent to such a proposition, and that,
thru their hold on the senate, they will
be able effectually to block the presi-
dent s program. That would mean no
legislation at all, but for the fact that
railroads are willing to accept laws
which will restrain the private car COM
panies, terminal railways, etc. =
Compromise Legislation.
1t is now predicted that if there is
any legislation at all next session, it
will be along this compromise line. The
railways claim that such legislation,
added to the Elkins antirebate laws,
will meet every demand which the pub
lie can properly make, and on that
statement they will stand and tight to
the last ditch.
The lack of definite informatior re,
garding complexities of the. railroad
question has led to much popular confu-
sion, and this confusion will increase
until the campaign of education has had
time to make itself felt. Here is the
most highly specialized industry Of mod
ern times, and the general public, with
out proper and sufficient knowledge, is
kendeavoring to pass judgment upon it.,
fjust as it would pass judgment upon the
merits of a murder case, where all the
Efacts are on the surface and easily I'M
derstood.
Like the Silver Situation.
This was the situation during the
early stages of the discussion of free
silver, and it was not until after that
tquestion had been up for several years
that public sentiment finally crystallized
in favor Of the republican position.
The campaign Of education must do
its work in this case as it did in that,
and meanwhile there will be confusion,
and an inability to dovetail the public
Fdemands into any reasonable legislative
bill.
As an evidence of this confusion, take
the Esch- Townsend bill. The presi-
) dent and Secretary Taft favor it, for
they say it will confer upon a federal
commission the general rate-makine
power. E. P. Bacon, spokesman fol
the shippers, who has done more than
any other man: in the country to focus
public sentiment on the railroad situa
tion, says the shippers do not want tc
cothe any federal commission with the
rate making power. He favors the
Esch- Townsend bill, however, but says
that it does not confer such power.
How Will Public Decide?
Now, how will the, general public
decide as between the president anc
Mr.: Bacon, both Of whom want tn
legislation9 The railway manager
agree with the president that the bill
would confer the .rate-making powe
on the government, and 50 they oop
pose it. The senate, which is unde
of the case, and will defeat the bill
This will throw the president and MI
Bacon upon the compromise proposition
embodying private carline regulation
regulation Of terminals and vigorou
suppression of all rebates.
Shippers from all parts Of the coun
try, among them a number from Mime
apolis and st. Paul, have appeared be
fore the senate committee in opposition
to any proposition to give the govern
ment the power to make rates. Thi
testimony Strengthens the railway prop
osition, and will give the senate .
further excuse for refusing to compl
with the presidents recommendation
Deadlock Is Certain. -
This deadlock is as certain to con,
as congress is to meet, and that th1
fact might as we'll be. faced now a
later on is the prevailing Washingto
opinion. The moment the presiden
raises the issue of giving the govern
ment the general rate-making powe
the experience Of European countrie
will be pertinent to the discussion, an
5lere, too, the senate will find an e.
:cuse for failing to do as the presider
requests. for the experience of Franc
and Germany, as pointed out by e.
perts, has been of a character to su,
gest the exercise Of great caution
the United States.
Senate Against President
So far as the work Of the senate con
mittee is concerned, it has thus fs
been against the pr e:sident' 8 ,positieo
The railway men delight to liken h
vacation Of a month, in the wilds {
the southwest, to Rip Van Wrinkle
sleep of twenty years. Sentiment, the
say, has changed during his absenc
and he has not yet had time to adju
himself to the change.
Some of them go so far as to no
that he will not recommend the Else
Townsend bill to congress. But this
perhaps an extreme view, in the ligl
Of his speech at Denver and again