The St. Mary banner., 1905-02-04
COMMERCIAL APPROVAL OF RAIL.
ROAD LEGISLATION.

| H>oNAA> '@AsAs-CA~< . 'oA~'
| The New Orleans Picayune o
the nth ultimo, confained d an ar
| ticle reciting an interview hat
with President Roosevelt by Jas
A Van Hoose, president Of tht
Southern Wholesale Groccr~ IS.
~nciation, aneht the ptrIiu- tr%-
islation by the Nongr~-' II h
United States 10 control rai'r ~
freight rates add t. r'.larr" NJ,
pow.r- @f the In' r-tat,' n mmcrc
Commission so as to enable i tc
fix and establish railroad freight
rates. In the article referred to
the PRECEDENT is said to have given
strong assurances 10 Mr.. Van
HooSe that all tha depended upon
him would be done 20 irflurrr.
thr enac,m M Of the desired !rg-
islatiCn.
1t has only been d lew years
back since the various railroad
interests throughout the States ap-
pealed to the legislatures and had
their passenger rates established
and fixed by statutes and there
fore there can be no doubt of the
right of Congress to establish and
fix their freight rates on all inter-
state transportation The power
to do this, forsooth, cannot belong
to any other legislative body.
While we feel nc hostility what
ever towards railroads and while
we readily recognize the fact that
they are the greatest OF all agents
of commercial and other develop
ments, at the same time it is but
just and equitable that some pro-
tecti.n be given the commerce OF
the people against unjust or ex-
tortionate freight charges and dis
The railroads Of
the country are almost entirely
controlled by private syndicates
and the question of freight rates are
one which SO far has concerned
.hrm alone, and here and there
the commercial interests OF the
have been loud and per-
sistent in their complaints.
Railroads, while owned by pri-
vate individual interests, should
always bear in mind that in all
other respects they are public
Utilities and their Development
md enrichment should only be
with the trade de-
relopment of communities which
hoy traverse. In other words,
t is debatable point whether
'uilroads make the wealth of !
States and communities or whether
I is the growth and development
# these which finally attract rail
Dads and make them profitable |
Investments.
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission has been brought into use |
or no other purpose than to facil- |
tate and encourage commerce bee
ween the several States of the |
Union. Since it's creation there !
an be no doubt but that CONNER
ial rotations between the States
ave grown apace-to such an
normous extent, in fact, that
ailroads have been the main and
reatest benefciaries, reaping an
revenue which they We're
epriyed Of only Il few years ago.
The creation OF this Commission
'as and is to this day as much
or tae protection of railroad in
.rests as for the trade subject TO
lem. Hence. il they found j,
advantageous and wise to secure
tate legislation fixing passenger
ates OF travel they are or ought
be estopped from claiming that
he liking Of freight rates by Com
ress would be detrimental and
curious to their interests.
We believe and trust that in this
after spirit OF fairness pre-
ails the main legislative bodies
the nation and the President and
e further believe that the railroad |
terests of the country ought to
eet these governmental powers
alf way and fix and enact plain
'hedule of freigh. rates tha;
ould rendound to the good nf all,
I'd once for all destroy the belief
at railroads constitute the great
t trust in the country.