Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-10-19
J.J.HILL'SFALLACIES.
EXPOSED IN The PACIFIC LUMBER
TRADE JOURNAL.
His Recent Speech on Puget Sound
FIatly COntradiCfed. The Law Ad-
VOCafed by Pre- eSidenf Roosevelt
is Simply TO Remedy Defects in
Present Law.

Mr.. James ]. Hill, president OF the
Great Northern Railway, was on Puget
Sound recently, after an absence OF two
years. tIe made several characteristic
speeches during his brief stay, some OF
which were to the point and others
which were not. The most important of
the latter was the statement that the adj
ministratlon and congress intended to
confer on the Interstate Commerce Com
mission the power to arbitrarily make
rates, and that distance tariff would be
promulgated which would result in the
total destruction OF the lumber industry.
When Mr.. Hill made this statement to
the business men of Seattle, Tacoma,
Portland and Spokane, he did so with
the knowledge that it was untrue, and
that it was made for the purpose OF mis-
leading the men who furnish the freight.
President Roosevelt has plainly stated
that he "believes that as fair security
to shippers the commission should be
vested with the power, when given
rate has been challenged, and after full
hearing found to be unreasonable, TO de-
eide, subject to judicial review, what
shall be reasonable rate to take its
place, the ruling of the commission to
take effect Immediately and to obtain
unless and until it is reversed by the
court of review" This does not imply
that distance tariff will be substituted
or that the commission may arbitrarily
fix rates.
Mr.. f. p. Bacon, chairman OF the In.
terstate Commerce Law Commission,
who is responsible Tor the congressional
inquiry as to the rate question, in let
ter to The Mississippi Valley Lumberman
under date of September 29th says: 81
beg leave to state in this connection that
no bill has been introduced in congress,
so far as have observed, that proposes
to take the rate inaking power out OF the
hands OF the railroads or confer upon the
Interstate Commerce Commission or any
governmental body the power OF initiating
rates, or of requiring any change in rates
except in case OF formal complaint, when
after full hearing rate complained OF is
found to be unreasonable or dscrim-
mating, in which case the commission is
to be empowered to determine and de.
clare what shall be Il just aud reasonable
rate to be observed in the future, to go
into immediate effect and so continued
until overruled by the courts. The rail.
roads are to be left as free as ever to
make their own rates and to change
them as they may see fit, the same as
heretofore"
Mr.. Hill knew of these facts when he
made his speeches in the West, and he
had no other object than to create a
sentiment against the Esch- Townsend
bill and President Roosevelt's recom-
mendation. He knows that a tariff is
impossible, but he fears that If the pow
ers OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion are strengthened SO that the Inter.
state Commerce Act can be carried out
to the letter the railroads will be COM
PEELED to give the shippers square deal.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
is absolutely without power at the pres
ent time to enforce its rulings. This is
recognized by every shipper in the United
States, and everyone having a just gIiev-
ance knows that it is useless expendi-
ture OF time and money to file COM
plant because they know in advance
that the railroads will simply wear out
the complainant in the courts. A sam
pie case is that OF the Georgia Sawmill
Association, which several months ago
succeeded in knocking out before the
commission the 2l2 cents advance on
yellow pine. The railroads laughed at
the Interstate Commerce Commission 5
planned OF, and the case is now before
the courts, and will be for the next five
or six years. Several years ago the red
cedar shingle manufacturers filed com
plant against the Western Trunk Lines
Association on the ground Of dlscrmna-
ton, alleging that the same rates be-
tween Minneapolis and Chicago on white
pine and white cedar should be granted
the red cedar products. The trunk lines
admitted the discrimination, but refused
to grant relief, and today it is a we'll
known fact that the only product on
which higher rate is exacted, than on
any other similar commodity, is red
cedar.
In sash and doors. on shipment say
to Fargo, N. D., the full rate to .linneap-
oils and the local rate from Minneapolis
to Fargo is charged ON the ground tnat