Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-22
URGES THE HOUSE BILL
REGULATION soF - =. RAILWAY
FREIGHT RATES.
Ex-senator chandlef. Predicts the Elsc-
tion Of Bryan Unless Republicans
Seize Their Opportunity.

Former Senator VIM. E. aChandler has
sent notable communication to Senator
Elkins, chairman of the Senate committee
on interstate commerce. in which he adj
vocates the passage of the Esch- Townsend
bill by the Senate, predicting that William
]. Bryan will be elected President of the
United States in 1908 unless the Senate acts
on this measure.
Senator Chandler declares that the bill
is moderate, and II there are any defects
they are in favor of railroads If this bill
Is not passed there are two other ways, in
his opinion, in which Congress can meet
the situation.
One is the Introduction of government
directors in the railroad boards and the
other Is the purchase Of the railroads at
their actual value by the government. Sem
ator Chandler quotes testimony given by
Senator Depew and the late George B. Rob-
erts before a committee In Congress in
1882. Mr.. Roberts at that time said that
1t was farcical to say that the railroads
were observing the open and published
rates. Mr.. Chandler then proceeds:
This was In 1892. Twelve years later,
In 1904. the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
railroad was found guilty by the interstate
commerce commission of having violated
for the last five years tine law against re-
bates. While giving rebates to fuel and
iron company from the traffic rates, 1t
Shoi 6So tHO Aull IdttS 10 OtHcT SllippcIS.
Mr.. Ripley, president of the company after
seeking rehearing, wisely withdrew his
request.
Remedy in the House Bill.
Therefore, now, to all sin-laden souls.
who, within the railroad office of the COM
pany, are moaning over the crimes they
declare they must commit in order to do
business comes this bill of the House
which will bring to them complete forgive
ness, salvation and relief, for this reason:
When reasonable rates are established by
the government rebates will no more be
heard of: Rebates exist only because the
publlshed rates are high, SO that the rail-
roads can give rebates and yet make a
profit on the freight carried. They cannot
make a profit when giving rates below rea-
sonable rates. They will not give rebates
In order to lose money. Whenever, after
this bill passes a rebate to favored ship
per is discovered, the lawful rate will be
reduced certainly as low as the rate of the
rebate and thereafter there will be no re-
bates or low prices to anybody.
so rates fixed by the interstate COM
merce commission will without fail bring
benefit and relief alike to the patrons of
the railroads and to the distressed, con-
science-stricken railroad officials who now
cannot help committing criminal offenses
In order to earn their daily bread.
Political Considerations.
litical nature which should receive the at
tentlon of republicans of the committee
If this bill is rejected against a unani-
nous democracy which is still led by their
intelligent though fanatical leader, Mr.
Bryan, two propositions will be thereby
established
''First-That the government will take no
part In the original fixing of rates of rail-
ROAD transportation, and that the rates
dc let ha Sya ~
paid by all travellers and shippers
Second-That no remedy for the exaction
and collection OF exorbitant or unreason-
able rates shall be applied except at the
END OF long law suits brought by feeble
individuals against a twelve-billion combin-
alton OF capital in the hands Of few rail-
road magnates.
Mr. Bryan will be elected President in
1908, and with him will surely come (frst)
the governmental ownership of railroads.
(seconO the suppression of the fifteenth
amendment and Of the colored vote, (third)
the destruction of protective tariff, with
the enforcement of free trade, (fourth) the
repeal of the gold standard with the
restoration of free silver coinage at 16 to l.
and all other unnumbered woes of which
Mr.. Bryan is the doleful advocate"
The Republican Opportunity.
In the course Of his letter Mr.. Chandler
also says:
1T will be a hard choice for the railroads,
and in their desperation they may prefer
Bryan to La Toilette, and may have power
enough to turn the scale. To avert the
possible calamity thus foreshadowed, re-
publican efforts should be steadily directed
by Congress and the executive toward the
protection of the people from oppression
by the money power.
THAT the Senate committee on interstate
commerce will labor to this end will be
everywhere believed, because among It's re-
publican members are such earnest SYM
pathizers with the lowly, such ardent serv-
ants of the plain people, such untiring
opponents of corporations, greed and
monopolistic rapacity. A great opportunity
is now before the Senate committee"