The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-12
RAILROADS RULE
in RATE HEARING
Senate Committee Strongly Pro-
Railroad and Shippers Are
Scared Into Aiding.
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, May lit is an
nounced informally that the senate
committee on interstate commerce will
probably end it's hearings on the rail
road rate question about May ~, this
being about the longest time it can hold
its members together, owing to previous
" made summer plans.
In a few days the committee Will an
nounce an executive session at which 1t
and try to see how the members stand
on the general question, but nothing, 1t
is said, will be done looking toward for
mulating report until two weeks be-
fore congress meets in extra session.
That the committee will recommend
certain changes in the interstate COM
merce law in addition to the changes
suggested by regulation Of private. car
lines and terminal railways, was indl-
said to Governor Cummings. Just what
these recommendations will be cannot
now be ascertained with any certainty;
It is conceded, however, that they WILL
fall short Of meeting the ideas Of Presl-
dent Roosevelt and the shippers repre-
sented by E. P. Bacon Of Milwaukee.
Queer Opposition Unity.
For the past two weeks the committee
has heard scores of shippers, big and
little, all Of whom are in opposition T., to
the Townsend proposition. The
unanimity with which these ogentlemen1
who will be the chief benefciaries Of
this proposed legislation have come to
the front to oppose it, has aroused nue.
suspicion and today it was definitely
learned that their presence here has
been due to the railways, which have
! been busy carrying out a campaign
among these shippers for severa!
The shippers have had a "scare
thrown into them by the assertion
Of the railways that the president {
plan looked to comforting on the gov
eminent the general rate-maklng power
Identical kilograms have been. sent re
Gently to hundreds Of these shippers II
all parts Of the country, following tn
Hthrowingo Of the "scare,' asking
4 them to come to Washington and testl
i fy against the administration idea.
i Mandatory on Shippers.
4 These telegramss have been regardIe9.
4 by many of the shippers as PRACTICAL.
4 mandatory in character, owing to tn
immense power which the railways pos
i sess to make things uncomfortable TO
shippers who fail to obey orders.
i The movement of shippers who hav
j Ebeen testifying is, therefore, not Spot
! fact fact should ha have some weight in th
!. minds Of all who are trying to Weig
the testimony offered to the committed
Members Are Pro-Railroad.
In the main the members of the SCI
ate committee are pro-railroad in syn
pathy, and this has been shown in
;, variety Of WAYS 1t seems as 1T tn
!, committee is doing it's best to prepal
:, brief for the railroad. The resol1
> tion authorizing the committee to- 8
: , is couched in the broadcast possible la
guage. The committee is told to s
= into government rate-making, the p1
vate car evil, the midnight raj
question, the terminal railroad charg
and all the other grievances. Instea
: it has confined itself within mario
: limits.
Apparently, 1t started out to sho
4 that the Esch- Townsend propositit
9 was unconstitutional, but soon aban
| a r-I-