The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-03
NOT GETTING DOWN
To THE QUESTION
Baltimore and Ohio Man Before
the COMMITTEES
ROBERT MATHR ALSO TALKS
Doubts Whether 1t Is Policy for the
Republicans to Try to Steal
Mr.. Bryan's Platform
From Under Him.

Washington May 2.-tIugh L. Bond of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, con-
Hinued his statement before the Senate
committee on interstate commerce today.
He argued that the present law was ade-
Quate for all purposes. but declared it
was unfortunate that the act WAS
weighted down with penalties.
Determinations as well rebates be-
tween persons were now prevented. While
Mr.. Bond was discussion the power of
the interstate commerce commission Sell
'Rtor Cullom asked:
could we not give the commission
power to say when a rate is unreason-
able? That is all there is to the case"
THAT is all there was in it, but it has
gone much farther than that" replied Mr..
Bond.
ut seems to me-" remarked Santor
Clapp, IF there Is only one question
here, we ought to get down to it,"
Let us have no him-ham here" con-
tinued Mr.. Bond. He then asserted that
what Chairman Knapp asked for when adj
vocating the Nelson-Corliss bill in 1902
was not the same as the commission
wanted now. as shown in the Esch-rown-
said was just bad"
Mr.. Bond said the commission ought
not to be compelled to devote so much
time to hearings. but should bring suits
when it appeared that unreasonable rates
were being charged lie believed that a
law could be framed which would en-
Join any rate the court should name as
unreasonable. "That would fix a max
l1mum rate for the future remarked
Senator Clapp.
The court could find. declared Mr. Bond
what is a reasonable rate The court
had the power now to fix maximum
rate. He believed it would be best to
leave it within the power of the court
to enjoin an unreasonable rate, leaving
1t to the railroads to fix a rate in lieu
of the rate so enjoined. The railroads
agree, or have an understanding regard
ing many things he said, because it was
absolutely necessary in the conduct of
business.
Senator Newlands said that the Penn
sylvania group included the Pennsylvania,
The Baltimore and Ohio. the Chesapeake
and Ohio, and the Norfolk and Western
railroads and asked what was the rela-
lloilS Ol THESE foauS 10 eacn other
"Active competition" replied Mr. Bond
He admitted that the Pennsylvania owned
a large amount Of stock in the Baltimore
and Ohio, but not a majority. Asked as
to what caused the consolidation of rail-
RAIDS, Mr. Bond answered.
1.-THE antitrust act"
He explained that there was no method
of preventing weaker lines from cutting
rates. The weaker lines were taken in
so as to prevent decentralization of rates
Robert Mather, chairman of the execu-
tive committee of the Chicago Rock Is
land and Pacific railroad, and general
counsel of the Rock Island and st. Louis
and San Francisco railroad, was next
heard
During his statement Mr.. Mather al
1uded to the assertion that If the gov
ernmest did not take control of rate
making there would be a demand for gov
eminent ownership of railroads at may
be-" he continued, policy for the republic
cans to try and steal Mr.. Bryan's plat
form from under him, but l very much
doubt it,"
The committee adjourned until tomorrow
at II O'Clock