Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-23
Opponents to the ch-Town-
send Bill.
POINT OUT A DEFECT
NO ELASTICITY TO MEET MAR.
KET CONDITIONS.
An Amendment Suggested That Does
Not Appear ITO Give Adequate
Relief to Shippers.

The opponents of the Esch-Townsend rate
bill will force upon the advocates of that
measure at the next session of Congress
the consideration OF their claim. which
they declare amounts to a certainty. that
II will seriously affect the elasticity OF rail-
road rates. They viii undertake to show
that such legislation viii prevent the max
ing of prompt changes In rates to meet
market conditions.
1t Is claimed that while the railroads
under the provisions OF thai bill might
change a rate chat had never been passed
upon yet after the commission has once
fixed a rate after hearing such rate
could not be changed by the railroad to
meet huctuating conditions I'm transporta-
ton. When the commission once should
change rate after declaring that the rate
complained of is unreasonable or unjust IL
is claimed that that rate would be fixed
until the commission itself might be called
upon TO change IL.
A Suggested Amendment.
When Mr. E. p. Bacon was before the
Senate committee on interstate commerce
he declared that he believed fully that there
should he fexihility of rates.
81 suggested an amendment to the
Esch-Townsend bill" said Mr.. Bacon. ITO
provide for such fieNibi!ity. | would pro-
vide that rate fixed by the commission
should be changed by the carrier upon
changed circumstances and conditions.
either upon its own judgment OF by appli-
cation to the commission.
In the opinion of some people. the Bacon
amendment would not nave been sufficient
to give adequate relief to the shippers de-
mandlng prompt changes of freight rates
In order TO meet market conditions. They
claim that the railroads would fear to
change a rate because of fear that they
might be involved in litigation because OF
axe ng,,sA st,ar
changed conditions were sufficient to
warrant the change In the rates. 1t is said
that such litigation might be initiated by
shippers on other roads who might complain
that the proposed change would place them
at a disadvantage.
1t Is claimed by opponents OF the Esch-
Townsend bill that II the view here stated
Is correct changes In rates made by the
commission would practically never be made
except upon rehearing and new order by
the commission. The objection urged
against such a course as that involved in
having the rates changed only by the COM
mission Is that 1t would be slow that the
necessity for the change In the rate would
be passed before the commission could act.
1t Is declared by those who oppose this
measure that there was nothing In the de-
bate in the House of Representatives 10 In
dictate that this phase of the bill was real
lied by the men who advocated and voted
for the measure. But 1t Is asserted, there
will be very clear understanding of that
feature of the bill when Congress meets 10
take up the subject Of rate legislation again
for consideration.
Extra Session Coming.
The statement that the President has de-
termined to have an extra session of Con-
gress to meet early In November to con-
slider. among other things. the subject of
rate legislation Is making all parties to
the fight that is going on over that subject
more active than ever. Those who urge
the objection to the bill that was passed
by the last Houst of Representative
sidered they will be able to show that any
legislation that will have the effect of
making rates less flexible will have the eff
feet of bringing railroad conditions I'm this
country similar to what they are in Eu-
rope, and that they claim would not be ac-
ceptable to the people of this country.
When the Senate committee was receiv-
ing testimony last spring 1t was stated
by witnesses that the condition In Eng
land at this time, when railroad rates
are very generally under the control of "A
government commission. that the roads
hesitate to lower any rate for fear they
will not be permitted to raise IT again
when conditions would lead them to such
the railroad rate Legislation In England,
instead of giving the people lower rates,
actually prevented them from getting as
| low rates as would prevail without any
governmental Intervention at all. This
testimony will be used literally when
the question of railroad legislation is be-
fore Congress next winter.