The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-08-10

the principal one. 1t will not help the
stock shipper in the Eighth Congress
sional District who has to pay 231 cents
per hundred in getting his live stock to
Chicago, while his neighbors at points
on the Missouri River and farther west
get a rate of 16 cents, and mayhaps they
will both be in the same train, and pull
ed by the same engine.
In the controversy now being waged
between the railroads and the president
the vital contention is as to comforting
authority upon the Interstate Com
merce Commission to declare rate un-
reasonable, and to declare what would
be reasonable rate. The people, led
by the President, insist that the rate
fixed by the Commission shall go into
effect at once. This is the meat of the
whole contention. The railroads urge
that their property is worth thirteen
billions of dollars; that it is impractical
to give five or seven men the authority
affecting so vast an interest. 1t is
rather amusing to note how greatly this
amount dwindles when the railroad rep
resentauives present their cases to the
Executive Council when the assessment
is being made.
To much objection | answer that the
rates now are fixed by less than seven
men. in most instances, and none of
them are under oath. AS to the reason
fixed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission shall obtain unless and
until set aside by the courts. | refer
you to the unanswerable argument of
Congressman Smith of Council Bluffs.
He said, in response to an inquiry from
the Record-Herald, eff complaint
should be made of the rate on grain****
the most guileless can see that the
grain dealer would buy on the basis of
the rate he was actually paying, and
not upon the basis of the rate fixed by
the commission. The result would be-
that the refund would go, not to the
farmer, who would in fact lose it, but
to the grain dealer, who had not lost it
ALL Here is the Whole argument in
nutshell. Judge Smiths statement
applies with equal force to every case
where goods are shipped by any but the
| Il
consumer. Still another reason for
insisting on the provision in the law
and this is what Governors Cummins,
Van SAINT and LaFollette induced the
President to incorporate in his last
annual messages the fact that the
railroads have every incentive to pro-
cure delay after litigation is started
and cases have been known to drag
during period of four years, under
| the law a.; it now stands, the railroads
meantime charging the rate complained
OF. 1t seems to me the railroads are
standing in their own light in their
opposition to reasonable supervision.
Its constitutionality is not questioned
by profound lawyers. Indeed, there
| have been few to question it since the
decision OF Chief Justice Marshall in
the case OF Gibbons VS.. Ogden. AS
started by Ex-Governor Larrabee at
st. Louis last October, we are fast APP
preaching one of two propositions
government control or government
ownership. think there are few who
really want the latter, but the failure
of Congress to give relief has given
government ownership great impetus.
Meanwhile, we are waiting to see
whether Theodore Roosevelt or the
father-in-law of Rockefeller has the
most influence.
Another problem receiving attention
at the hands of the people is that pass
system. do not feel so lonesome now
in referring to it as did year ago.
think more of President Roosevelt
since know he accepts no "courtesies"
of this character from the corporations.
like Governor Hanly and Secretary
Bonaparte better, and you ought to
have more, confidence in the great
brilliant, incorruptible Chief Executive
of your own State when you know that
he does not accept a pass or frank from
auy telegraph, telephone, express or
railroad company. l look with sus-
picion upon any man who rides on
pass. Call tia courtesy if you will,
but you can call a hundred dollar bill a