New-York tribune., 1905-04-25
AGAINST RATE FIXING.
Present Lac ample, W. ID.
Hines Contends.

Washington. April 24-The Senate Committee on
Interstate Commerce to-day resumed the nearing
Of the railroad rate question. Walker d. Hines
formerly OF the Louisville ard Nashville Hallfoao
Company appeared before the committee.
Mr Hines discussed what ne termed prevalent
impression that the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion had power under the present law because
the law ineffective, and asserted that TINS
impression due largely to declarations py
members Of the commission to that effect lie
believed that there now a substantial control
OF rates by the commission and that the present
law very effective in the course Of his state
ment he said:
The plan TO give the commission the rate making
the present law. It necessarily VIII operate to de-
pIive owners OF the railroads Of any voice in the
sion may make rates and practically win put
light srbtrarfIV 10 interfere with the free move
nent OF commodities from one locality to another
mission the rate making power rests on the as
sumption that at present carriers can charge what
control them. This has been shown to he utterly
erroneous. There IS ample power under the pres
eIlt LAW 70 correct every unlawful rate. 1t is
claimed that for years the commission
that the results were beneficial and not injurious
70 the carriers. President Roosevelt assumed this
that continuously from the very outset both the
carriers and The courts disputed the possession Of
this power by the commission
By fer the most potent influence in behalf Of the
thar that is necessary cure secret rebates
which have been by all odds the greatest cause Of
dissa tsfactlon with railroad management in this
by the President his message TO Congress last
winter and the Townsend bin has been spoken Of
IN the press the "anti-rebate bill Yet neither
the rate-making power nor anything in the Town
send bill has any connection whatever with pre-
venting rebates. Rates made by commission could
and would he secretly departed from Just as
easily as rates made by the carrier The present
Law IS ample TO stop rebates and nothing Whatever
IN the rat'making power viii help in that direc-
tion.
Much stress is also placed on the commission's 5
which showed increase OF revenue or
S55 10000 due advances. This report is grossly
inaccurate and unfair It ignores important reduc-
lions in rates. uses Incorrect and misleading sta
tstics and makes wholly untrue statements regard
ing traffic conditions.
In the discussion of tho intent Of the present law
Senator CuIlom who made the report on which the
law was based. said there was no intention to
give the commission the power 10 fix rates. Mo-
body believed that power given 70 the com
mission. 1t necessary al that time 10 ere,
ate body that could get close 10 the people, mo
would have been impossible for any individual at
that time 10 make fight against railroad for he
he could not afford 70 carry on the suits" re-
marked Chairman Elkins he couldn't get the
Nj Hines explained that one of the serious re
suits Of allowing a commission TO fix rates would
be that all rates fixed would be permanent that
when conditions changed, requiring q 'uahBe oI
rates H. would bs impossible TO have the change
made, because the commission would be SO over
whelmed with cases that ii could consider the
,1,,eSt hiy1atio1r of railroads in the oDin0n
railroads reached out for business and the strug-
gle for busLHess reduced rates.
Doesn't this lead rebates and discrimina-
tionse" asked Senator CuIlom
Not 10 rebates, but reduction or rates an
swered Mr.. Hines.
Before Mr.. Hines had finished his statement the
COMMITTEES adjourned until Wednesday, at II o'clock.
No session Will be held tomorrow on account OF the
funeral Of Senator P1att, of Connecticut.