New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-10
TAFT FOR RATE CONTROL
MR. FISH OBJECTS.
Secretary of Var Stmtles Guests at
R0IzcGy Dinner.

Washington, May 9-Secretary Taft fairly
took the breath Of the three hundred members
of the International Railway Congress dinfns,
tonight as the guests of the American Railway
Association at the New Willard Hotel when.
after being introduced as the apostle from the
Philippines, he emphatically declared that rail-
way rate legislation must come. so that il The
railway men of the country We're wise they
would aid and not hinder IL; that the sentiment
of the country is such that failure of proper
regulation meant campaign on the subject that
would do no good TO the railroads.
Absolute silence reigned as Secretary Taft
spoke his mind on the subject Of rates He
was positively against government ownership,
he said. believing that nothing so deeterious
could come to the country as this solution OF
the question. But" he continued YOU cannot
run railroads as you run a private business.
You must respond TO the public demand If
there is danger of diSCTiniHa ton. then YOU
must allow the establishment of some tribunal
tnat VIII remedy that discrimination The Sec
rotary saw no reason why Z tribunal properly
constituted should not be competent in every
sense OF the word to fix maximum rate.
President Stuyvesant Fish of the American
Railway Association had introduced Secretary
Iaff In his capacity tOaStmast5r Mr. Fish
was on MS feet the instant the Secretary con-
GUIDED He answered the Secretary at length,
taking the view that the law TO prevent dis
elimination, double dealing and secret rebates
forcement of that law Mr.. Fish talked of the
vested rights of the money tied up in railways.
He apologized for allowing himself 10 be d.
verted.
AS Mr. Fish sat down Secretary Taft. who sat
next him, queried in low tone: May I have
fifteen minutes TO Teply? This time was given,
and the Secretary utilized it in making himself
even more positive as to mis- position in favor
of legislation which would create a tribunal
with authority TO name a maximum rate
:. The law now is, Continued the Secretary,
las decided by the Supreme Court OF the United
States, that first a commission and then the
courts may decide whether q particular rate IS
reasonable or unreasona BE. Now. IN fixing
that, in the very mental process in determining
whether a rate Is reasonable or unreasOna bic
one has got to fix what is a maximum rate.
As 1 understand It, what is proposed is only
constituted that shall fix a maximum rate in
other words. TO go through the same process it
now goes through to determine what is a rea-
sonable rate What I am strongly IN favor Of
though, is that snail have body that shall
decide things and that shall fix things and
that those things shall be decided within q rea-
soma bic time finally by the courts
Mr.. Fish again took up the argument, con-
tending that it was the question OF fixing the
price for the seller OF goods.
NJ Jusserand. the French Ambassador; Emil
Heurtea1< of Paris, a member of the permanent
commission of the congress; Jean kOlOgrtvoh.
Minister of Communication of Russia, and
Wayne MacVeagh also delivered speeches
Previous to the dinner the sections OF the con-
gresS accomplished their allotted days work and
the delegates inspected the new union station
under construction here.