Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-30

house, there were thousands who be-
lieved the fixing of rates for railroads
was a matter requiring little more
than an arbitrary will and superf1c-
ial knowledge of transportation e.
fairs. The vast amount of evidence
taken on all phases of the subject has
been laid before the reading public,
and very great change in public
opinion has resulted.
When congress meets in special ses-
sion at the call of the President next
October, there will be an opportunity
to learn just what the senators on the
commerce committee and the senate
as whole, thinks of the railroad rate
Legislation. The investigation has
truly been complete and exhaustive
one. Business men, both shippers and
fore the committee. Railroad men
have testified, some in favor of rate
regulation and others against it. Some
have objected, not so much to rate
legislation, as to the idea that COM
mission should be given control Of the
rates. Men in public life who have
given more or less attention to the
question have been on the stand be-
| fore the committee and all have given
the testimony which seemed to them
to bear on the case. The, result is that
the senators on the committee and the
people of the country, who have fol
lowed the, investigation through the
medium of the press, have a good idea
of the positions taken by both sides on
the: question of railroad rate legisla
ton.
The Esch-Townsend bill may never
become law. 1t is hardly probable
that it will, in its present form at any
rate. But there is strong probabil
ity that some form Of regulation will
be agreed upon in accordance with
the recommendation made by the
President in his message The testi
mony before the committee has
brought out the need for regulation Of
some kind and congress must now dis
cover the best and most practicable
plan for all concerned.
One point that is of interest tx
many and has proven something Of {
surprise to the uniformed, has beer
brought out during the committees in
quiry. So much has been said ant
written about the private refrigerator
car lines that a great prejudice
against the companies .controllin,
them has grown up. 1t was, then
somewhat surprising to read the test
mony of numerous shippers who de
! clared that the wonderful development
and growth Of the fruit and berry in
I dustries has been very largely due tt
the facilities furnished by the privat
car lines for the shipment and care O
the fruit and berries. There is n,
profit in cultivating fruit and berrie
unless the product can be marketed
Until the advent of the private refrie
| orator car lines, the crop that coul,
be marketed was very limited. Re
frigerator cars, prompt transportation
: ample icing facilities, placed the frui
in the market in good condition. Thi
created an increased demand and tn
business grew.
The fact that the private car line
have made this increase in the crop
. possible, however, is no excuse for tn
oppression of which some shipper
claim to be victims. The charge
made against the car lines must b
investigated and their truth or falsit
proven. 1t is up to congress, and cor
gress, backed by the President, ma
be depended upon to arrive at Sc
!, Element of the question which wi
: meet with general approval.