The independent., 1905-10-12
RAIL WAY REGULATION

RAILWAY REGULATION
AS the session Of congress approaches In.
srest In the railway problem increases. II IL
0 be the ch h'ef question before congress- and the
ate of restrictive legislation IL much in doubt:
The rate regulation compromise which
has been suggested TO the president, pro
yidipg for an amendment 10 the law whereby
the interstate commerce commission shall
be vested with authority TO in1ure into rates,
and II II finds them unreasonable, 80 TO de-
clare, has decided asnect Of fairness. the
commission ls not to be authorized to fix
rates, but, under the proposed compromise,
when ii declares a rate unreasonable, me
TRANSPORTATION company Is required fmmehl-
ately to cease CHARGING II and TO fix reson.
able rate BY eyperiuent only can the COM
mon carrier determine what rate will meet
the approval of the commission. To all ap-
pearances measure of this description
will ampIy meet existing needs " Is doubt.
full that any sentiment really exists In favor
Of empowering the commission TO hx rafes
This would not onlv give the government
snpervisory mower but II would practically
transfer to the hands of the government me
management OF railroad finances. when
would he a long sep towards government
ownership To the principle Of government
ownership Of the railroads the American
peope have not vet suhecrihed, nor do they
show sgns of hein9 disnosed to II. They
pellod TO Observe the rule of common honesty.
Ouoht not this TO he susceptible Of accom-
plishment without moving In the direction OF
confscaton?-- -Pittsburg eader.
THE "niooer" Of railway DISCRIMINATION
IL scarcelv elected from one woodnile before
he is discovered hiding In another The
interstate commerce law requires that the
sarre rates shall he given TO all shnnere, big
in fariH9
ourernent is met The Elkins law contains
STRINGENT provisions In regard TO rehafes,
and rebates in the old form now aeldom
maid But some IF the biz SINNERS have heen
arnv connensoted for the abolition OF me
earlier kinds of discrimination hv tho intro
duction of The private car line AMI the private
terminal track and qide1rack svstems; and
II has been develoned n the hearing at pres-
ent going ON IN the federal court in chicago
that the packers have been receiving rebates
In the gnise of DAMAGES. Manv thofiaandS
of dollars II anneara have been paid them
for in iures to live sfock and dressed meats
in transit which never occurred There 's the
host reasons for believing that the packers
are bv no means the only lar"e firms TINT
have been and arc receiving relates discussed
as damares thornugh INVESTIGATION nrob
ably would reveal that rebates are being
paid In this form 70 manv Oliver concerns in
Chicago and In all par's Of tho country
fesnlte the earnest nrotestaiious Of railway
managers that the rebate evil is dead The
claim denartment nf RAILROAD is an cyfellent
MACE 10 cover IN rshatep. prcnerfv IN conrse
of TRANSPORTATION Is ccnstantly being dam"Pei
hv dnavs rnnnh handling ann wreela II
is an eaev ma'ter 10 hand over - 2 fo'ser"f
customer larrer sums than his lcsses en'itle
him TO and even reenlariv tn tuAnmnfw him
for Iosses never auetrined Such action Ia
MAINLY as much p violation Of the lfn.ins law
ms the diront naNn,ant ef rshatee "s #Neafi
be- so treated by the conrls-Chicago Tfl.
bunc