The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-12-05

| fecogiilzed IN the action Of the law.
making bodies. and all that | propose
Is TO meet the changed conditions in
such manner as viii prevent the com
monwcalth abdicating the power It has
/ always possessed, not only In this coun-
try, but also in England before and
since this country became a separate
nation
Railroad Rate LegiaIntion.
As | said In my message Of Dec 6
last. the immediate and most pressing
need 50 far as legislation is concerned
Is the enactment into law OF some
scheme to secure to the agents Of the
government such supervision and regu-
latiou Of the rates charged by the rail-
roads Of tie country Engaged in inter.
state traflic as shall summarlly and ef-
fectiyely prevent the imposition Of un-
just or unreasonable rates. It must
ire,..:.ae putting a complete stop to re-
bates in every shape aad form. This
power to regulate rates. like all similar
powers over the business world, should
be exercised with moderation, caution
and self restraint, but it should exist,
so that it can he effectively exercised
when the need arises.
IN my judgment, the most important
provision which such law should con-
tain Is that conferring upon some COM
petent administrative body the power
TO decide upoji the case being brought
before 1t whether given rate pre-
scribed by o railroad is reasonable and
just, and II II is found to be unreason-
able and unjust then. after full investi.
gation Of the complaint, to prescribe
the limit of rate beyond which 1t shall
not be lawful to go--the maximum
reasonable rate, as it Is commonly call
ed-this decision to go into effect with
in q reasonable time and 10 obtain
from thence onward, subject TO review
by the courts
II sometimes happens at present, not
that a rate IS too high, but that q IA
yorcd shipper is given too low a rate.
In such case the commission would
have the right to fix this already estab-
lished minimum rate as the maximum.
and Il would need only one or two such
decisions by the commission 10 clre
railroad companies OF the practice Of
giving improper minimum rates. call
your attention 20 the fact that my pro-
posal IS not TO give the commission
power to initiate or originate rates gen
orally, but TO regulate a rate already
fixed or originated by the roads upon
complaint and after Investigation. A
heavy penalty should be exacted from
amy corporation which fails to respect
an order Of the commission / regard
this power 70 establish a maximum
rate as being essential 10 amy scheme
of real reform IN the matter Of railway
rgnlatlon
lt IS w0rth wsile considering whether
q would not Zoe wise TO confer on the
government the right OF civil action
against The beneficiary of a rebate FOR
at lcasi twice the value of the rebate.
.ihis would help stop what Is really
biaclmal Elevator allowances should
be stopped, for tl4ey hnfc now grown
90 trch an extent thar they are demor-
aiialng and are used as rebates.
Privnte Car lines.
Alprlvate car lines Industrial roads,
refrigerator charges and The like
shlnld be expressly pui under The su-
pelYision OF TIN Interstate commerce
commission or some similar body so
far as raGes and agreements practical
Is affecting rates are concerned. A re-
bate Ia Icing charges or IN mileage OF In
a division OF the rate FOR refrieeraiing
chargcs Is just as pernlcious as a re-
bate Ia any other way
There should be publicity OF the ac-
counts Of common carriers. Only in