The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-23
Urges Strongly the Publicity Of
Accounts of Railways.
FREIGHT RATES ATOLL
That Government Permits Car
rier to Impose.
Gossip and Matters of Interest
in Railroad Circles.

to be regulated by the commission pro-
vided for in his bill before congress
was advocated Tuesday night by Con-
gresham Charles E. Townsend OF Min
nesota, one of the trainers of the ia
nous Esch- Townsend measure at the
last session of Congress, at the good
fellowship banquet Of the Hamilton
club.
He discussed the rate question at
length and was replied to by Attorney
George W. Kretzinger of Chicago. Mr..
Kretzinger contended that the Elkins
law provides a remedy for the evils that
have been complained of, and that if
its provisions have not been enforced
there is no hope of enforcing the pro-
visions of any new law covering the
same points.
He argued that the appointment of a,
commission with the power to both
make and enforce rates was in conflict
with the principles of the constitution.
because 1t would combine judicial ana
legislative functions in one body
The debate was opened by Congress
man Townsend. He said:
Somebody pays the freight on every
article transported, and it is not to be
wondered at that there is a general in
teSeSt in this question.
Some railroad attorneys argue that
transportation belongs to the carrier, ana
that it has the right to get all it can
out of it, and that any attempt on the
part OF the government to control the
price for transportation is an unwar-
ranted invasion of individual rights, as
would be the fixing of the prices OF
farm prices by the government.
Freight rates are more in the nature
of a toll or tax which the government
permits the carrier to impose for sefV-
ing the people. The carrier does busl-
ness only by virtue Of contract WIN
the government.
"One of the restrictions of the con-
tract is that all rates and regulations
shall be just and reasonable.
The speaker reviewed the history OF
the interstate commerce law legislation
and cited the work of the commission
during the first six years of its eXls-
tence The Determinations between IN
dividuals, he admitted, had been some
what cured by the ElkinS law, but as
elimination between places still exists.
Hundreds of rates were increased IN
1900 by raising the products upon Wnlch
they were paid from a lower c-aSs 70 a
higher Competition has been pracucaI-
" abolished and rates and claSslnca-
lions are fixed not by any rule or neces-
sitv of traffic. but by the Evin and ca
price of irresponsible agents whose
salaries depend upon getting the most
possible for carrying freight
I'm their efforts to put even water COM
7,etition out of the way the carriers nave
rates
ductive point and then have mace tnIs
the excuse for OVercharg1nS otfler cues
that could not escape from lhelI $500
ions. Under these eondluOils tils Ilte5
state commerce commission has repeate0-
" recomne nded. as was ITS duty 60 90
Under the law. that it be given power 70
40 Iau-f11IIv what it actually did for SIX
wears viz: listen to complaints against
alleged unjust rates and regulations, an1
if found unjust to order immediate Ieile1
nv prescribing the just rate to be I'M
posed, and followed by the carrier IN the
This is the pending issue and such. is
the nropOsed relief. To the ordinary IN
diyiduai familiar with ordinary melnouS
nothing more than Just Wl.0l a contro-
versv arises between two parties tnaL
there should be some commission ~ ~ JSit ~,
body to whom the controversy coulu pc
submitted in order that 1t might De set
tied in Justice to both parties
It have already intimated thaE tnere Is
M science connected with railroad rate
making and yet we are informed by the
railroad representatives that a coinIl l..S.
sion can not assume 10 nN even d slllsio
rate without disturbing business condi-
lions In fact. we are told practically
that the railroad traf1lc men, may StIo!-
fra1i11- FIX rates without disturbing bust
ness conditions, but when such a thlng
is attempted by a commission evil would
II have no doubt that if such a bill as
We nropose becomes a law many OF the
railroads will oppose II ana 1lahs Us - y
ecution as difficult as possible, 9ut II i. ~
shall be found TO be constitutional ana 70
confer positive remedial powers upon the
commission I expect within snort time
to see the railroads adjusting rates
themselves. The proposed law IS only
aiming at unjust and unreasonable rates
80 reoI1la lions. none others are in any
danger and they should always pc IN
the most imminent danger
II know of no man prominently ldenti-
fed with the proposed legislation who is
not actuated by high patrlotlc motlNes.
and who would not as vigorously oppose
any attempt to injure the carriers as tney
are now active in securing just rights
for the people. have no heSltaIlon IN
e.a1rir,ey however that if organized cor
porate greed insists on creating an issue
which shall array itself and its synpa-
thizers against the people every patriotlc
American citizen VIII casl ms 10y WI 4 me
latter If it finally comes TO the question
as 10 whether the railroads shall own the
people. or the people the railroads, the
people must be the master, or popular
government is at an end.
Mr. Kretzinger said that he did not be-
lieve the discovery OF an unjust discrlm-
nation occasionally was sufficient rea-
son for taking away from the railroads
and placing in the hands of a congrega-
granted by the states and exercised by
fhe railroads. during the building of
prosperity unparalleled in the worlds his
He said that the EIkins law should be
made more stringent, or its penalties in
creased. If they are NOT now suIIlclentIy
prohibitorv, but do not adopt the govern
mental ratemaking system of France,
Germany. and England and other foreign
countries where the rates are TWO, TOUR
and more times higher than they are
He ridfculed the idea. of five men, un-
educated in railroad management fixing
the rates for the operation of 296 900 miles
of railroad. How long would it be. he
asked. If this law were passed, before
the APOSTLES of this reform would be ask
ing for the extension of the ratenaking
power to every other industry?
Amos C. Fonda Promoted.
90