Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-06-03
Third District Congressman Dis
cusses the Question of
Freight Rate Control
THE NEED OF a TRIBUNAL
Corporations Admit Abuses and But
Little Faith Can Be Placed in Their
Promises-lt Is Question Whether
people or Capital Shall Control the
Country.

EldOra, June S.-l)eSllouS VI ops"iAi
ing the views Of Congressman Bird
sail of this, the Third, congressional
district, upon a number of the proml-
nent questions of the day, and par
ticularly with reference to the ADJUST
ment of railway freight rates, Paul c..
Woods of the Eldora Ledger asked the
member of congress to give the public
the benefit of these views which are
expressed in the following letter which
appears in the Eldora Ledger:
II am in receipt of your letter in
which you say, "In consideration OF
the agitation concerning the revision
of the tariff and adjustment of rail-
way freight rates, l take the liberty
Of addressing you upon the subjects
with the request that you give The
Ledger your views upon these ques-
tions."
Believing that the people have a
right to know how their representa-
tive stands upon any public question
involving their interests, I cheerfully
comply with your requests.
First-As to adjustment of railway
freight rates, l am in favor Of empow-
ering, the interstate commerce COM
mission with the authority to make a
reasonable rate in place Of one found
by it, upon complaint. to be reason
ably high or unjustly discriminatory.
Consolidation has practically reduced
the railway transportation of the
country into five systems. BY parcel
ing out or dividing territory these sys-
TENS now have the power to elimi-
nate competition, destroy natural adj
Nantages and make or unmake cities,
towns and even states. AS public SER
wants, railways are entitled to reason
able compensation, and no more, for
services performed. They shall alone
determine what is just and reasonable
compensation, or shall that question
be determined by an impartial tribunal
created by the government? is the
meat of the controversy. That many
abuses exist has been amply demon
strated In the hearings before the in
terstate commerce committee Of both
houses of congress and it is practical
ly conceded by the railway managers
themselves.
Power Of Tribunal.
No one familiar with the difficulties
attendant upon rate making, so far as
l am advised, is in favor of comforting
upon any tribunal the power to gener-
ally. initiate and make rates, but when
u controversy over a given rate or
regulation of any company arises some
tribunal should have the power to in
quire into it and prescribe a reason
able rate or regulation, If it is found
unreasonable. In the decision of such
tribunal, created as a government
agency and standing impartial be-
tween the people and the transporter
ton companies, the public will, and
the railway companies ought to, cheer
fully acquiesee. The representatives
of the railway companies insist that
the present laws are sufficient, and
naively suggest that a proper indorse-
ment Of the laws against them would
correct existing abuses. This is tanta-
mount to confession that they have
not heretofore fairly exercised the
rate making power.
No Death-Bed Repentances.
1t is possible that the fruit of the
present agitation would be a better
observance of the law and result in a
correction of existing evils; but too
much confidence should be placed in
death-bed repentances and it will be
we'll to proceed to the final assertion
of the sovereignty of the people. The
question has now passed the stage Of
expediency and involves the PROPOSE
ton of whether the people or capital
and it's allied interests shall dictate
the policy and control the destiny of
the country. The president has plant
ed himself squarely upon the PROPOSE
ton that the highways of commerce
should be kept open to all on equal
terms. He has invited controversy
which may be settled soon or may last
for years, and which may be settled by
passion and prejudice or by reason
and justice. l have confidence that
1t will be settled by the latter method,
and fairly to all interests involved.
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