New-York tribune., 1905-05-09
p TIES DISCUSSED AGAIN.
dro,,ncnts For and against Cor
e,wment Control

yK-.sht,e+or May Sc. p. Bacon oil Nlll"au-
boo who represents many commerclaI oou'eS
fsvorinc legislation giving the AiIel ''"'0
rnerce commission power TO fix rates. apPe'''e"
before the Senate Interstate Commerce Ooiii.lii'-
tee TO-DAY Mr. Bacon said that persons suliei-
ing from excessive rates were pIoliipi' ~
securing redress under the hlhlilS io' =
impossible for the commission 10 In 80
the y,bo1a country. he declared. but the comnhs-
sion should be empowered to order uiJu''
changed In the last five years 'hele iiNN
changes in classification, resulting IH az
vance of 21 per cent in rates. MY D1'on
that hexibility could be secured oS 0oi'lp
the commission to show cause for the changes
IL ,oado IN rates Reduction of freight rates per
ton. per mile, he continued did not mean d gen
eraI re5,o+ioD of rates. because the reduction
had been on low grade freights, and TINS CLASS u
traffic had largely increased. Mr.. Bacon con-
tended that geographical advantages ana au-
vantages which a community has mace LOT IL
self should be recognized in making rates tAo
was asked regarding what was known as 'iio
AIinnea polis-NIiIwauke case, in which ne as 'ie
representative Of the Milwaukee ChalnpeF u
Commerce, personally was interested. he sald
that the contention of Milwaukee was not
granted because one road among those inter-
ested would not agree to the proposed changes
IF it had been granted there would have
been none Of this agitation" remarked Senator
Kean.
When the futty of the order of the COM
mission was demonstrated" replied Mr.. Bacon
'I determined TO see if its orders could not be
made effective"
Oliver L. Garrison. of St. Louis president OF
the Big Muddy Coal and Iron Company, and
chairman OF the Illinois Central Operators As
sOciation said that the present rate situation
was satisfactory. Rates were gradually being
reduced. To give the commission power to fix
rates. he asserted, would seriously disturb pres
ent conditions. affecting not only railroads. but
commercial business generally.
A M Aiken, Of Danville, Va, read petition
from the city of DanvilIe. charging that the
Southern Railway and its connections discrim-
mated against Danville in favor Of Richmond
and Lynchburg. He said that the Interstate
Commerce Commission had ordered a reduo-
ton Of rates but the courts had reversed the
decision, holding that the charges were not un-
reasonable. He wanted the commission to have
power to fix rates DanvilIe did have compet-
ing lines, but they had been acquired by the
Southern Railway. Lynchburg had three COM
peting lines and Richmond had water trans
portation. He advocated a distance rate as a
remedy.
I. II. Bean, OF Milwaukee, president Of the
Northwestern Iron Company. opposed giving
the commission power to fix rates if it meant
a distance rate.
Testimony opposing any change in the present
conditions was given by Mark Slosson. Of
Kenosha, Wis. and E. c. Finkbine, Of Des
MOines, Iowa
J. Allen Smith, of Knoxville Tenn, presented
a resolution of the Manufacturers and Pro-
ducers' AS alton Of that city. opposing any
change In state commerce laws, but favor
ing vigorou aforcement of the present laws.
Similar view were given by J. r. Powers, OF
Knoxville, Tenn. representing the Commercial
Club of that city, and Clarence w. Barber, a
Knoxville attorney.
T. 7. Simmons, jr., of Kenosha, Wis, manu-
facturer opposed placing the rate making power
IN the hands Of few men. He said the only
strong advocates of giving the commission
power 20 fix rates in his State were Mr.. Bacon
and Governor La FoIlette.