Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-21
Received by Maine Gen.
,,,I for Excessive Rates.
r,e Statement Of Pres. futile
At Washington, Thursday.
.,,. the Members Of inter. State
Commerce Commission.

Nan ,,,te committee on interstate
lie. today. IL read from the
eVp'.'. ~ President Roosevelt. from
nF,n ,.,rass of commissioner Prouty and
70 an article of Representative
NJ wisconsin, all bearing on ran
-. and the rate question. He salo
lOI' views espresso: the various
H. NJ sentiment il favor OF the
:,o,;ou of railroads. lie denied that
.,,.s,,,r,art had any authority over
"a. hnrailse of Tho right the rail-
''" h,ra in eminent domain but only
". constitution and the police pow
Irsf government 10 prevent oppFeSs'o"'
49, o-,s no st!if-ncC ka1 opposition
.,,,. railrGa1 men to fair regulation
,,ilroars. Mr. futile admitted N"
~. ~ congress to regulate every
i,.77se.,,a.tainina. 10 interstate commerce.
.,se.t oniv to constitutional nllllld-
III He declared that the only Vaiu-
~. ,roucrty right Of 4 ltilW.ay IS 'ht
4 make its rates. The road coui
abandon the operation of its prop
N.s and !, must, therefore, be enabled
' rat which will give it far
INN on it's Investment.
NJ Tut,le said thcr,. were practical
;. ,l,,. systems in New England. Ihe
pos,op &, Maine dominates the north
sa1f Of New England. Men in that
,.g;cn doing business must depend on
nix road, and yet. he said. in l. years
aot = SINGLE complaint had been MAI"
a tho Interstate Commerce tommlS-
s;on The same was substantially true
=, the NeY York. New Haven x Hart
ford and The Boston 4 Albany. Stabisi-
~ and uniform rates were necessary
rather than low rates.
He asserted that no five men could
FIX rates for the country. MesSrS.
cnlM. Morgan. Hartman and Wander
lii could not either singl: or together
fix rates on their lines any more than
blacksmith could repair a watch.
roarls Of directors lil not discuss or
fix ratns. This was left to expert trafii"
managers.
Mr.. futile discussed ut some length
,he r,asnn why there W. :" low rates IN
r,rtain commodities end the effect Of
water Yates IN railroad rates from
North Atlantic norts 10 southern points.
apiar that the rail rates We're low r
fmm ,hra"I. Cincinnati and Other
mini IA til.. West LnruISr the rail
rnadi ,!n-i t,inei the water rates. At
lime. ,,,Irnlie in added nl1,St carry
nt-rthalG is,. Al 4 nositi,'n loss in order
10 Keep inr husinrss % the country
moring.
pisrnssinr TIE Ionr ana short haul
rFnnoeitiona. Mr.. Tuttlr cnnteudcd thar
tho higher charges t. Intermediates
points VI re- subject 20 natural laws and
th-ee could not le changed by legisia-
| iion. He believed that 4 large amount
Of The transcnntincntll business was
'cHniel at n loss. ON the Pacific coast.
| there was competition with Germany
and other European countries which
carried goods by water. !lo contendcl
that if Congress attempted to say that
there Should not b. "ha" "rd higher
rate for Il short haul th1n y long haul.
Il would destroy business or bankrupt
the railroads.
Mr.. futile pointed out that Congress
with absolute power ever national
hanks. did not attempt to fix the rates
Of interest. IF Congress should provide
lint national banks should not chare'
more than four pnr cent. he believed
most Of them would liquidate. The rea-
sOn for the demand for the regulation
of railroad rates. he suggested. was
that the roads could not get away and
could not remove their property.
Mr.. Tuttle said he hal one complain;
to rake against the Interstate COM
merce commission. 1t went to law too
often and did not settia enough cases
ny negotiation. Instead of 90 per cent
Of the cases being thus settled. Their
should be % rer cent.
Mr. futile urged that the commits
SION shoul'l he relieved Of much Of its
present duty. II should investigate
cases and turn them over to the de-
pertinent Of Justice.
me commits ion should rct he Il quasi
court hut buffer between the peonl-
am he railroads.
S7"SN'ng Of government ownership
Nr' futile characterized the English
."rVavS as the best in Europe. The
'''lSh roads are undnr private owner
,,'N In Germany and France whore
''"fe was government ownership. tn
'''''S Werr not as good and the rates
'.t@ higher than here
!" senator f,lkins. Mr. TuttIe replief
w." Y the government fixed rates he
MONT of actual cost, the road:
"h avoid doing the business. He sail
"" d'iferentiais originated in export
r. Kun, because nf difference in ports
'''l' hti1lS are a preference. The GOV.
,""t could not regulate rates t,
-'""'. II the government fivet
could not make differenti1l!
."nt some agreements Mr.. Tutt,,
mai the Canadian Parliament hat
''n the railroad commission autocra
mowers. but he warned the commit
'sanst nredicatirr any view on III,
madian law. because no action eve
heen taken under il.
~" "hiy to Senator Cul,om. Mr.. TIL.
"h mat rebates and unjust dis
Il, IONS We're things of the mast
n, "i see no need for changes in tn
s,,. INV. save to make the Tntnr
p,.;. '"h'rHrre Commission an investi
finn ana prosecuting body. The agita
noor, "'t has been going on by TIL
tion WIS due to the constant reitera
MI 81 the Interstate Commerce Com
pnwa, mat it shoull he clothed wifi
Tho ~. :" TX rates. It also was due t
Ell . That rebates s,ill were grant
I :, IN n" did not believe.
Sena, 'd.lfoad president" ren,arkn
NOT ,a hoi'iver. stated in this cit
NJ :, - ago that the ;.oily ay h,,SipeS