Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-12-07
on.
Railroad Rate Legislation.

Railroad Rate Legislation.
AS l said in my message Of Dec. 6
last, the immediate and most pressing
need so 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-
lation of the rates charged by the rail
roads of the country engaged in inter
state traffic as shall summarily and ef-
fectively prevent the imposition of un-
Just or unreasonable rates. 1t must
include putting complete stop to re-
bates in every shape and 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 1t can be effectively exercised
when the need arises.
In my judgment, the most important
provision which such law should con-
tain Is that comforting upon some COM
petent administrative body the power
to decide upon the case being brought
before it whether a given. rate pre-
just, and If 1t Is found to be unreason-
able and unjust then, after full investi-
CATION of the complaint, to prescribe
the limit of rate beyond which it shall
not be lawful to go-the maximum
reasonable rate, as it is commonly call
ed-this decision to so into effect With
In reasonable time and to obtain
from thence onward, subject to review
by the courts.
1t sometimes happens at present, not
that a rate is too high, but that a IA
vored shipper is given too low q rate.
In such case the commission would
have the right to fix this already estab-
lished minimum rate as the maximum,
and it would need only one or two such
decisions by the commission to cure
railroad companies of the practice of
giving improper minimum rates. I call
your attention to the fact that my pro-
posal is not to give the commission
power to initiate or originate rates gen.
orally, but to regulate q rate already
fixed or originated by the roads upon
complaint and after investigation A
heavy penalty should be exacted from
any corporation which fails to respect
mn order of the commission. l regard
this power to establish a maximum
rate as being essential to any scheme
of real reform in the matter of railway
regulation.
1t is worth while considering whether
it would not be wise to confer on the
government the right of civil action
against the beneficiary Of a rebate for
at least twice the value of the rebate.
This would help stop what is really
blackmail. Elevator allowances should
be stopped, for they have now grown
to such an extent that they are demor
alizing and are used as rebates.
Private Car Lines.
All private car lines, Industrial roads.
refrigerator charges and the like
should be expressly put under the SUI
pervision Of the interstate commerce
commission or some similar body so
far as rates and agreements practical
ly affecting rates are concerned. A re- I
bate in Icing charges or in mileage or In
a division of the rate for refrigeratins |
cHdTScS II just as ptTulCIOuS us d lc- |
bate in any other way.
There should be publicity of the ac- |
counts of common carriers. Only in |
this way can violations or evasions of |
the law be surely detected. A system |
of examination of railroad accounts |
should be provided similar to that now |
conducted into the national banks by !
the bank examiners. A few first class !
railroad accountants, if they had prop |
er direction and proper authority to in |
spcct books and papers, could accom- |
plish much in preventing willful viola
tons of the law.
EmpIoyers' Liability Law.
In my annual message TO the Fifty |
eighth congress at its second session ! |
recommended the passage OF an em- |
ployers' liability law for the District OF |
Columbia and in our navy yards. re-
newed that recommendation In my !
message to the Fifty-eighth congress at !
its second session ana further suggest |
ed the appointment of a commission to I
make comprehensive study of en-
ployers' liability With view 10 the en- !
actment of wise and constitutional !
law covering the subject, applicable to
all industries within the scope OF the
federal power. | hope that such law
will be prepared and enacted as speed |
ily as possible.