Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-02-25
FISH GIVES HIS VIEWS
President of the Illinois Central
Not in Favor of the Esch-
Townsend Bill.
SEES SOME BIG DIFFICULTIES
Hits on New Objectionable Discrim.
nation Against Small Cities
Proposition Made TO Him
by Roosevelt.

Washington. Feb. "a. - Stuyyesant
Fish, president of the Illinois Central
railroad, read a statement before the
senate committee on interstate COM
merce, which has the railroad rate bills
under consideration. Discussing the
Esch-Townsend bill, he devoted con
siderable time to the practical as well
as the constitutional difficulties that
would be encountered by the inter-
state commerce commission if it at
tempted to fix railroad rates arbitrari-
ly. Fish said that to fix equitable
rates, which would not discriminate in
favor of one port as against another,
the commission would have to take
into consideration railroad rates In
Canada and Mexico, and the water rate
from ports of the United States to
ports abroad.
Suggests u New Point.
This cannot be done by the inter-
state commerce commission or any 9th
er body of men," Fish asserted. .'Con-
gress cannot delegate to the commits
sion authority to fix water rates on
the ocean except within the three-mile
limit"
Are you sure of that?" asked Chair
man Elkins.
Perfectly sure of it, The chair
man asked if it were not possible for
the commission to refuse to allow for
eign ships to clear if their cargoes
contained exports that had been billed
at an improper rate. Fish replied that
the injustice of holding an entire car
go because a part of it had been taken
at an improper rate could readily be
seen. He said that it would offend
every nation and that foreign ships
would not come into United States
ports.
Small Places Are Not Ignored.
On the subject of differentials. Fish
gave examples Of the workings of rates
in various parts of the country. In
answer to a question by Senator Doll
YER he declared that there was no
truth in the charges that traffic mana
gers were disposed to build up great
communities and ignore the smaller
cities. He said that the complaints
usually came from manufa cturing cen
ters and large shipping points.
Proposition by the President.
Fish told of an interesting confer
ence he had in january, 1902, with
President Roosevelt over the subject
Of railroad legislation. The president
was quoted as saying that the railroad
men and the members of the commits
sion should get together and prepare
some measure that would meet the
recognized evils Of the railroads in the
conduct and mana cement of their bust
ness. The president suggested that
commission Of five men should be
chosen to represent the railroads. Fish
said nothing had been done in response
to the presidents suggestion.
Why 1t Was Not Adopted.
After the meeting had adjourned
Fish was asked why the railroads had
not proceeded according to the ideas
Of the president. He said that the
members of the interstate commerce
commission were not disposed to enter
tain the idea. Fish also said that
while he questioned the wisdom of leg
islation establishing fixed price for
any character of service he would glad
ly cooperate with members of con-
gress or the interstate commerce COM
mission in drafting some measure that
would prevent rebates and other tricks
that limit or destroy competition.
cMnyU re COSTTv Top PATHWAY