Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-05-13
TAFT SURPRISES
RAILWAY MEN
Secretary Of War Declares Rate Leg
islatiOn Must Come.
ARGUED WITH STUYvESANTFBH

Washington. May 1O.-Secretary OF
War Taft fairly took the breath Of the
800 railway men. members OF the In
ternational Railway Congress. dining
as the guests Of the American Railway
Association at the New Willard hotel.
when, after being introduced as the
apostle from the Philippines. he en-
phatically declared that railway rate
legislation must come: that II the rail
way men Of the country were wise they
would aid and not hinder II; that the
sentiment of the country is such that
failure OF proper regulation meant a
campaign on the subject that would do
no GOOD 20 the railroads.
Absolute silence reigned as Secretary
Taft spoke his mind on the subject OF
rates. He was positively against gov
ernment ownership. ne said. believing
that nothing so deleterious could come
20 the country as this solution OF the
question. But" he continued. you
cannot run railroads as you run a pri-
vate business. You must respond TO the
public demand II there is danger OF
discrimination. then you must allow
the establishment OF some tribunal
that will remedy that discrimination"
The secretary saw no reason why =
tribunal properly constituted should
not be competent IN every sense OF the
word 10 fix a maximum rate.
President Stuyvesant Fish. OF the
American Railway Association. had in
troduced Secretary Taft In his "a
ffnr ue e. s~L
his feet the instant the secretary con-
cluded. He answered the secretary at
length. taking the view that the law
10 prevent discrimination. double deal
ing and secret rebates was ample, and
he vigorously called for the enforce
ment OF that law. Mr Fish talked OF
the vested rights OF the money tied up
in railways. He apologized for allow
ing himself 10 be diverted. and as he
sat down. Secretary Taft. who sat next
him, queried in a low tone: May
have 10 minutes 20 reply?" This time
was given. and the secretary utilized il
IN making himself even more positive
as 20 his position In favor OF legislation
which would create a tribunal with au-
thority 10 name maximum rate. THE
law now is" continued the secretary.
''as decided by the supreme court OF
the United States, that first a commits
sion and then the courts may decide
whether a particular rate is reasonable
or unreasonable. Now In fixing that. N
the very mental process in determining
whether a rate is reasonable or unrea-
sonable. one has got 10 fix what is a
maximum rate. AS l understand ~.
what is proposed IS only that ir liti-
gated cases a commission shall be con-
stituted that shall fix a maximum rate;
in other words. 10 go through the same
process IL now goes through 10 deter
mine what is n reasonable rate. What
| am strongly in favor Of though. Is
that we shall have body that shall
decide things and that those things
shall be decided within a reasonable
time finally by the courts
Mr.. Fish again took up the argument.
contending il was the question of fix
ing the price for the seller of goods.
M. Jusserand. the French ambassa-
dor; Emile Heurteau, OF Paris, a mem
Der OF the permanent commission OF
the congress; Jean Kologrivoff. minis
ter OF communication, Russia. and
Wayne MacVeagh also delivered