The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-10-04
HILLS TALK TO FARM Frs.

President James j. Hill, OF the Great
Northern railroad, made an address
to a mum Der of farmers at Preston,
MIMI, the other day, and endeavored
to convince them that government reg.
ulation of freight rates would be q
menace to their prosperity and happi.
ness. Whatever may have been the
effect of Mr.. Hills. remarks upon his
farmer audience, his address has be-
come the subject of adverse criticism
by several newspapers. The Chicago
Drovers journal, for instance, reviews
Mr.. Hills speech to this effect:
If James j. Hill had not made such
a marked success OF the railroad bust
ness he would undoubtedly have been
n of the greatest politicians of the
age. This becomes evident from the
skill with which he juggles the politi.
cal questions at various opportunities
before the farmers of the northwest in
a way that is not at all detrimental to
his own personal interests. In beating
about the rate.Question bush before
the farmers assembled at q Minnesota
county aft air Mr.. Hill said:
ga protective tariff will not help
you. There is one way, however, 10
which you may be helped, and this 10
by l%essening the cost of t%ransporta-
ton. You have to bear the cost OF
carrying the product of your farm to
the consumer. Anything that dimin-
ishes it is money in your pocket. No
one can arbitrarily send out a procla-
nation that such a service shall be
performed at such a charge. The
business of transportation must be
conducted upon a business basis. 1t
is an easy prophecy because it is Q
business fact that railroad rates in
this country would decline more slow
ly under government control than If
fixed by those who intelligently man :
age railways. No public body would
dare make reductions so sweeping as
those that have been made voluntarily
by railways. 1t is the right and duty
of the government to secure fair treat
ment and to prevent determinations .
The government cannot discriminate
between ports or places. 1t must be
impartial. Therefore it would sooner
Or later be obliged to ordain a dis
lance tariff. The low charge for the
long haul would disappear and you
farmers here in Minnesota would be
the most heavily fairfield people in the
world
If rates are to be reduced to the low
est possible level that will pay operat.
ing expenses and assure only fair
profits on the investments in railroad
properties under government control,
why, Mr.. Hill, is it considered SO de-
sirable and necessary to combine all
the competing lines OF the northwe St:
Competition would assure low rates,
but the consolidation which you have
favored seems hardly calculated te
serve that end.
The Spokesmau.Review also ques
tons the proposition that a fedora
tribunal would not dare to make sucI
rate reductions as the railroads hav'
done. 1t says:
II, Us Mr.. Hill says, no public bod.
would dare to make the reduction
which the railroads are "voluntarily'
making, why do MIR. Hill and othe
railroad men 80 strenuOusly object Il
the interstate commerce commission
being clothed with the power to do so
If Mr.. Hill really believes what h
says, and if he expects others to be
lieve that the commission would nc
"dare'' to make reductions, why is h
SO agitated over the proposed leglsla
ton?
1t would be interesting to know jus
what MIR. Hill means by the wor
dare as he uses it. Does he mea
to threaten the interstate commerce
commission, or does he mean that pull
lie opinion would not stand for an
further reductions? Which is il, tn
railroads or the people, that will hol
a club over the commission and sa
no reduction must be made:
Or is it that MIR. Hill expects tn
courts will interfere and say the con
mission must not make the transpOl
tation burden easier for the people
1t is just on this line that legislatio
is w%anted-the legislation that Is o.
posed by the railroads. 1t is desire
that the commission be empowered
congress, beyond any question of leg
disqualification, to force the RAILROAD
to make rates that will be fair al
reasonable to all. Let this be don
and let the commission act indepe
IDENTIFY of any influence that may
brought to bear by the railroads, al
Mr.. Hill may see how far a publ
body will dare to 60 in the intere
of the public.