Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-08
Tells What Advocates of
Railway Legislation Want.
TALKS TO COMMITTEE
POWER TO FIX ALL RATES NOT
DESIRED.
Merely the Right to Correct Ineauali-
ties and to Reduce Extortionate
Charges is Sought.

MIR. Il. p Bacon OF Milwaukee, Wis
who represents about 500 commercial bodies
throughout the United States and who is
regarded by some as the head and front of
the movement to obtain railway legislation,
appeared today before the Senate Interstate
commerce committee which is now holding
hearings on The subject the Capitol
1t was the committees thirteenth meet
ing day and Senator Elkins, the chair
man. and Senators Dolliver. kean. Cullom.
Clapp and Newlands were in attendance.
MIR. Bacon in presenting his views to the
committee contended that there WAS only
one remedy for the present evils In rail-
road conditions-and that was the estab-
lishment by Congress of n regular tribunal
to deal with the subject. The present In
terstate commerce commission had done
valuable work, he admitted particularly in
settling and adjusting differences between
shipper and carrier. But 1t hampered
and its work made ineffective by the linn
itations of the law under which II was con-
stituted. Mr.. Bacon called attention to the
fact that while the Elkins act makes a de-
parture from published rate a misde-
meanor. yet there was absolutely no re
dress In case the published rate itself hap
pened to be eXtortionate.
1t was not enough that the interstate
commerce commission should be able to
say that a given rate was unjust or I'M
reasonable. 1t should have the power he
thought, to say by what amount the given
rate was out of the way, and what the
proper, jus tand reasonable rate should be
This power to investigate and determine
the changes was absolutely necessary. he
thought, il existing evils were to be cor
Iected.
Opposing an Imaninary Proposition.
Mr.. Bacon said that the railroads had
endeayOred To make IL ppnpar hotb throuyh
their representatives before the committee
and by literature on the subject. that an
effort was being made to secure legislation
that would give the interstate commerce
commission the power to fix all the freight
tariffs of the country. Ii such a plan were
proposed by the advocates of railroad leg
islation, Mr. Bacon said, he would be the
first to pronounce it absolutely impra ctica-
bic. But, on the contrary. such scheme
had been even considered. The Esch-Town-
send bill gave no such power. and a careful
perusal of its provisions would convince
any one of this fact. 1t was merely in
tended to give the commission the power to
make investigation and change existing
rates when proper to do SO. The railroads
would continue to make their own rates
under this plan. and he did not believe that
any such disturbance in existing conditions
as had been foreshadowed before the COM
mittee would result from the passage of
the desired railroad legislation.
Discrimination the Shippers Grievance
Mr.. Bacon said that a matter of fact it
made little difference to the shipper just
what freight rates might be demanded of
him by the railroads so long as no other
competing shipper was given lower rate.
On the other hand, it the great mass of
the publc-who pay the freight rates in the
end-who We're left absolutely without pro-
lection in the case of extortion. The de-
pendence of this latter class proper
remedial legislation was, therefore. abso-
lutte. At present the committee may take
an alleged extortionate rate. and. after
proper investigation. designate 1t such
But IL can go no further. IL has not the
power to enforce its orders.
In answer to question by Senator Gull
lonl, member of the committee and au-
thor of the original interstate commerce
act. Mr.. Bacon said the interstate COM
merce commission had done valuable work
in adjusting differences between shippers
and carriers. He thought that body coulo
powers were extended. Mr.. Bacon added
that the Esch-Townsend bill, which passed
the House at the last session of Congress.
met all the requirements of the case, and
he heartily in favor of 1t.
The witness asserted that while rebapes
had ceased. had determinations between
persons, Determinations between localities
had not, and he thought the bin mentioned
provided the best means of dealing with
this and other crying evils.