The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-12-05

DerOre It whether given rate pre-
scribed by railroad is reasonable and
just, and IL 1t is found to be unreason-
able and unjust then, after full inyesti-
cation OF the complaint, to prescribe
the limit Of rate beyond which 1t shall
not be lawful to go-the maximum
reasonable rate. as it is commonly cali
ed--this decision to 90 into effect with
In q reasonable time and to obtain
from thence onward, subject to review
by the courts,
1t sometimes happens at present. not
that rate Is too high. but that fa-
vored shipper is given too low rate.
In such case the commission would
have fhe right to fix this already estab-
lished minimum rate as the maximum.
and 1t would need only one or two such
decisions by the commission to cure
railroad companies of the practice Of
giving improper minimum rates. 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
an order OF the commission regard
this power to establish a maximum
rate as being essential to any scheme
OF real reform In the matter of railway
regulation.
| It is worth while considering whether
| it would not be wise to confer on the
| government the right Of civil action
against the beneficiary Of 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.
ivate Car Lines.
| All private ear lines, industrial roads,
refrigerator charges and the like
should be expressly put under the SUI
peryision of the interstate commerce
commission or some similar body 80
far as rates and agreements practical
| ly affecting rates are concerned. A re
bate In icing charges or In mileage or IL
division of the rate for refrigeratina
| charges is just as pernicious as re
bate In any other way.
There should be publicity Of the ac
| counts of common carriers. Only Il
this way can violations or eyasions o.
the law be surely detected. A system
| Of examination OF railroad accounts
should be provided similar to that nov
| conducted into the national banks bl
| the bank examiners. A few first class
railroad accountants, IL they had prop
er direction and proper authority to In
| spect books and papers, could accom-
| plish much in preventing willful viola
tions Of the law.
Employerss Liability Law.
In my annual message to the Fifty
eighth congress at its second session
recommended the passage of an EN-
ployers' liability law for the District o
Columbia and In our navy yards. ! re
newed that recommendation in N.
message to the Fifty eighth congress a
its second session and further suggest
ed the appointment ofsa commission t
make a comprehensive study OF en-
ployers' liability with view TO the en-
Eactment OF wise and constitutions
Elawo covering the subject, applicable t
ali industries within the scope Of th
federal power hope that such lav
Will be prepared and enacted as speed
ily as possible.
There has been demand for deprivinl
courts Of the power to issue injunction
In labor disputes. Such special limita
tion Of the equity powers of our court
would be most unwise. 1t Is true tia
some Judges have misused this power
but this does not justify a denial of tn
power any more than an improper ez
ereise Of the rewer to call strike bv
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