Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-09-06
Anent the commerce Commission.

has been aroused IN this CITY Dy the
discovery of certain interesting facts
concerning the Interstate Commerce
Commission. 1t has recently come to
light that this body is not devoting
itself entirely to the enforcement OF
the Interstate commerce law. Some
of its efforts are directed toward an
attempt TO offset the testimony
given before the Senate Committee on
Interstate Commerce during it's
recent hearings. The great bulk of
that testimony was so strongly
against Government regulation of
freight rates that serious blow was
delt to the cause for which the In
terstate Commerce Commission has
been laboring for some wear, that is,
an increase of power for itself.
Before this the Interstate Commerce
Commission hao been continually adj
vocating the necessity of increased
power. even going so far in 1900 as to
instruct its secretary to cooperate with
various business organizations to such
an end.
OF late it has TRANSFERRED. however.
that the Commission has sent certain
Dr. Gitterman on a secret mission to
Europe. it being understood that he
will investigate railway conditions in
foreign countries. Since the work as
this is not part of the Commission S
duty in enforcing the interstate COM
MERGE law. it is believed by those who
are acquainted with the matter that
DIR. Gitterman has been sent abroad
in an attempt 20 secure some data con-
trary to the testimony given by Pro-
fessor Never before the Senate Com
mittee during its recent hearing.
Professor Never dealt with railway
conditions in foreign countries in
which government regulation is prac-
ticed. and his testimony has proved
one of the largest checks in the In
terstate Commerce Commission cam
paigD for increased powers.
1t has also come to light that Frank
agent.of theTnterstate Commerce Com
mission. left in June ony secret
mission to the Southwest. Nothing
definite as to Mr.. Barrvs mission can
be learned. but certain facts which
have been brought to light make it
seem probable that his work is along
the same line as that of DR.. Glitter
man.
Mr.. Barry has in the past been the
secretary Of the Interstate Commerce
Law Convention. Mr.. E. F. Bacon
being the chairman of the executive
committee of this organization. During
the sessions of Congress Mr.. Barry
has been EMPLOYED bv the interstate
Commerce Law Convention as a
special agent in Washington When
it was insinuated last winter that Mr..
Bacon's organization had been cooper
alive with the Interstate Commerce
Commission to aid the latter in its
campaign for more power. Mr.. Bacon
Indignantly denied the staement and
declared that the organization which
he represented had never in any wav
had any relations with the Interstate
Commerce Commission. either as a
body or through its officers. 1--WE
have no connection with. the Com
mission in any shape. or manner. +"
said he
Since Mr.. Barry was still rated as
secretary of the Interstate Commerce
Law Convention as late as the goth
of Julv, date subsequent to that OH
which he left on his secret commits
sion, it is concluded that this organiza-
tion and the Interstate Commerce
Commission are at present co-opera-
ting. in spite of the fact that the
tone of Mr.. Bacon's testimony last
winter clearly showed that such CO.
operation with political body for
political ends was entirely contrary to
the policy of the organization which
he represented.
Those opposed to Government re-
gulation of rates are not slow to point
out that the Commission is conducting
such campaign is taking up line
of work clearly outside of its duties,
since the interstate commerce act
states that the Commission shall direct
its energies toward the enforcement
of that act. Those in whose eyes
the Interstate Commerce Commission
in the past has found favor admit
that it's present actions are. Co say
the least. unfortunate. as LAYING it
open to the justifiable criticism of not
only assuming powers which it has not
and turning its attention TO other
matters then its duties as defined by
law. but also because such actions as
the sending of agents Jon secret mis-
sions in its campaign for more power
tend 20 emphasize the danger which
has already been strongly limited at,
that is that personal and political in
terests would not fail TO influence a
Matchmaking commission.
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Cheap one way Colonist rates to