The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-25
RAILROADS CLAIM ROOSEVELT
HAS CHANGED MIND ABOUT
FREIGHT RATES.
Delay Is Sought by Transportation
Companies, but the Efforts for
Reform Go On.


the last few weeks confidential cir
culars have been sent out by the
agents Of the great transportation COM
panies, informing their subordinates
that the agitation for reform in rail-
road rates has been successfully stop
ped, and If the railroad interests are
properly guarded from now until the
regular session of congress, it can be
asserted that no legislation unfavor-
able to the railroads will be passed.
When the Esch Townsend bill was
passed in the house last spring, it was
well understood that it was to be only
foundation for much more radical
legislation in the future. The railroad
compaies became interested at once
and organized an excellent press bu-
reau, and ever since that time it has
been supplying arguments, it is under
stood, against the position taken by
La Toilette, Deneen, Cummins, Van
SAINT and other western governors, who
represent, more than anyone else, the
Interstate Commerce Law league.
Delay was the only thing asked for
by the railroad companies. They were
MORALLY afraid action would be taken
at the last session of congress, or an
extra session would be called to meet
early in the spring. When they Sc
cured an agreement from the presi-
dent that he would not call congress
in extra session before October and
possibly not at all, the railroad man.
ayers believed they had the battle half
won.
The reports just sent out to their
subordinates seem to indicate they con-
slider they have anticipated all UNI
favorable legislation. During the
summer various schemes have been
| suggested under the direction of the
various railroad managers, all of them
devised for the express purpose of haV-
| ing the new rates fixed by the inter-
state commerce commission held in
allegiance until reviewed by the federal
court. The phraseology is different,
as a matter of course; but this is ex-
actly what, if worked out, would be
the case under the present law as in
| terpreted by the courts.
The interstate commerce commission
today has authority to declare what is
| a reasonable rate for freight and pas
sengers. 1t has no authority whatso-
ever for enforcing that rate. Even If
it is right, it must wait for months,
| or even years, until a proper federal
| court has decided that the commission
has acted in the interests of the public.
By that time, in many cases, the origi-
nal reasons for the creation of the new
rate have disappeared, an don that ac-'
count the interstate commerce COM
mission is prevented from prosecuting
great majority of the cases is actual
ly originates.
There SENS to be no reason in the
world why the shipper should be the
man to suffer from an improper rate
| imposed by the interstate commerce
commission. Railroads insist, and all
of the new born schemes for modify
ing the Esch-Townsend bill are based
on that theory, that a rate should be
maintained in the interests of rail-
roads for months and years until it
finally is upset by the supreme court
of the United States. This is the con-
dition at present, and it is the condi-
ton against which shippers have pro-
tested generally.
Various railroad managers who today
are contributing money for the sup
port of an independent press bureau
which is endeavoring to influence pub
lie opinion have sent out confidential
advices to practically every large rail-
road in the United States to the effect
that the president has changed his
foot" and he is no longer convinced
of the necessity of railroad rate legis-
lation along the lines he laid down so
successfully in his annual message to
congress last December.
1t openly is claimed by other rail-
road officials that they have succeeded
| in throwing dust in the eyes of the
president and there will be no legisla-
ton in the direction Of the absolute
regulation of railroad rates at the next
session Of congress.
Misleading statements have been
sent forth by the railroad press bu-
reau to the effect that chambers of
commerce and various organization of
| shippers have gone back on E. P.
Bacon. special representative of the
Interstate Commerce Law association.
If is we'll understood that there is
nothing whatsoever in the statement,
| DIV tot