Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-05-25
Give THEIR VIEWS.
nIembsrl * Commerce Commission
Before Senate Committee.
BOrH COCKRELL And FIFER TESTIFY.
1Each believes Rates sh''hld Ne Made
~ Railroads and Pc Subject
to Revision BY
s& Commission.

gG washington, May 23.-Interstate
commerce commissioners Francis M
OochreIl and Joseph W. Fifer, were
among the witnesses Monday before
the senate committee on interstate
commerce whose investigation OF rail-
road rates has almost drawn to close.
Commissioner Fifer spoke Of rebates
ana rate cutting and said they were In
duced by railroad men distressing
Zach other. Rates he said, should be
made by the railroads in the first place,
nut should be. subject to revision. He
aaid that the commission would adjust
. rate complained OF In accordance
with rates on like commodities In
other sections under like conditions.
He thought the adjustment Of the long
and short haul difficulties should be
left to the commission. He believed
that the power Of rate regulation II
given to the commission would not
Be exercised very often as the roads
would be careful not to get into trouble
With the commission when changing
rates. The commission, he added,
would have power to lower or raise
rates to prevent determinations. Com
missioner Fifer spoke Of the danger OF
government ownership unless there
were Justly administered. Former
United States Senator Coclrell Of Mis-
souri,. now member Of the commits
eion, said he would leave the origina-
don Of rates TO the railroads, giving
the commissioner power to condemn a
rate found to be unreasonable and to
Mx another rate In its place, to take
eject Immediately. The railroads, he
-contended should have the right OF
appeal to the courts, and the latter
should determine whether the railroad
rate was unreasonable or the commits
SONS rate unreasonable. II congress
should enact law to this effect, he
raid, the courts would take Jurisdiction
Of rates to the extent Of deciding such
questions. He would make the rail-
roads responsible for icing and other
charges Of private car lines. Com
missioner Cockrell cited number OF
cases where decisions Of lower courts
sustaining the commission in railway
matters had been reversed by the
supreme court. He did this to show
HAT the judiciary was divided on these
rate causes In one case, he pointed
ont that Secretary Taft was a member
IL the court Of appeals which sustained
the commission. s, H. Gowan, repre-
menting the Live Stock shippers Of the
southwest also appeared Monday. He
controverted statements by other wit
nesses as to satisfactory rate conditions
and claimed that the cattle rates were
100 high He asserted that the rail-
roads had used diligence to bring men
here 10 testify to satisfaction with
rates. He charged that these witnesses
may have come on passes and that 1t
was possible that an intimation was
Miven them that II was better for them
70 come
Chairman Elkins remarked that the
eommittee had summoned all the men
whose names had been furnished by
Mr.. Bacon in the interest Of the pro-
Opsed legislation and that expenses
md perdiem had been allowed all who
appeared.
Mr.. Cowan maintained that live
aefock transportation was profitable
snIlroad business In the south. He
characterized the Tsch-Townsend bill
e. worse than no legislation.
The committee will hold an execu-
i've meeting Tuesday morning to de-
1aEmine whether to close the hearings.