The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1905-12-08

protest against improp-
crly radical or hasty action. The first
thing TO do IL to deal with the great
corr"-atlons engaged IN the business
of Interstate transportation. AZ l said
In my message Of December 6 last the
Immediate and most pressing need, so
far as legislation Is concerned Is the
enactment into law OF some scheme to
accuro TO the agents OF the govern
mcnt such supervision and regulation
Of the rates charged by the railroads
of the country engaged In Interstate
traffic ma shall aummnrily and cncc-
lively prevent the imposition OF unjust
or unreasonable rates. II must include
uniting o complete stop to rebates in
every shape and form. This power to
regulate ratios, like all similar powers
over the business world, should b" eN-
erciscd with moderation, caution and
gclf-rcstraint, but II should exist, 40
that II can he effectively eNcrcihed
when the need arises,
The first consideration 20 be kept |
In mind Is that tho power should be |
Affirmative and should be given TO |
some administrative body created by |
the congress. II given to the present !
interstate commerce commission or 10 |
a rcorgnnizcd interstate commerce !
commission. such commission should
be made unouulvocally administrative |
|
,erforlnR with private business more !
than IL necessary | do not believe In
the government undertaking any work
which can with propricty be lett IN
private hands. But neither do pe-
iicvc in the government hinching from
oycrarcing any work when II becomes
evident that abuses are sure TO ODD
tain therein unless there IL govern
mental supervision. II In not my prov
lncc TO Indicate the exact terms OF VI"
law which should be enacted. nut
call the attention OF the congrtst !"
certain existing conditions with whlch
IL IL desirable to deal. In my judg
mcnt the most important provision
which such law should contain IL that
comforting upon some competent hu-
miuIatratIve body the power 10 ucc'uv'
upon the case being brought before H.
yhothrr given rate prescribed ny 3"
rnIirond tF reasonable and just. ana
II II Is found TO he unrchsohhhlt uhu
unjust, then, after fan Investigation
~ thr romplaint TO prescribe the limit
Of rntc beyond which II shall not be
lawful to go-thc maximum reason
able rate az II IL commonly chicd-
this decision to 20 into cucct wltnin
reasonable time and 20 OBTAIN from
thVnr. onward subject To- review by
the courts II sometimes happens VI
present not that n rate II 60" hlHh
hut that favored shipper Is given 700
low a rate In such cnHc tho commia-
sion would have the right 10 NIX 'His
already established minimum rnte az
| the ma Nmum. and II would hc'u ohlS
| one or two such decisions ny th' com
| ulssion To- cure railroad companies of
| the practice of giving Improper MINI
mum rntra I call your attention 10
| the fact that my proposal is not 10
give tho commission poser to initiate
| nr originate rates Ecncrally. nut l"
| regulate a rate already nX'd or otlt-
ontcd by tho roads, upon complaint
md after investigation hehVS
| rcnalty should be cNactcd from any
| corporntion which falls to respect an
| order Of the commission, ! regard ms
| mower TO establish n maximum rate
| az hcing essential TO amy scheme OF
real reform In tho matter OF railway
| regulation Tho nrat necessity If 10
secure It, and unless II II granted to
| The commission there IL httlC use IN
touching the subject nj nil
Rebates Really Blackmail.
Illegal transactions often occur I'M
! inr the forms ~ law. II has often oc-
Cured thnt "a shipper has been toid
by n traffic officer 10 buy large
| quantity Of some commodity and then
! after IL has been bought an open re-
duction IL mndc In the rate to take
| effect Immediately the arrangement
| resulting to the pront NJ tho one snip
! nor and tho one railroad ana TO the
| damage 81 all their competitors; Tor
| II must not he forgotten that the Dig
| shippers mr." nj least M much 10
| blnmc nq any rnilroRd In the matter
| Of rebates The law should make II
| clear gn that nobody can fail To under
| ptnud that my kind Of commission
paid on freight shipments whether In
this form or in the form of fictitious
damages. or Of concossion Tree
pass reduced pnssoasnr rate, or pay
nent OF Anchorage, IL Illegal II 10
worth while considering whether u
| would not be wise to confer on tho
| government tho right OF civil action
| against the beneficiary or r"hH'H Tor
| at least twice the value nf the rebatci
this would help stop what Is rehliy
blackmnil Elevator allowances sh"ulu
be stopped for they have now grown
20 such an extent that they are de-
moralizing and are used as rchates'
The best possible regulation OF rates
would OF course. he that regulation
secured hy Rn honest agreement
among tho railroads themselves to
carry out the law, Such general
agreement would, for instance AZ once
nut n stop 10 tho efforts OF any one
big simmer or big railroad to dis
cr,-,,nntc against or secure hdvan-
,aRes over some rival; and such nEree-
mcnt would mako the railroads them
selves agents for enforcing the law.
The power vested In the government
60 nut n stop TO agreements TO the
Jctrimeut of tho public should. In my
Judgment. be accompanied by power 10
permit under specified conditions and
| careful supervision, agreements clear
~ in the interest OF the public, But
in my Judgment. the necessity FOR
giving this further power is ny no
|
means ns great as the hccsss'eg Io'
irving the commission or adminiatra-
tive body tho other powers | have
enumerated above; and IL may wen
he inadyisable to attempt To vest this
particular power In the commission or
other administrative body until II al
ready possesses and If exercising what
regard as by far the most important
Of ali the powers ] recommend--as In
deed the vitality important power
that 90 fx given maximum rate
which rate after the lapse OF reason
nhie time goes into full effect subject
TO review by tho courts.
All private car lines. Industrial roads.
refrigerator charges, and the Ike Bhould
no expressly put under tho supervision
~ tho ,nterstate commerce commission
or acme similar body so far as rates and
agreements practically affecting rates are
concerned The private car owners and
the owners OF Industrial railroads are en-
titled to n fair and reasonable compensa'
tlon on their Investment, but neither pri-
ynte ears nor Industrial railroads nor spur
tracks should be utilized as devices for
acquiring preferential rates A rebate In
icing charges or IN mileage, or In divi-
, sion OF the rate for reirigerating charges
IL Just as perncious as a rebate In any
other way No lower rate should apply
on goods imported than actually obtains
on domestic goods from the American
seaboard TO destination except In cases
where water competition is tho CONTROL
! ing influence. There should DO publicity
. | of the accounts OF common carriers: nc
common carrier engaged In Interstate
J business should Keep any books or mem.
] oranda other than those reported pur.
| suant to law or regulation. and thest
: books OF plemoranda should be open "a
! the inspection OF the government. Only
In this way can violations or evasions OF
} the law be surely detected. system OF
! examination OF railroad accounts should
, be provided similar to that now conducted
into the national banks by the bank ex.
aminers; a few frst-class railroad ac.
| ,o,,,tapfa thoy Ind manor tfrecft ny