The Washington times., 1905-09-25
FORAKER SPEECH
A CALL TO ARMS
Criticism of Presidents Rate
So Interpreted.
COMMITTEE ALREADY SPLIT
Railroad Legislation Expected to
Cause Fight Between Executives
and Organization Parties.

Unless President Roosevelt changes
his position on the question of railroad
rate legislation. it seems assured that
there must be a contest between MS
supporters and his opponents In the
Senate Committee on Interstate Com
merce.
Public men of all classes accept the
speech by Senator Foraker at the open
ing OF the Ohio campaign as declara-
tion of war on the proposal to give the
Interstate Commission power to declare
a rate unreasonable, and to nix one
which shall take its place That the
Senator should have taken such a posi-
tion in the very opening address of
campaign in which his party has a hard
fight ahead, is regarded as most remark
able. for there is a powerful sentiment
In Ohio especially in Cincinnati, the
Senator's home city. in favor OF such
legislation as the President has de-
manded Indeed. it is doubtful if there
is another LARGE city in the country
where the business interests have SO
strongly urged such legislation, for Gin
cinnati believes il has a special griev-
ance against present c~'nditious.
The part of Senator Foraker's address
which has been read with greatest in
terest is this paragraph:
Knows Better Way.
"A better way may be found of making
rates than that now in vogue, but
do not believe il possible for Congress
to provide 1t by intrusting such com
plicated, delicate. and vitally important
duty TO any such agency of its creation
as is that which has been proposed.
There are serious legal questions in
numerous difficulties of a practical char
acter that must arise the moment the
Government undertakes such duty.
ITO take control of the rate-making
power is TO take charge OF the revenues
OF the roads, and that means that the
Government Is to assume the reSponsi-
bility not only of determining what rate
shall be charged. but also of necessity
how mucs money railroad shall DE al
lowed to make. and thus determine alSC
of necessity what improvements ii shall
be permitted TO make, what extension.
IL may build. what equipment IL mus
and what kind of service IL shall render
Tor rates are so interdependent tha
there is no such thing possible as chang
. ing one without affecting many. An,
other notion is delusion refuted b,
conditions and experience. In short. I
the Government is 10 determine nov
much money a railroad shall be allowe,
TO make, IL must OF necessity determine
ted. None Of these things can %
escaped, and none Of them can be don
py the Government so well as they ar
now being done by the companies them
selves"
What He Would Do.
As wss stated in The Times som
weeks ago, Senator Foraker has bee
working TO get the rate-making propose
sidetracked, and TO induce the Senat
committee to unite on a recommends
ton TO expedite judicial action on case
involving rates. This proposal, as un
derstood here. is to give the Interstat
Commission no new powers, but TO max
circuit judges primary judicial authori
ties in rate matters. with. of course
provision for the usual appeals, an
with special requirements as 10 promp
decision Of such cases.
Dislike His Idea.
This Foraker plan is not at all salts
factory 10 people supporting the Pres
dents original proposal. II had nc
long been before the public when an
other member of the Senate committe
came forward with a declaration tha
there would be a report in favor of tn
Presidents plan. even IL IL was only
minority report,
Thus the committee seems fairly {
have split already. The President is e1
pected 70 insist strongly on his origins
plan. in his forthcoming message Ther
are not wanting observers of public al
fairs who think the Foraker speec
foreshadowS the long-expected cOntes
between the President and his party
Senatorial leaders