Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-12-07

,nvrr,u 10 RoA--Ihe maximum reason
able rate, as II is commonly called
this decision to 20 into effect within
reasonable time and to obtain from
thence onward subject to review ,py
the courts. 1t sometimes happens q.
present. not that rate Is TOO hish
but that a favored shipper is given 700
low a rate. In such case the commis-
sion would have the right to fix this
already established minimum rate as
the maximum; and II would need only
one or two such decisions by the com
mission to cure railroad companies ~
the practice of giving improper mini
mum rates. I call your attention 10
the fact that my proposal Is not 10
give the commission power TO initiate
or originate rates generally. but 10
regulate a rate already f1xed or origi-
mated by the roads, upon complaint
and after Investigation. a heavy
penalty should be exacted from any
corporation which fails to respect an
order of the commission. regard tnis
power to establish maximum rats
as being essential to any scheme OF
real reform in the matter OF railway
regulation. The first necessity Is 10
secure It; and unless II Is granted 10
the commission there Is little use IN
touching the subject at ALL
Rebates Really Blackmail.
Illegal transactions often occur un-
der the forms Of lew. 1t has often oc-
Cured that a shipper has been tolu
by a traffic oficer to buy large
ouantity Of some commodity ana then
after II, has been bought an open re-
duction is made in the rate to take
effect immediately. the arrangement
resulting to tho profit Of the one snip
per and the one railroad ana 10 tne
damage of all their competltorsi tor
II must not be forgotten that the oig
shinrers Are at least as much to
blame as any railroad in the matter
Of rebates. The law should make y
clear SO that nobody can fail to UNDER
stand that any kind Of commission
Maid on freight shipments, whether IN
this form or in the form OF nctitlous
damages or of a concession. Tree
mass reduced passenger rate. or pay
ment of brokerage. is illegal. II y
worth while considering whether II
would not be wise to confer on the
government the right OF civil action
against the beneficiary OF repate TOT
at least twice the value OF tine repate,
this would help stop what Is reaiy
hleckmail. Elevator allowances snoulo
he StODDeQ, IOT tiOy hUNS AAO''
70 such an extent that they are de-
moralizinr and are used as rebates
The hest possible regulation of rates
would of course, be that regulation
secured by an honest agreement
omonp the railroads themselves TO
carry out the law. Such general
arreement would. for instance, at once
mt a stop to the efforts OF any one
HE HE shipper or big railroad to dis
crirninate against or secure advan-
ia ges over some rival; and such agree
ment would make the railroads them
selves agents for enforcing tne law.
The power vested in the government
to put a stop to agreements 10 tne
detriment of the public should, IN my
Judgment be accompanied py power "
no rafri supervision agreements clear
lv In the interest of the public. But
IN NV Judgment. the necessity Tor
Giving this further power Is by no
means as great as the necessity LOT
Giving the commission or admlnlstra-
| tive body the other powers nave
enumerated above; and 1t may wen
ho inadvisable to attempt to vest this
narticuIar power in the commission or
otber administrative body until IL al
ready possesses and is exercising wnat
| 7 regard as by far the most important
| ~ ali the powers ! recommends IN
deed the vitality important powe.
| tbot 70 fix a given maximum rats
,rhicb rate after the lapse of reason
| able time. goes into luii eieo''
| to review by the courts
An nrIvate car lines, industrial roads.
-arr,oerator charges, and the ike snoulu
to aYnresslv put under the supervision
NJ the Interstate commerce commissioi, ,
- .oroa similar body so far as rates ana
agreements practically Affecting rates are
/ Concerned. The private car owners ana
~" owners of Industrial railroads are en-
,i,I.S m a fair and reasonable compensa-
,ion IN their Investment, but neither pri-
vste cars nor industrial railroads nor spur
tracks should be utilized as devices ioi
securing preferential rates. A rebate IN
icing charges, or in mileage, or In dlVi-
sion of the rate for refrigerating charges
t. lust as pernicious as a rebate In any
n,har vav No lower rate should apply
an Goods imported than actually obtains
IN domestic goods from the American
ssaboaYd to destination except In cases
s,hsre water competition is the controll-
,rg influence. There should be publicity
Il ~ the accounts of common carriers; nc
CANNON carrier engaged in interstate
Susinese should keep any books or mem
4 oranda other than thvse reported pur'
suant to law or regulation, and these
books or memoranda should be open tc
the inspection Of the government Only
4 In this way can violations or evaslons Of
ihe law be surely detected. system Of
examination OF railroad accounts should
he proyided similar TO that now conducted
into the national banks by the bank ex
amIners; a few first-class railroad ac
countants, II they had proper direction
and proper authority to inspect books ant
papers, could accomplish much In pre-
venting wiliful violations OF the law. l
could not be necessary for them to ex
anime into the accounts OF any railroad
unless for good reasons they were direct
ed 10 do so by the interstate commerce
commission. II Is greatly TO be desiret
that some way might be found BY which
an agreement as 10 transportation with
in a state intended 10 operate as frau'
upon the federal interstate commerce
laws could be brought under the juris
diction Of the federal authorities. a
present it occurs that large shipments o
Interstate trafic are controlled by cen
cesslons on purely state business, Whiel
Of course amounts to an evasion OF IN
law. The commission should have poWe
10 enforce fair treatment BY the grea
trunk lines Of lateral and branch lines.
Immediate Action Urged.
urge upon the congress the need o
uroyiding for expeditions action by tn
interstate commerce commission N al
these matters, whether In regulating
rates for transportation or for storinl
or for. handuRx .nzsDeru q eemmodine
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