Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-22
One of the Authors of the
Measure Passed by the House
Talks on Subject
FAvoRs GREATER PUBLICITY
Declares Only Unjust Rates Are Aimed
At And That the Business Of tho
Railroads If LesitimateIy Done Will
Not Be Injured-uniform System
of Accounting Wanted.

Chicago, Nov. %. - Congressman
Charles E. Townsend Of Jackson.
Mich, joint father of the Esch Town
send bill, addressed the members Of the
Hamilton club last evening on the sub
ject of railroad rates and the need Of
revised legislation to prevent discrin-
ination between shippers. His princi-
pal suggestion was that there should
be provided a uniform system for
handling railroad accounts, and that
this should be done with such publicity
that it would remove the opportunities
for evading the law.
After stating that he wished to
speak not only from a. nonpartisAn
viewpoint, but, more than that, to give
the peoples side of the discussion, Mr..
| Townsend said:
The provisions OF the interstate
commerce law prohibiting discrimina-
ton between individual shippers was
found to be useless, and this evil was
amendment of 1903. But now discrim-
ination between places still exists to q
great degree. Hundreds; of rates were
increased in 1900 by raising the class
in which a product was put, from a
lower to q. higher grade with a COR
responding Increase of cost. Comps
titton practically has been abolished
and classifcations are fixed by tae
will and caprice of irresponsible agents
whose salaries depend upon getting
the most possible for carrying freigh,.."
He spoke of the discrimination
which results from the effort to put
water competition out Of business, and
OF the repeated requests OF the COM
mission for power to listen to COM
plants, and, IL they are found justified,
to prescribe just rate.
This is the pending ISSUE" he con-
tinued, and such Is the proposed re-
lief. We are told that the commission
cannot assume to fix even single rate
without disturbing business conditions.
altho the same step may be taken by
traffic men without harm
The railroads doubtless will, II
such a law is passed, oppose it and
make it's execution difficult; but IT, 1t
is found to be constitutional and to
confer positive remedial powers upon
the commission, expect to see the
railroads themselves lake up the adj
justment of rates. Only the unjust
rates are aimed at, ard no unfair rate
will be forced upon the carriers.
Rational Basis for Rates.
This leads to the question IL there
is rational basis for fixing rates. I
am inclined to believe that the original
capital of the corporation, the cost Of
doing business, the risk, and the total
income should be considered. am
satisfied that If this is done the car
riers will establish reasonable basis,
which will not leave out the elements
Of business and reasonableness.'
He declared the general prosperity
of the country should not be made an
excuse for raising the rates, as the
railroads share of the prosperity
comes to it thru the increase of bus
mess.
II recognize the difficulties of franz
ing a law which will be just both to the
shipper and the carrier" said Mr..
Townsend in closing "and feel that
great advance will be made II the
commission is empow cred to render eff
fective the provisions Of the law all
ready existing. But If it finally comes
to a question of whether the people
shall own the railroads or the rail-
roads own the people, the people must
be master, or popula'. government Is at
AN onf1.n