Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-05-11
TAFT JARS
RAILROADS
SECRETARY TALKS OF RATES TO
DELEGATES AT WASHINGTON
MEETING.
LIVELY TILT WITH FISH
President Of the Illinois Central An.
swers the Statements Of the Man
Who Sits on the "Lld', At Washing
ton - Spirited Debate at Banquet

Washington, D. c.. May 10. There
was a sensational clash last night at
The banquet given to the members of
the international railway congress at
The New Willard hotel.
It took place between Secretary of
War Taft and President Stuyvesant
Fish, president of the Illinois Central
railroad, and, was over the railway rate
question.
'tJars" the Railroad Men.
Secretary Taft had just been intro
duced BY Mr.. Fish, the toastmaster,
and the first words almost of the secre-
tary were fiatfootec statement that
railway rate regulation must come;
that ii the railway men of the country
were wise they would aid and not him
der It,; that the sentiment Of the coun-
try is such that failure of proper regu-
lation meant a campaign on the sub
ject that would do no good to the rail-
roads.
Silence Greets Remarks.
Absolute silence reigned as Secre-
tary Taft spoke his mind He was
positively against government owner.
ship, he said, believing that nothing
so deleterious could come to the coun-
try as this solution of the question.
But" he continued, you cannot
run run railroads as you run private busi-
ness. You must respond to the public
demand. If there is danger of discrim-
nation then you must allow the estab-
lishment of some tribunal that will
remedy that discrimination"
= The secretary saw no reason why a
tribunal properly constituted should
not De competent In every sense of the
word to fix a maximum rate.
B. Fish Makes Spirited Reply.
Mr.; Fish was on his feet the instant
the secretary concluded. He answered
the secretary at length, taking the
view that the law to prevent discrimin.
alton, double dealing and secret re-
bates was ample, and he vigorously
called for the enforcement Of that law
Mr.: Fish talked of the vested rights
OF the money always tied up in rail
ways. He apologized for allowing him
self to be diverted, and, as he sat down
Secretary Taft, who sat next to him
queried in low tone:
MAY have fifteen minutes to re-
ply?"
This time was given and the secre
tary utilized 1t in making himself ever
more positive as to his position in ia
vor Of legislation which would create
tribunal with authority to name 8
maximum rate.
THE law now ISL continued the
secretary, "as decided by the supreme
court Of the United States, that firs1
a commission and then the courts ma,
decide whether a particular rate il
reasonable or unreasonable. Now ii
fixing that, in the mental process o
determining whether rate is reason
able or unreasonable, one has got tx
fix vha. Is maximum rate.
Just What is Proposed.
AS | understand it, what is pro
posed Is only in litigated cases com
mission shall be constituted that shal
fix maximum rate-in other words t,
go through the same process 1t nov
goes through to determine what is
reasonable rate. What I am strangl,
In favor Of, though, is that we shaI
have body that shall decide thing
and that those things shall be decide,
within a reasonable time finally by th
courts"
Mr.. Fish again took up the argumen,
contending 1t was the question of fix
ing the price for the seller of goods
M. Jusserand, the French ambasss
dor; Emile Heurteau of Paris; a mem
Der of the permanent commission O
the congress; Jean Kologrivoff, minis
ter of communication of Russia; an,
Wayne MacVeagh also delivere,
speeches.
cummlns VS.. Finkbine.
Two important witnesses from low
are now scheduled to appear before tn
senate interstate commerce committee
1t has been arranged that Governo
Cunmins shall appear Thursday il
behalf of the shipping and CONNER
cial interests of the state. In add
tion General Manager Hoch of the Sir
clair Packing company of Cedar Raj
ids has been wired to come imme
diately.
The evidence Of both the governo
and Mr.. Hoch Is expected to be O
special interest. Mr.. Finkbine In hi
testimony, was SO emphatic in mair
tanning that jobbing and shipping ir
terests of the state generally wer
well satisfied with the present rate si
uation that 1t will devolve on the 20,
ernor to show that there is dissatisfa,
tion. Indeed, Mr.. Finkbine indicate
that he knew the shippers wishes be
ter than the governor. Mr.. Hoch's tie.
| timony will be of special value, it i
hoped, on the question of meat shiI
ments.
Packing Business in Iowa.
Senator Dolliver will undoubtedl
question Mr.. Hoch as to just why th
building up Of great packing indus