The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-18
FREIGHT RATE DEBATE
MEYER AND DASH SPEAK IN NEW
 ORLEANS.
Former Is a Professor of University of Chicago, and Latter is President of American shfppers'
 Association.

New Orleans. Nov. 17.-Representa~ tive business men tonight gathered at the Board of Trade to listen to a dis- cussion of the railroad rate question: The speakers were Prof. Hugo R. Mey- CT of the University of Chicago, and Hon. John B. Daish. President of the American Shippers Association. Pro- lessor Meyer opposed the proposed leg islation and MT. Daish spoke for a law along the lines of that proposed by Judge Grosscup of Chicago.
 Professor Meyer said in part:
 ''The proposal to clothe a Federal Commission with the power to fix a rate is dangerous because the Com mission would use the power in such a way as to precipitate great conflicts be- tween sectional interests and class in- terests. It Is revolutionary because the commission would use that power for the purpose of curtailing that free- dom to trade over and throughout tho entire territory of the United States that 1t was the purpose of our fore fathers to establish and guarantee when they established the United States.
 Idea Is Revolutionary.
 Tt is revolutionary because it would make the Interstate Commerce Com mission little deputy congress cloth ed with power to make and unmake the
 
 utmost importance as we'll as in mat ters of the conflict of sectional inter- ests and class interests.
 Tn conclusion. I beg leave to sub init to you the statement that If time and space permitted the further review of the nature of the problem of rail- way rates, by means of the decisions of the Interstate Commerce Commits sion and the Federal courts, 1t would appear that the problem of railway rates Is not primarily problem of the railways versus the public, but rather a problem of one section of the public against another section. The only thing that can be done under the cir cumstances is to effect the best com promise that can be effected, and upon that point the verdict of all experience Is that if one would avoid stagnation and retain that elasticity which comes from the free and unfettered play of the forces of trade, one must as far as possible, keep the state out of these compromises; leave these compromises In the field of trade and commerce."
 Mir. Daish said
 Grave Abuses Exist.
 %Anyone familiar with the present transportation system of this country Is aware that grave abuses exist. For the correction of these abuses there is no adequate remedy. What is imper- atiVely demanded is the enactment of such Legislation as will conserve the rights of all parties Let us have an impartial tribunal, one which can con- additionally give to the shipper his rights and at the same time preserve to the carriers all the rights to which under the law they are entitled. The only feasible plan is that proposed by Judge Grosscup of Chicago namely, an Investigating. detecting and prosecut- ing body and special court of trans portation with equity powers of suffi- cient members to conveniently and speedily hear and determine cases. such a court to have Jurisdiction to correct unreasonable rates and change unjust practices. and the Supreme Court of the United States to which appeals on questions of law may lie.
 The individual shipper or an organ ization of shippers cannot cope with the situation; they have neither the time nor the means; and the benefits to be derived are for the public 1t is the duty of the government to undertake the correction of a situation for the benefit of the entire country"