Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1906-11-23
IInKKInlnN HIIhUHO
R. R. RATE LAW
Says Powers Of Interstate Commission
Is a Menace
THEY CONTROL ALL RAILROADS

Kansas City. Mo-, Nov. PIE. IT,
Hartman, the railroad president, at.
tackled the present law regulating rail
roads. in a speech at the Transmits
sissippi Commercial Congress. He as.
serted that the power given the inter
state commerce commission was dan
gerous to the railroads and to the in.
dustrial interests Of the country. Mr.
Hartman said:
THE impression prevails that I con
troll more miles of railroads than any
other man. That statement Is made
frequently. I deny it; it is not true J
do not control one mile of railway. J
do not believe in one man OF any one
company controlling vast interests OF
this kind. There are $4,000 or l5,00e
persons who cooperate in the control
of railroads and other corporations in
which L am interested. One man could
not do the work and do it right
Last year this congress passed @
resolution antagonistic to the general
olamor that increased power be given
To the interstate commerce commission
In the regulation OF railroads and Other
corporations. Your contention was that
she Sherman antitrust law gave the
commission sufficient power to correct
existing evils. But since your con
gress passed that resolution the con.
eress of the United States has passed
measure. which is now a law, thai
eives 10 the interstate commerce com.
mission almost unlimited power The
commission is given the power TO con
troll all of the railroads Of this coun'
try. It is composed of seven men, and
.four Of these men constitute a quorum
which can control all of the transpor
fation lines Of this country.
Il do not want to criticise the com
mission. believe it acted in good
faith when it said it needed more
mower. But the president in his Har
risburg speech infimated that still
greater power should be conferred on
the commission. Now, before any fur
Their action is taken I should like to
see how the power which exists under
The present law will be used. Perhaps
il may not be necessary for the com
mission to act under the new law
hope not
"If the commission makes a mistake
in the use Of its power, conditions may
ensue from which the business inter
ests of this country will not recover
in a decade The transportation bust
ness is the most vital for the develop
ment of the country. No community
could prosper without transportation
facilities. Your success and the sue
cess Of the interests you represent de |
pend largely upon the transportation
lines of the country.
u think the railway traffic men have
learned by this time that they do not
make rates. but equalize them. The |
rates are made by the communities
served by the railroads. Common cen !
ters must be treated alike. You could |
not disturb rates at this distribution |
center without affecting all other dis |
tributing centers. The rates are con
trolled by commercial necessities.
But. under the new law the rates |
controlled from commercial necessity
now may be controlled by political OF |
Dortunity. The politician may promise
"a reduction in rates for election 70
office
THE railroads have reached almost
the limit of economy in transportation.
If the rates are to be lowered the rail
roads must be able to carry traffic at
less cost than now. If the railroads