Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-12-20
Most important Effect Of the
Rate Law Says Commissioner
Prouty, is to Reduce Them.
TWO CENTS MILE NOT FAR OFF
Carriers Themselves Have Tao.
lily Admitted That Charges
Were Excessive.
Cutting on of Free Transportation I'm.
ables the Roads to Lower
Passenger Tariff.

Kansas City, Dec. 20.--C. A. Proutty
OF Vermont. member Of the Interstate
commerce commission, who arrived
mere this morning from st. Louis Ia
continue the car shortage hearing, said
today In an interview In speaking OF
the so-ealled rate law
Il have no doubt that eventually all
states east OF the Mississippi and north
OF the Ohio win be on two cent basis,
and by eventually | mean, OF course,
within reasonable time for such legis-
lation TO be enacted--if legislation shall
be required, which ] doubt.
| All these things are and will be due
| to the agitation for the passage y tho
rate law. No man can tell what that
final effect OF the rate law may be un-
I'll It has been worked out In this
| courts"
Mr.. Prouty continued.
"I'he most important effect OF thu
law has been the reducing of passenger
rates east OF Pittsburg and north Of tina
Ohio .river and In other communities.
These reductions have been widespread
mot In the west, admit but east of
Pittsburg and north Of the Ohio people
are riding for two cents a mile The
commission has made no orders and
expressed no opinions to account for
this change. The carriers have facility
admitted that their rates were too
high
Mr. Prouty said II was too early now
to estimate the real value OF the rate
law. UP To this time the railroads, he
said, had ge Ilg evinced DISPOSE
tlon not only % " the law but to ao-
cept any constN don the commission
put upon IT, r, commission has had
not occasion, he SAID ir Issue any con-
straining orders. nor idcrs that would
cost the railroads much to obey. Until
II does so, Mr.. Prouty said. II would be
impossible TO say what they will do.
Il said When the bill WAS passed.
said Mr.. Prouty. that the first effect
| would be to stop rebates. / believe
| they have been stopped"
Mr.. Prouty, recurring to the reduction
OF passenger rates, said there had been
some reductions In freight rates too,
as well as a few advances
While this amounts to n reduction In
the published tariff" he said, 1T
amounts also to largely increased rev.
enues for the railroads 1t must be
clear that IL they cut OFF all free trans
portation the railroads can afford to
reduce passenger and freight rates.
Mr.. Prouty continued:
THE papers did not say too much
when they said the passage Of the rate
law worked the greatest triumph, tri-
umph of American progress. the tri-
umph Of the Roosevelt administration.
He said that whatever might he thu
fate Of the law finally. the people would
control the business Of rate making, all
shippers would pay the same rates, the
square deal would apply, business
would be on cash basis. men would
pay for riding and tho railroads would
pay for services In their interest
THE Standard Oil Company, MIR.
Prouty said. maintains a press bureau,
buys space In newspapers Of certain
class. publishes what II wants to and
the reading public, or part Of II
believe what II reads. That stuff should
be signed Standard oil COMPANY But
Notwithstanding that press bureau. the
standard oil company Is at bay and the
public Is getting an accounting"