The Topeka state journal., 1906-04-06
ELKINS ON RATES.
He Says the Pending Bill Does Not Go
Far Enough.

Washington, April 6.-Senator EIkins
Of West Virginia addressed the senate
in support Of the railway rate bill
Mr.. Elldns announced at the outset
his desire to secure legislation that
would secure to the people a prompt
and adequate remedy for the evils, in
justices, abuses and wrongs of every
kind practiced by railroads, or in any
way growing out of their operation.
But he said that while he favors the
pending bill he wanted to make it bet
ter and stronger"
Il stand first for the interests of the
people Of my own state,' he went on.
and after that for the interests of all
the people of the United States. 1 have
no interest that can affect my judg-
ment or prevent me doing my duty as
a senator as I see it. My desire and
highest purpose is to secure and serve
the public interest. Because of my
supposed interest in railroads, it is
charged and believed that I favor the
railroad side Of this question. This has
been so often repeated that 1 am sure
that it will be pardOnable, if I say in
justice to myself, that my interest on
the side of the shipper is ten times
greater than on the side of the rail-
roads and that my interest in railroads
in confined to those in my own state.
He declared his principal objection to
the house bill to be that it does not
go far enough in remedying evils and
expressed the opinion that if enacted
into law it would prove a general dis
appointment He said that hes was in
hearty accord with the president on the
subject of rate legislation and then in
dicated the respects in which, accord
ing to his opinion the bill falls short in
accomplishing all that should be ac-
complished by railroad legislation.
Among these were the following:
prohibition against railroads pro-
ducing, selling or shipping their own
coal and other like articles in compe-
that switches shall be built where
needed to accommodate business; a re-
quirement compelling interstate roads
to make connections with connecting
and just distribution of cars among
shippers.
Commenting on these omissions. Mr..
Elkins made reply to the contention
that they could be covered by state
legislation He said:
''In the state of West Virginia and
nearly all the states there has been
legislation on these subjects. but for
many reasons the law is not invoked.
In the first place, a shipper, single
a great interstate railroad in doing so
he is bound to incur large expense,
great delay and is sure to incur the
hostility of the great trunk line which
may work irreparable injury to his in
terests.'
He had, he said, introduced amend
ments covering these defects. ''The
most important of these" he said, ''is
the one providing that interstate lines
shall make prompt connections with
connecting branches or lateral lines
and fair, just and reasonable prorating
arrangements with them
He then spoke Of the great improb-
ability that additional trunk lines will
secure admission to the great cities.
1.-The people must therefore, in the
future, depend largely for the further
development of the country and con-
tinued increase in business upon short
lines of railway reaching rich sections. .
Illustrating his point by citing the
condition in his own state. Mr.. Elkins
said:
I'm the state of West Virginia and
other states there are many men who
have made large investments in agri-
cultural, coal. timber, iron ore, and
other lands who are able and desirous
of building short lines from 10 to 100
miles long to reach these lands and find
a market for their products, but they
will not build them under present con-