Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-24
The farmers are SUI clamorlns for JUS
REMEDY SUGGESTED.

iiIts
REMEDY SUGGESTED.
The speaker held that an effective
remedy must be provided, that Il was
only waste Of time to try the courts.
the question Is past them. There Is ona
logical step TO take. We can trust In
the commission TO cure the evils. In
vestigation shows that commissions the
world over are the only effective way
by which to establish railroad rates.
The General Traffic association empotS-
cred men to settle disputes between the
railroads. II they could settle disputes
between the railroads. why cannot men
effectively settle disputes between rail-
roads and the people?
Mr. Jensen cited the case where the
Spokane manufacturers had 10 close
down because Seattle was given cheaper
rates, and concluded with the assertion
that discriminatory rates are at the
bottom OF the trust and II the commits
sion had power to fix rates il would OBJ
llterate the entire evil.
FAIRWEATHER SPEAKS.
George o. Fairweather then took up
the cudgels for Colorado. He admitted
the Boulder incident but denied that the
rate was extortionate, 1t was Il case Of
discrimination which had been adjusted
without any call on the government. He
affirmed that the debate hinged on the
question OF extortionate rates. He then
went on to declare that the affirmative
had lodged the question Of unconsti-
tutionality. Harking back To- eXtortion-
ate rates the speaker admitted the In
crease but affirmed that the cost Of
equipment, maintenance, operation ana
wages has all advanced from 10 to %
per cent, while on the average the rates
had jumped but per cent Looked at
In this light there was rather q decrease
than an increase IN rates throughout
the country.
FEARS UNJUST RATES.
The power asked for was general
rate-hxing. II the commission We're
given that power, he claimed II would
mean that Interstate rates would be un-
Just all over the country. He cited as
an example the regulation Of the freight
rate on grain which had to be adapted
10 the location of the various markets
and the various railroads handling &C.
He said that the question OF rate-fxing.
In all Its ramifcations, was one which
affected the whole country. Last year
1875 900 tariffs were filed with the rail-
roads; there are now over 100000 tar
iffs, and It IL almost impossible 20 begin
to analyze these charges. The power TO
fix rates was an enormous task In D.
country 40 large rs ours, and so vast
that IL would be almost superhuman.
No article Is rated Independently, II Is
necessary to consider the whole busl-
ness Of the carrier. Every particular
and special thing OF every commercial
and industrial operation IN the whole
country are factors that enter into the
problem of raie-making us this n
task which any board of commissioners
can wisely undertaken" he asked
The railroads employ 5000 traffic ex-
perts. Railroad economists VIII tell you
rate-makng is not a matter of scien-
tihc principles. The influences affecting
freight traffic are so enormous and con-
nicting. and so constantly changing
that only a higher skill can fix reason
able rates for all. He closed with the
assertion that the proposal OF the AZ
nrmative was impacticable and impos-
sible.
ALEXANDER'S ARGUMENT.
Daniel Alexander then took up tn
rudgels He paid the railroad men TN
compliment of being honest In the en-
deaVor to make equitable rates, Dut as
serted that they were human and liable
to mistakes. He asserted that Their
We're some of the highest authortie
on railroad affairs IN the commission
which IL II had been competent to Ill
| the rate 10 years ago was equally com
| peten. to do so today The authorit
| OF this commission was not questione
before 1897 he declared. Ten years ag
' they satisfactorily exercised the powe
We want them to have today, The
| conditions were good Today 81 state
have commissions and OF the eight ap
| pointed during recent years seven hav
been given the power to fix rates, A
| 30 the practicability OF the remedy
| why should q commission not be Al
competent as any railroad men to Il,
rates, he asked The commission as a
present constituted was composed o
railroad men. and railroad lawyers. O.
the IL men appointed to the commits
sion, ~ had been lawyers. The com.