Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-02-02

in the House, which after some discus.
sion was passed by that body. No &C.
ton was taken, however, by the Sen
ate, but after adjournmentAthe Senate
Committee on Interstate Commerce
held extended hearings, and during the
present Congress there has been
! flood of railroad rates bills in both
houses, ranging all the way from the
Interstate Commerce Commission bill
which is generally considered as the
administration measure, to bills widely
and radically different in their pro-
visions. Bills have been introduced by
Senator Dolliver of Iowa, by Senator
Foraker of Ohio, by Senator Elkins OF
Virginia, the Chairman of the Senate
Interstate Commerce Committee, by
Senator MORGAN of Alabama, by Sena-
tor Culberson of Texas, by Representa-
tive Hepburn of Iowa, the chairman of
the railroad rate committee" of the
House, by Representative Hogg of
merce Commission bill and various
others.
Senator Morgan recently made the
first argument in the Senate on the
rate question, in support Of his bill,
which provides for the regulation of
railroad rates through the regular
courts of the country. Senator Elkins'
bill also proposes that the Federal
courts shall determine whether rates
are excessive, and provides for an in
junction against any road which Ii
found to be charging an excessive rate.
The bill which has been introduced by
Representative Hogg, formulated by
Judge Peter Grosscup Of the United
States District Court of Chicago whe
rendered the decision against the Beef
Trust, provides for special Railroad
court to decide all such matters.
Judge Grosscup's bill establishes seven
Courts of Transportation, situated in
different sections of the country. to
try the particular cases arising within
their territory. During a stated period
of each year the judges Of the seven
courts are to meet together and hold
court en- banc in Washington or else
where, Just as the Supreme Court of
the United States sits together fer a
stated term, after having held individ.
ual court in the different Federal dis
tricts of the United States. There is
right of appeal from this Court of
Transportation to the Supreme Court
of the United States. 1t is argued in
favor of this bill that inasmuch as
railroad rate matters, even where
they are decided upon by the Inter
state Commerce Commission, must f.
nally go to court, the matter can be
simplifled by having them considered
in the beginning by this Court of
Transportation. Also that this Court
of Transportation having no other
business to attend to, can try the rail-
road cases much more quickly than
the regular courts, while the members
will be experts on the subject, making
the subject the study Of their lives
The Grosscup bill also continues the
work of the Interstate Commerce
Commission with some modification in
organization, authorizing that body to
arbitrate railroad matters wherever
possible and to act as counsel or at.
torney for the shipper or complainant.
at the Governments expense, wherever
any case of controversy arises between
the shipper and the railroads.
This bill is favored as measure
whose provisions overcome the danger
which it is stated would arise from
the creation of Commission at Wash.
ington which would hold the vast rail-
road interests of the United States In
the hollow of its hand. There is an
apparently growing sentiment among
many people that to constitute any
body of men a political commission
with such vast power as the ability to
make or unmake any railroad rate on
the 10000 miles of railroad in the
country, would afford such an enor-
NOUS centralized power as has never
heretofore been dreamed Of by the
most radical advocates OF the central
government idea as against the diffu.
sion of power among the people and
the several States. 1t Is realized that
such power in the hands Of any ad.
ministration would, if misused in any
degree, make pose'N'a the indefinite
continuance in power of that political
party and require an absolute uprising
of the entire nation, en- masse, to bring
about political changes.
The great number OF railroad bills
thus far introduced and which are be-
ing widely discussed, show that there
is as yet no general crystalization OF
sentiment on the subject and that
statesmen and supposed specialists. to
say nothing of the average individual
throughout the country, are in a recep-
tive mood and seeking for information
and education on the question.