The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-03
CONGRESS. AGREES .
ON 4 RATE BILL;
To PASS MONDAY
Higher Salary for Interstate
Commerce Commits
sion's Secretary.
Sweeping Anti-P Section
Forbids Any Free Rides
on Roads.
States Are Now Expected to
Enact Laws Regulat-
ing Railroads.
Senator Clapp Outlines
Probable Effect of Great
Measure.
By w. w. Jermane.

NT rate COn1GreeS SlO1o I"O udyo
of congress and presented
their report late today. The report
does not depart from the spirit OF the
bill as it passed the two houses, and
does no viole1ce to any of the prlncl-
pies involved in the legislation. 1t has
been for the most part a change OF
phraseology to make the various sec
tions of the bill harmonic; the ehmina-
ton of a few of the less important fea-
lures, and the incorporation OF one or
two new ones, these also being of minor
consequence.
The most striking of the new fea-
lures is an increase of salary for the sec
rotary of the interstate commerce com
mission, This question was debated at
some length in the. senate. during. the
consideration of the bill, and urgent
reasons for the increase advanced. The
senate, however, neglected to act.
The public should be careful not to
assume that this one piece of leglsla-
ton will solve the transportation ques-;
ton in this country. 1t will be far
from doing any such thing: 1t IS mere
" a start in that direction.
In the light of experience, it is Ger
tain that many changes will be neces-
sary, and it is likely that these changes
will be urged in every session OF con-
gress for many years to come. In fact,
if an ideal transportation law can be
constructed during the next generat1on'
such construction will be so rapid as
TO excite the wonder of statesmen every
where.
Government Sovereignty.
The greatest feature Of this new act
is it's declaration of the sovereignty OF
the government over the transportation
question in all it's phases, and on such
a broad foundation the country can
build unlimitedly as experience may
suggest.
Next to the government itself, trans
portation is the greatest question IN
this country, and it will ever continue
to be; hence, the Importance of this
declaration of government control over
it.
The law falls short Of what the presl-
dent has wanted, and it does not meet
the ideas in full of the president s
friends in congress. But it seemed to
be as much as they could get. It does
not suit the radical members, the men
who are firmly welded to the Esch
Townsend proposition Of the last con
T. for ri, han ho
roads have wanted it to go, but as they
are interested parties, their opinion ha;
not counted for much. But the bill
meets the views of the more conserva
tive men in congress, altho these mel
recognize that it is but beginning.
Features of, the Future.
So far as the, bill makes any progress
at all, that progress is satisfactory. [
might have gone to greater lengths l.
some ways, but caution advised agains
it. If in subsequent years it is foun
that valuation feature, such as Sena
tor La Toilette favors, and Senate
Cullom thinks will eventually com
about, is desirable, such a feature wi
be incorporated. 1t certainly will b
SO incorporated, unless the railroads er
deavor to comply with the spirit a
we'll as the letter of the law, and CON
pei their leading officials to keep then
selves more completely divorced tina
heretofore from improper relations wit
shipping interests. =" r."
Anti-Pass Provision.
The general public will . ! mos
keenly the sweeping anti-pass provision
This provision will not 60 into effec
until Jan. l.. 1907. There is no exceL
ted list. Everybody who rides on raj
road must pay full fare, excepting, off
GERS of company when travelling 0
official business. There will be no NOR
iunketing in private cars over the cou1
try without pay. The private car o,
cupant must pay the same fare as til
people who ride in the day coaches, III
less those occupants are officials of
certain line riding on business over tia
line. ..l..,--., :
There is to be no interchange {
passes between the railways. It is pr
dicted by some that this provision is S
stringent that public sentiment will ca