The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-22
CLAY ON RATES
U. s. Senator discusses Their Regula.
ton before Senate Body.
nj. b. Stone. G. n

alA M. II. stone. u. M.
Washington, ain. 22-Senator Clay
addressed the United States senate to-
day upon the question of railroad
rates.
Mr.. Clay supported the proposition
that the interstate commerce commits
sion should be permitted to regulate
railroad rates. He contended that
the railroad companies should not be
interfered with in the first instance in
preparing their schedules, but said
that when these are once promulgated
there should be body with author
ity to modify and revise upon COM
plant. 4
He declared that the laws granting
authority to state commissions to
revise rates SO as to insure justice
had been frequently upheld by the
courts. I'm these very cases." he
went on, ut was claimed that the leg
islative power must be exercised by
the legislature itself and could not be
delegated to any other body, but the
courts have uniformly held that
where the legislature enacted that
rates shall be reasonable and just, the
duty of executing this law and of find
ing what rates are reasonable and
just may be delegated to a commits
sion and that grant of such power
is not a delegation of legislative
authority. If such laws, enacted by
the legislatures of different states,
have been sustained as constitutional,
why cannot congress enact that all
interstate freight rates shall be rea--
+ sonable and just, and leave to the in
terstate commerce commission the
right and power to investigate and
find out what rate will be proper
one, what rate will be just and i'm
partial as between the shippers and
the roads?"
After quoting many decisions in
alyzed the present law and said that
it does not afford adequate protection
to the shipper. He said:
\, Railroads can destroy towns, cities
and private industries by improper
! rates, and who will say that power
+ should not be lodged somewhere to
investigate intelligently all COM
plants; solely with view of doi1g
Justice between the roads and the
shippers? The presumption is that an
Intelligent, broad-minded commission
will be impartial and seek diligently
to do justice to both sides. Why pre-
sumo that the commission will decide
adversely to the roads? Why pre-
sumo that narrow-minded partisans,
easily Influenced by public clamor,
will be appointed to discharge this
duty 2? It will not be a difficult task
to secure honest. intelligent, upright
men to perform this work, and no
other kind ought to be appointed.
Mr.. Clay limited at the possibility
Of an agitation Of the question of gov
eminent ownership of the railroads IL
attention Sts not given to the demand
for regulation. saying:
4 The sentiment has been growing
In favor OF government ownership.
Mr.. Hearst came within q few thou;
sand votes OF being elected mayor ,of
the city q New York In the last cleo
ton. on this great principle. i
have never been q follower of Mr..
Hearst. Who had the remotest idea
of the strong following which he de-
yeloped In that race? II, was not the
man, It was the platform on which he
made his race government owner
ship. do not believe in government
ownership Of railroads. recognize
the fact that the vast number OF en-
.ployes engaged III the work Of oper-
ating and building these roads would
be largely under the influence of the
+ party ins power Il control Of the gov,
eminent. Such power would enable
the party IN control Of the govern
ment 70 hold ~ for all time to come.
The only way to turn public atten-,
ton from public c6ntrols ID govern;
nen MT re ls7 bys aax.y. Al
A1necfraa Tan % Is y,ha a Ann 80.