The Washington times., 1906-05-21
CULLON DISCUSSES
RATE BILL HISTORY
Says Railroad Regulation
Will Continue.
BEGAN RATE REGULATION
Question of Court Powers Fought Out
Between Illinois Senator and Sena-
tor Reagan Twenty Years Ago.

This rate bill is a long step in the
direction of regulation OF railroads. but
il viii not satisfy the pLbIic demand
for a long period. said Senator Cullom.
father of railroad regulation. in speak
ing Of the measure passed by the Sen
ate.
The next demand will be for an ap-
prsisal of the railroads. That demand
viii nave to be met, and 1t will not be
long before it will be complied ygith by
the enactment of law for such a
valuation.
Senator Cullom is the father of the
plan of Government regulation through
a commission. Twenty years ago the
contest was between the Cullom and
the Reagan bills: the former providing
that rates should be determined by the
commission. the latter turning over to
the courts all questions of rate making
Senator Cullom won. Not .only did he
win in the matter OF getting his general
plan adopted. but he had a great part
in starting the new commission in the
right direction. 1t was he, more than
any other man. who was entitled 10
the credit for securing Judge Cooley as
The head of the first commission. Judge
Cooley started the great machine in the
right direction. ard It has been moving
ever since
Legislation Will Continue.
Senator Cullom entertains the belief
that the transportation question will
continue TO be before the country for a
long time. and that there will be little
diminution of the pressure for further
regulation He thought all who had
studied it would agree that there was
no scientific basis on which to make
rates and would be none until an ap-
praisal Of railroad properties had been
made. This is the issue that will come
next" he declared.
Going hack to the passage OF the
original interstate commerce law SEN
ater Cullom told of the fight between
himself and Judge Reagan, of Texas
Reagan was determined to have rates
fixed by the courts he said. I didn't
believe the courts was the place for
such questions to be determined Well
the Senate passed my bill and the
House passed Reagan's. and 1 had a
long argument with Reagan in confer
enCe. He finally yielded on this point
Then l went to the White House. the
PTesident-Mr. Cleveland-sendinE for
me 7 talked three-qUarters OF an hour
with him about the bill, and he told me
he would sign IT.
Then before going. l thought the
question Of the commission ought to be
taken up Unless YOU are going TO
name commission that will do the
right thing. we might as well not have
passed it. I suggested.
How Cooley Was Named.
The President said he knew that. and
he had decided 20 appoint an Illinois Re
publican on the commission. thanked
him, and said I thought that was fair.
as l had been head of the committee
during the fight. He said I should name
one member from my State.
Later the President sent for me
again, and finally ] told him / was not
so insistent on naming an Illinois man,
but wanted the right sort Of man at the
head of tho commission. VIII Cooley
take it, l asked
THE President didn't know. but he
was willing to offer the place to him
I agreed 70 yield as to Morrison il Coo
ley would go on. So the President wired
him. he agreed TO accept, and the com
mission was started right under his
leadership. That's a bit of history that
hasn't been told before"