The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-30
BE5ATE ON R. R.
RATE BILL OPEN.
Continued from page one.

continued from page Olcs
directed against special services, such as
private cars. icing. elevator and terminal
charges, and the like.
Mr. Townsend believes the bill AFFORDS
a complete remedy for all of these evils,
as hereafter every such charge must pc
just and reasonable, and in case II is not
the commission has power to make II so.
The evil OF the midnight rate" WAS de-
scrlDed and the remedy set forth-requir-
ing ~ days notice Of a change OF rate
Briefly 1.-The midnight rate" is a devise
whereby a large shipper notifies road
that on a certain date Il large shipment
will be made. ON that day the published
tariff is changed for a day, the shipment
made ut the lower rate and the tariff i'm
mediately raised
The main feature of the bill. bearing on
the point about which the greatest con-
troVersy has been had. and the one which
Mr.. Townsend believes lies at the founda-
ton of the whole question, Is That whlch
gives the commission power on complaint
and after full hearing to substitute a rea-
sonable maximum rate in place or one
found 10 be unjust or unreasonable.
Mr.. Townsend went at length into this
phase of the proposed legislation. 1t was
the point against which the weight of the
opposition had been directed, he eX-
planned, and this opposition had been
based alike on the questioned constitutions
ality, the impossibility for the commits
sion to find "a just rate and the injury
such "a finding would entail alike on busi-
ness, the railroads and the widowed and
the orphaned shareholder. In the broader
view OF the question and in the correct
conclusion on any of these phases he saw
but one answer, that TO require the rail-
ways to be just and reasonable could not
harm anyone, while ii would benefit all.
AS showing how deep were the fears of
the railroad world, he stated 200 miles OF
road had been built during the past year
in the United States, and up TO June 30
orders for more than s2o0,OoO00o worth Of
railroad equipment had been placed.
While the number OF commissioners Is
increased by two and their salaries raised
10 $4,000 year. Mr.. Townsend, expressed
the belief that when the was one estab-
lished, the duties OF the commission would
decrease rather than increase. The rail-
ways, he suggested. would doubtless re-
ahze the justice of the law and fix their
rates with reference to IL. He realized
fully the great power that was conferred
upon the commission. and believed the
higher salary only an adequate compen-
sation for men OF the character needed.
The wide publicity OF railway affairs re-
quired in the bill was. in hisopinion, a
potent factor for good.
The provisions for expediting the busi-
ness of the commission and the cases in
the court, growing out of the operation
OF the law. he regarded as vital. The
courts are 10 pass simply on tho validity
OF the decisions, and the appeal TO the
supreme court will be on the question as
to fhether n given rate fixed by the COM
mission ia or is not confiscatory.
While Mr. Townsend regarded the ques-
tion as i'm no sense political, he expressed
himself as pleased that the Republican
party has taken II up. He arraigned the
means employed by tho opposition to rate
legislation.
ITO me, II has seemed" he said, that
a systematic effort has been made to dis
credit the administration IN various mat
ters in order TO direct attention from this
great question, and | have no doubt that
delay will be caused wherever possible in
the vain hope that something will yet
happen TO prevent final action,
LAS one of the younger and most hum
BILE Republicans I'm the house let me ad-
monish my party associates In both
houses, that this question will not down
nor will IL much longer brook delay. The
people have spoken and every day 10 US
their demand Is more imperative The day
OF grace may be passed and the unpardon-
able sin OF trihing with duty may not be
condoned even with death bed repentance.
"Temporzng will bring nothing but dis
aster Already we hear the rumblings OF
discomfort and socialism smiles with sat
isfaction with every delay. Regulation OF
public servant Is not "a departure from
the principles OF popular government but
disregard OF righteous law, ana muir
ference 10 legal restrictions imposed 60
protect the peoples rights is more than
socialism. IL Is anarchy.
let the law pass" MIR. Townsend con-
cluded. and let the railways heed it's pro-
visions and instead OF being the objects
OF suspicion and hatred they viii be re-
garded "a the instruments OF progress and
prosperity.
Rate legislation will enter into history.
and its entry will not be marked by any
business disturbances but rather 10 will
indicate the beginning OF an era or better
feeling between the railroads and the peo-
ple--an era OF equal rights and opportu-
mites under n just and impartial law"