Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-12
Lodge SPEAKS
FOR RA[ Bill
Massachusetts Senator Supports
President in Fight For
Rate Legislation
WARNS AGAINST RAplcALlsM
WARNS AGAINST RADlcALlsM

Rate Should Remain With the
Federal courts-TilIman Files Reso-
luton.
Washington, Feb. 12.-For the first
time in two weeks Hepburn was in his
seat when the senate convened today.
His absence was due to an attack of
appendicitis.
Iillman from the committee on in
terstate commerce reported joint res
olution directing the interstate COM
merce commission to investigate the
alleged discrimination by railroad
companies in the matter of transport
tation Of coal and other commodities.
The resolution directs an inquiry as to
whether the railroad companies own
stock in the coal companies or in any
other commodities carried by them;
whether any railroad officers are in-
terested in such commodities; wl1eth-
er there is any monopolizing combina-
tiOn or trust in which the railroads are
interested and whether any railroad
companies control the output Of coal
or fix its prices. The commission also
is directed to investigate the system of
car distribution and also whether
there is discrimination against ship
pers, either in the matter Of distribu-
lion of cars or otherwise. The COM
mission is required to report to con-
gresS. The resolution is the result Of
complaint against conditions in West
Virginia, but that state is not specifi-
cally mentioned in the resolution. TiK-
man took the matter before the COM
mittee today and it ordered a favor
able report, so that instead of merely
intro cling this resolution, as he had
intended, he was enabled to present it
with the committees favorable report:
Patterson resigned as a member Of
the committee on privileges and elec-
tions. Frazier is designated to fill the
vacancy. Lodge then addressed the
senate on the railroad rate question.
subject and was listened to by an au-
dience that filled the galleries.
Mr.. Lodge announced his support Of
legislation for the control of railroad
rate along the lines Of the Esche-
Townsend bill of the last session and
said ht. believed the practice Of giving
rebates, to be the most serious of all
the evils complained Of He expressed
the conviction that only by legislation
along the lines suggested, could gov
ernmelt ownership be prevented. He
said that before entering upon an in
vestigation of the question, he had dis
posed Of his railroad interests in order
that his inquiry might be free from
bias.
He expressed the opinion that the
rate question is second only as an
economical problem, to the financial
question and one Of the most impor-
tant ever before congress. All were
agreed as to what we as people desir-
ed to do, but differences arise rover
the rnethod of proceeding. He was
convinced that there are evils to be
remetlied in connection with the trans
portation railway system, but the
problem consisted in finding fair and
lust means Of dealing with them. He
the right of congress to legislate for
the regulation Of railroads. Grievances
against the roads, he divided into three
classes as follows--rebates, or dis
elimination between persons; excessive
rates; discrimination between locali-
ties. Regarding rebates he said: Re-
bates have been wrong and an injustice
to the people and a serious injury to
the railroads themselves. l do not
think. it would be possible to pass legis-
latio,a too drastic for the purpose of
stopping these determinations between
persons. We have a law now upon the
statute books, which, so far as prohibi-
tion can CO. ought to be sufficient 1t
undoubtedly has largely checked re-
bates, but it has not stopped them en-
tirely. To make law thoroughly ef-
Hcient we ought to add, in my Judg-
ment, three provisions: We should re-
stor,. the former penalties of the in
terstate commerce law-which should
not have been repealed-and make
these secret evasions of published
rates punishable by Imprisonment"
Lodge reviewed the experience of
other governments, including most of
the European countries, Canada and
Australia in government control of
TdLe SOluudllCo l1AG AN01
that the railroads are owned by a few
mer and that they are inimical to and
independent Of all other interests. He
uggested the power delegated to the
commission should not go beyond that
of liking a maximum rate on freight
and expressed the opinion there should
be ample provision for review of the
findings Of commission by courts. He
concluded:
.'There seem to be now prophets of
new dispensation, who wish to depart
from the line marked out by the presi-
dent in his message and accepted in
the house bill of last year by removing
SO far as possible from the proposed
law all proper provisions for review
bva the courts. This seems to me to
strike at the very heart OF the meas
ure. l am anxious to see this legisla-
ton. but am not yet prepared to
substitute for the courts of the United
States an executive commission Leg
islsltion cannot prevent appeal to the
courts II 1t Is alleged rate is con-
Ast.atory; but this il very narrow