The Ordway new era., 1906-04-06
llllR0lD RATE QUESTION And
the PRESIDENTS POSITION

shall do the business. For instance.
the discrimination against Spokane.
already cited, has resulted In drivins
out of business there the Pacific Coass
Pipe Company that established planf
In 1900. BY slight change In the
schedule the Louisville Il Nashville "
able to divert cotton shipments from
the Port OF Savannah to that OF Pefsa'
cola. Thus the railroads have the
power OF life and death over many OF
/ the smaller cities. Furthermore
discriminatory policy that may help
particular railroad may be injurious
to the whole country. II Is rishuy
| contended that In such important mat
ters involving the fate of whole com
munities an appeal ought TO lie TO an
impartial umpire such as the Interstate
| Commerce Commission.
Are freight charges In the United
States generally regarded as too high!
Undoubtedly they are. In many
cases, especially where n road has
monopoly. Thus. In 1903 rates on lum'
| ber from Georgia to Ohio river points
were advanced cents per hundred
pounds. This meant s132 900 TO Georgia
lumber dealers. and they protested
Their contention was upheld by the In
terstate Commerce Commission and
| the Circuit Court. But as an appeal 10
the Supreme Court was taken they are
still paying sl32.000 year above
just rate.
About what percentage OF com
plants refer 10 rates rs unreasonable
| in themselves?
or 353 cases decided by the Inter
state Commerce Commission only ten
per cent. had to do with the unreason-
1 ..HhN Arft no
| cent. turned upon Determinations.
Why is II anybody else's business II
n railroad wants to charge one man
less than 1t charges another
Because the railroad in peculiar
| degree is public servant. II owes Its
very existence to the state which per
mits II to seize the land necessary for
its track. Therefore the state has the
right to compel II TO treat all persons
alike and to regulate its charges.
grocer may sell sugar at cents 4
pound to one customer and at 10 10
another II he likes. for he has no spe-
cial privileges from the state. But the
railroad is differently situated.
II railroads get their rights.of-way
from the states. why can the national
government interfere?
Because large part of the traffic Is
interstate commerce which the consti- |
tuition gives Congress the authority TO
regulate.
What relief has n shipper from un.
just treatment under the existing |
laws?
He may appeal 10 the Interstate
Commerce Commission, which, after a |
hearing. may order the railroad TO
desist from maying what II regards |
as an unjust charge. II cannot fix
the rate TO be charged. and since its
decisions are usually taken into court. |
years must pass before they become |
effective-the shipper meanwhile pay
ing the old rate. In cases Of secret |
discrimination relief must be sought
from the courts under the Elkins law.
What does the President want to
have done
The principal changes which he de-
sires have been embodied in the So
called Hepburn bill which passed the
House In January and is now before
the Senate. This bill recognizes the
Interstate Commerce Commission and |
gives IL authority when complaint is
made not only to order a rate changed.
but 10 specify the maximum rate that |
may be charged.
But could not the roads practically |
nullify the commissions orders by |
fighting in the courts?
No, for the bill specifies that the
new rate is to go into effect within
thirty days after the order Is issued
unless a court interferes, and the
President favors a provision prepared
by Senator Spooner compelling the
railroad to pay into court the differ
ence between its charge and that or
dered by the commission. This money
would go to the shipper if the final
decision we're in his favor. Such pro-
vision. it is believed. would prevent
the railroads from fighting the com
| missions orders except when they
really believed them unjust.
How would the proposed law rem
edy evils resulting from secret dis
criminations2
| The commission is given large pow
ers to regulate private car line and
I switch arrangements. icing charges
and most Of the other evasive practices
now INDUCED in. Besides. the railroad
that gave a favored shipper cut
rate would risk having the commission
decide that all business must be ac-
cepted at the same rate.
What is the attitude of the railroad
interests toward the pending measure?
| Tney do not hope TO prevent the
enactment of the new law. But they
are fighting to have it amended SO
that every case decided by the commits
sion may be taken into the courts on
its merits and heard from the begin
ming. That would insure sufficient
delays, practically, to nullify the law
President Roosevelt and his friends
are fighting to have the court reviews
limited in scope.
What is the lineup in the fight?
The railroads. and many big ship
pers who get unfair favors are on one
side. The public in general is on the
i other.
Mine MANAGER Drowned.