Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-07

been forced" he said. Into large expendi-
lures for the betterment of their lines in
their rolling stock and all other things rela-
tive thereto" But the west and the south
had been built up under this system, and
while the demands of trade had been met
he safd the interests of the people had at
the same time been advanced.
Attention was called to personal discrirni-
nations, Of which the speaker said very HIT
tie Is practiced. He characterized as a very
pronounced evil the handling of one ship
pers product at the expense of another. He
said:
This is one of the worst evils of railroad
management today il should be eradicat-
ed, stamped out, even if the most stringent
measures are necessary to accomplish this
end The railroad. as a common carrier
must and ought of right give to each ship
per his fair share OF facilities.
Railways as Coal Owners
81 may digress here for a moment to
speak of the great coal interests of the
country and to express my belief that it is
most dangerous course for railroad to
pursue. to be found as the owner or par7
tcipating in the profits OF any great tract
of coal lands. This | would hold true with
any of the other great necessities of life,
and believe that the railroad in the future,
as in the past, should devote itself entirely
to It's duties as a public carrier,
he problem of rate making" he con-
tinued. is the problem of commerce; the
giles going on between the different trade
centers of the country. 1t extends further
than to the mere settlement of the price to
be charged by one railway in carrying a
ton of freight; Ii enters into the very es-
sence of our happiness and prosperity as
a country. The more 1t is studied the more
complicated the problem seems TO be, and
the more sure ! am that the rate-making
power is safer in the hands of the rail-
roads than 1t Is In any body of men APP
pointed for that purpose"
To met the contentious regarding the
probable effects of the pending BILL Mr..
Scott said that the present interstate COM
merce law had been enacted with the end
in view of accomplishing most of the re-
suits promised for the Doilirer Hepburn
bill. and after speaking of the number of
complaints heard by the commissions, said:
These cases have all been appealed to
the Supreme Court, and the basic prin-
ciples laid down by the interstate COM
merce commission In nearly every case
have been oyerruled. So, judging
from the past, am led to the conclusion
that the interstate commerce commission
would. IL 1T had the power. establish at
once the principles of the mileage tariff
and of natural location. Therefore cam
not agree that political commission ap-
pointed by President. open to change at
every general election, should have the
power to fix railroad rates on any such
theories. Should the bin now be-
fore the Senate pass without amendment.
I think the people within very few years
would find that 1t had met none of the
purposes which 1t was thought it would
remedy"
Outlining his views as to what should be
done. the senator said:
Senator SCOTS Recommendations.
II want the bill amended so that the coal
operator OF West Virginia can open up his
mine. have that mine connected with a
railroad. have his Just share OF cars, and
thus have his product carried to the best
markets, so the farmer OF the west can
ship his surplus grain. the planter of the