The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-05-07
ELKINS
TO FRONT
JUST NOW

Illoily as 10 INC ettlcdcS Vi tile ElklnS
Law prohibiting rebates, at which
what little opposition there is in
West Virginia to Senator Elkins
has been inclined to sneer. The
cumulative evidence as to the efficacy
of the law is no less proof con-
elusive of its efficacy than it is Of
the absolute unfairness of the few
who have sneered at it, to Senator
Elkins. The Supreme Court Of the
United States upheld it and stamped
it with, their approval by handing
down under it the best far reaching
decision on railroad regulation vet
made, under it, in the recent case
against the Chesapeake & Ohio and
New Haven roads. Standard Oil
has shown how hard it hits them by
seeking to encompass the defeat Of
Judge Mann, of Chicago, for re-
nomination because he was an ally
of Senator Elkins when the matter
was pending in the House. I'M
mediately upon its heels comes the
case of the Burlington Route and its
officials who were fined sixty thous-
and dollars for granting rebates in
violation of the Flkins act.
And following this comes the
press Of the country, editorially and
in its news columns endorsing the
Elkins act as a full and sufficient
remedy for the rebate evil. Only a
few days ago the New York World,
the leading Democratic paper of the
country came out with an editorial
saying as much, which editorial Is
similar to that of hundreds of
Others in Democratic papers, all Of
them declaring that it only remains
that the Administration enforce the
law as its merit has been proven in
the courts. The same is true Of the
Republican press of the country.
The following editorial comes from
the Philadelphia Press, probably the
foremost Republican newspaper in
the country, and is fair sample of
what is being said on the subject by
the unbiased press of the country:
'The Elkins anti-rebate law has
proved, under the Interpretation of
the courts to have vitality and eff
cheney in it. Through it the prac-
tice of giving rebates can be punish
led and stopped, and the railroad reg
ulation legislation treats that old
evil as sufficiently provided against,
and addresses itself to finding remc-
dies for other wrongs from which
the public has suffered at the hands
of the railroads.
''Thc association of his name and
influence with this vigorous piece of
anti-railroad abuse legislation has
not saved Mr.. Elkins from being
classcd a railroad Senator He Is
interested TO some extent in rail-
roads, but he informed the Senate
that he was far more interested as
a shipper than a carrier, and the
amendments he has proposed to the
pending railway rate bill show a
practical sense Of the difficulties not
by large shippers owning small roads
who must reach their markets over
larger roads not always friendly dis
posed to their connections. These
amendments, four in number, are
as follows:
First. To prevent interstate
carriers reducing, mining and sell
ing coal. iron ore and other products
which they transport, in competition
with shippers, thereby expressing
and driving out Of business the in
dependent operator and absorbing his
business.
Second. To oblige interstate
carriers, on application of shippers
of interstate commerce, to put in
when needed, upon reasonable terms,
switches to enable such shippers to
get their products to market.
roads TO make prompt and suitable
roads tot make prompt and suitable
connections with connecting lateral
and branch lines, as well as just, fair
and reasonable prorating arrange
ments with the same, and allow
ances for originating freight.
Fourth. To require interstate
carriers to make a fair and just dis
ltribution of cars to shippers on their
Hines.
''These amendments may represent
Ithe feelings of one kind of a rail
road Senator. but certainly not Of a
trunk line Senator. The competi-
tion of railroads with their patrons
in coal mining or other Interests
Heads tot discrimination which the
supreme court has strongly con-
demned. and is contrary to public
policy. II is easy to DESTROY the
value of a coal mine by denying ii
I . III ~. -. -.