The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-07
.ARRAIGNS ROADS
And EVEN COURTS
Bourke Cochran Speaks for the
Rate Bill, Attracting Throng
to House.

to House.
Washington, Feb. There was no
delay from preliminary business in the
house today, the railroad rate bill be-
ing taken up at II clock and the last
day Of general debate was begun. The
program included speeches by Bourke
Cochran IN. W, Mr.. Mann (Ill), Mr..
Williams (Miss.) and Mr.. Hepburn
(Iowa).
in favor Of the bill. While he did not
consider it panacea for all evils, it
was most wholesome manifestation
Of unanimous public determination
to deal with the rate evil. 1t was the
only means by which public owner
ship could be stopped and checked the
most plausible argument Of the social
Mr.. Cochran had been speaking but
few minutes when he had full audi
ence on the floor and the galleries were
also occupied to their capacity.
Favoritism Corrupt.
Mr.. Cochran gave simple analyses Of
favoritism and discrimination to show
it's inherent injuries. Favoritism was
always granted corruptly.
"Sir,b he continued, the history
of railroad management in this coun-
try is the history Of favoritism, Of
corruption and fraud
In spite of this he would not say the
railroads had not rendered enormous
service, but they had not been as eff
cient as theYashould be.
%1O@ VOL 1xryoEy
Influences dominated both political
parties. Illustrating this, he showed
how the representatives Of wealth ig-
nored the courts and dominated state
administrations The very court
which had dropped the proceedings
against H. H. Rogers had the next day
issued most vigorous information
against striking printers,
The Hill Merger Case
In this connection he reviewed the
Northern Securities decision, which, he
said, declared criminals and consspira
ton. Hartman and Morgan, he said
quarreled over the control Of several
railways in the northwest which threat
eDed to interfere with their plumber
The president directed an action
! against them. The court declared
conspiracy.
"What was the result7' he asked
CIT was to reduce the control OF these
properties from two to one. When
riman had been eliminated, Morgan was
supreme. A more perfect conspiracy
was perfected thru the decision Of the
court itself, and the stock, which was
selling at 800 to $1O2 when the de
! cision was pending, sold for $3.50 after
it was announced, thus enriching the
conspirators, who walked out of court
just $240,000,0oo richer for having
been convicted. q
s'-'>,.~o-..., Morgan and Debs. .s.-s
| The fact that no criminal proceed
| ings had been begun was dwelt on a.
some length, and the Jail sentence 0,
Debs and the conviction Of two sena
| tors for}1assmere cindiseretions' con
4 frasted. s.4e n, ,rs /, r~sS5 s,-s III u
4 Compliments were paid. to Rockefel
Ter, sat once the richest and most de
spised Of our whole population -
The most effective feature Of tn
bill, he maintained, was the popula
| disposition back of it, the next was it
publicity feature. H..
Universal applause greeted Mr.. Cock
ran g conclusion, and after the informa
ccngratulatorry reception to him ha'
floor. -. O.. 81. =. .25S -
..@: Mr.. Mann's Speech.
! Tersely stating the need Of the ship
per for railroads, the need of railroad
for the shipper and the difficulty o
standing, Mr.. Mann pointed out tn
necessity for an. intervening agency.
"That is the proposition in tn
pending measure, - continued MI
> Mann. cit is proposed to give to tn
Interstate commerce commission, to
limited degree, the rate making power
This will not prevent the carrier i
the face Of mpetition from. lowerin
its rates, IN order to save it's share o
the business:
NThe Hepburn olliver bill. no,
, pending before us is UNNECESSARILY ST
perior to the old Nelson Corliss bill
the Cooper-Quarles bill or the Escl
Townsend bill Of the last session
!, Those. bills proposed to give to tn
commission the general power to fl
absolute railroad rates which coul
new petition and having new hearin
before the commission. The bill pc
mits the commission at any time, of it
own motion to change its order; it pei
mits a rehearing of the case at an
time, it provides that the rate fxe
by the commission shall not be abst
lutte rate, but only the maximum rat
and it provides that this rate shall b
, compulsory only for the term of thre
years. This will give the power to co
rect the evils which are complained O
i but will not give the power to continu
!, the property invested in railroads {
J to paralyize the business interests {
J. the coun try%and prevent the locatio
t and establishment of new .industrlt
1 along the lines Of the railroads.
; AS to Differentials
!, cit will not give the commissio
j. The power to determine diferential
f the power to say whether grain fro
: the northwest shall be shipped for e:
: port by way of the gulf ports or tt
l north Atlantic ports, the power to d
g stroy the law Of competition, II
power to ruin one city or one localit
4 for the benefit Of another city or a
n other locality. The former bills we,
intended to destroy railroad compel
r. ton. The pending bill invites comp
tition and it preserves all the compel
t tive forces which tend to increase tt
n economy of transportation and redu
o the cost thereof.
:, az 9th = ra;1roa5 ofhcials Fear <th at II