The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-12
PUT REBATERS in
CELLS, SAYS LODGE
Continued From First Page.


Continued From First Page.
checked rebates, but it has not stopped
them entirely.
10 mako the law thoroly efficient
we ought to add, in my judgment, three
provisions; We should restore the for
| MERGE law-which should not have been
repealed-and make these secret eva.
! sions of the published rates, punishable
by Imprisonment. The men who per-
petrate these evasions in defiance Of the
law suffer but little by fine, even if it
| be a heavy one. Their resources are
too. large to make a money penalty a
| serious one. For this very reason they
| are persons who would feel acutely
| punishment by imprisonment, and that
| penalty oughtstoo be provided in any law
which We pass s, s RI.
| Experience Abroad.
Mr.. Lodge reviewed the experience
Of other governments, including most
OF the European countries, Canada and
Australia, nm government controlof rate.
making, and added: ;,s "
sThls examination shows us that it is
not only entirely possible to abolish all
Determinations between persons
IS, all rebates or undue preferences
but that this has been actually and ef-
fectlvely accomplished in other coun-
tries. 1t is proved beyond doubt that
i personal determinations can be utterly
extirpated, and if it has been in other
countries. it can be done here by suit
able legislation.
4 son the second point of excessive
rates, the experience Of other countries
demonstrates that whatever good ef-
l3iects government ratemaking has had,
4 It has not lowered rates, but, on the con-
trary, has made them not only higher,
but inelastic. y. .. :
Government ratemaking in this
against plain discrimination and exces,
slye rates-therefore, if the experience
OF all the rest of the world is of any
value. and I regret it. as conclusive.
would either not reduce the rates at
all, or. #, it did reduce the rates gem
orally, 1t would destroy the profits of
the roads and lower the wages of those
employed upon them unless we accept
the other alternative Of government
ownership, with the roads run at a loss
ana the people taxed to carry them on.
| t- Determinations. ~ e..
1 1.-THE third and last point is that
Of discrimination between localities.
n That determinations exist un.
ger our system, which work injustice
> 1t would, be folly to deny, but it would
be still greater folly to establish q
new series of Determinations working
larger injustice, in the hope of curing
the original inequalities. Whatever at
|. tempt to remedy place determinations
: we may make, we should so guard it as
70 AVOID applying remedy far worse
than the disease.
The experience Of the world leads
me to doubt most seriously whether any
government !e3r rate:making. with view tt
. effected without bringing change 70,
, the worse; but if it is to be tried al
. all, it ought not to go beyond tht
liking Of maximum rate by the com
mission, with the most absolute pro
lection against hasty, or prejudiced &C
: to the courts Of the country. This Ger
talnly Is as far as we can safely 60,
: Railroads Not Hostile.
Mr.. Lodge combated the idea tina
1 the railroads are owned by few mel
7 and that they are inimical to and indie
! tinued: ~ 49, s y ~ rs 20 q
!, SWe should have proper legislatio,
Q in regard to the railroads; there shout,
Y pc government supervision and regula
d / ton; we should stop the intolerabl
Q abuse of rebates or Determinations be
j.. tween persons, because if we do not "
7 that worst Of all disasters, government
: ownership. But it is equally essentia
that the legislation we undertake shout
not itself lead to government owner
ship, the dangerous pitfall we are seek
ing to avoid. It is vital that this legis
.. latlon should succeed, but it can onl
hv offn IL /
evils which it can cure, while it orc
ceeds with the utmost care in thes
directions where experience has show
that some of the remedies now prc
= posed have introduced evils far NOR
4 unbearable and far more injurious tina
81 as44sss.szSs Dangers to Be Met.
- Pointing out possible dangers to tn
Of these is found in the possibility Q
4 failing to provide an effective remed
- against personal determinations
gss rebates" he said, "is that the law wi
"a not go far enough and will not be int
or ligently effective'' w.. ,-a.g-.1Eo
es He suggested that the power del
u gated to a commission should not g
n n, beyond that Of fixing maximum raj
IN Mr.. lodge expressed the opinion tn:
60 there should be ample provision for r
J., viewing of the findings of the COMM
n. sion by the courts. He concluded:7
rs Is There seem to be now prophets
ia ia a new dispensation who wish to depa
~ ~ from the line marked out by the pres
81 dent in his message and accepted in tt
"s house bill Of last year, by removing,
far as possible. from the proposed la
all proper provisions for review by II
- courts. This seems to me to strike
the very heart Of the measure. I a
- anxious to see this legislation, but
e. am not yet prepared to substitute E
IN the courts of the United States an e
ry ecutive committee. Legislation cam
ty prevent an appeal to the courts if
IT. Is alleged that the rate is confscator
an but this. is a very narrow ground and
ot very, limited right. A rate may not
lis absolutely confscatory and yet may
he in the highest degree unjust and u
ct, reasonable, and, indeed, we'll nigh rui
he GUS. I am not sure that it would
ps possible to deprive citizen by legisl
lis ton of the right to appeal to the cour
ed as to the Justice. and reasonableness