The Washington times., 1906-05-19
The Rate Bill.

Considering what there was need
to do in the matter of Government
regulation of the carriers, the
achievement of the Senate's rate
bill does not look stupendous. 1t
looks more like a beginning than
an end.
But viewed in the light of the long
struggle for even this much anchor
alton, the achievement seems great
and significant. The President, the
Congress, the country are to be
congratulated on what they have
done-and warned that all they have
done is but a beginning.
1t is almost twenty years since
the original interstate commerce
law passed. That law aimed to do
more than the present act under
| takes. 1t failed in the courts. and
so fifth of century passed with
out accomplishment. The conditions
demanding regulation have steadily
grown more serious throughout
that period; yet, the remedy which
is now prescribed is a milder one
than that of twenty years ago,
which the patient was not allowed
to take.
In those twenty years all the
world has been busy with this same
transportation problem. Continen-
tai nations have tried the different
plans of regulation. Germany, Italy,
France, Belgium, Austria-Hungary
Russia, Britain, Australia, Japan,
and even the minor countries-all
have had their experience and made
their progress and most of them
have arrived at a conclusion as to
policy.
The United States Is the great ex-
ception. The problem is bigger here
than in any other country, the solu-
tion more difficult because Of the
system of dual jurisdiction-State
and national-over commerce. Yet
we have accomplished nothing dur
ing the two decades in which the
rest of the world has done most.
This bill gives a commission
power to denounce a rate against
which there is complaint, and to
substitute-not a rate-but a max
imum reasonable rate There is no
power over relation of rates; no
rule by which to determine what is
a reasonable rate; no provision to
end the progressive watering of
stocks that has gone on during
these twenty years.
From 40 to 60 per cent of rail-
road capitalization is confessed TO
| be water On that water the rail-
road managers propose to earn re-
turns. This law does not say them
nay 1t does not look to prevention
of further irrigation. 1t does not
contain a suggestion of means by
which the aggrandiZement of the
instrumentalities of commerce to
a place Of domination over com
merce itself, is to be ended.
All this seems a more serious
matter than that of court review,
to which the Senate has devoted it.
self all winter. 1t were well to give
the courts something worth while
to review, instead of concerning so
much about how they should review
it.
The rate law of 1906 will in the
end prove to have been worth
while If public opinion keeps right
on demanding that it be bettered.
If the country, imagining it has got
all it needs, ceases to press its de-
mands for more, there will be an
other decade or two of failure to
achieve, and at the end of that time
the discovery that this law, like its
predecessor, is inadequate. About
one more experience OF that sort
will start this country seriously in
the direction of Government owner
ship. People who fear that conclu-
sion should be most anxious for
early and effective regulation.
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