The Lamar register., 1906-04-04
RAILROAD RATE QUESTION and
the PRESIDENTS POSITION

ton AFFECT the country
Ii permits the railroads to dictate
to "A considerable extent what towns
shall do the business. For instance.
the discrimination against Spokane.
already cited, has resulted in driving
out of business there the Pacific Coast
Pipe Company that established plant
in 1900 BY slight change In the
schedule the Louisville & Nashville Is
able to divert cotton shipments from
the Port of Savannah to that of Pensar
cola. Thus the railroads have the
power of life and death over many OF
the smaller cities. Furthermore, a
discriminatory policy that may help
particular railroad may be injurious
to the whole country. 1t Is rightly
contended that In such important mat
tiers involving the fate of whole COM
munities an appeal ought to lie to an
impartial umpire such as the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
Are freight charges in the United
States generally regarded as too high!
Undoubtedly they are. In many
cases, especially where road has =
monopoly. Thus, in 1909 rates on lim-
Der from Georgia to Ohio river points
were advanced 2 cents per hundred
pounds This meant sl52,0o0 to Georgia
lumber dealers. and they protested.
Their contention was upheld by the In
terstate Commerce Commission and
the Circuit Court. But as an appeal TO
the Supreme Court was taken they are
still paying $4,000 a year above
just rate.
About what percentage of com
plants refer to rates as unreasonable
in themselves?
OF s53 cases decided by the Inter
state Commerce Commission only ten
10 .,ftI, . ha mr. m
ableness of the rate. while forty per
cent. turned upon determinations.
WHY is IT anybody else's business II
railroad wants to charge one man
less than It charges another
Because the railroad in a peculiar
degree is public servant. II owes It's
very existence to the state which per
mits 1t to seize the land necessary Tor
its track Therefore the state has the
right TO compel it to treat all persons
alike and to regulate it's charges. n
grocer may sell sugar at cents
pound to one customer and at 10 to
another if he likes. for he has no spe-
c!al privileges from the state. But the
railroad is differently situated.
If railroads get their rights DIVA:
from the states. why can the national
government Interfere;
Because large part of the traffic Is
Interstate commerce which the consti-
tuition gives congress- the authority to
regulate.
What relief has shipper from I'M
just treatment under the existing
laws?
He may appeal to the Interstate
r,n,,r.Tce cnmmissinn which after a
hC,,ring may order The railroad to
dcgist nom mo,inp what IT regards
an ,,niust cborre fl cannot fix
,bo rnto IN he CHARGED and since its
ii, cieions are usually taken into court,
- m,,,s, nass before they become
o0octiyo" tho simmer meanwhile nav.
Inc The old rate In eases OF secret
,iiscrini,otinn relief must he sought
from, The courts under The ElIlns law.
What does The President want to
have done >
III, n,i,cinol CHANGES which he de.
sircs have been embodied in the so.
cnIIed Henhurn hiI which nassed tho
| House in January and is now before
| Tho senate This nm recognizes the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
,,iyos IL nutboritv when compIaint Is
| made MT only to order n rate changed,
! mi 10 erecify tha maximum rate that
! may he CHARGED
nm ccuId moi the roads practically
nuIIifv The commissions orders by
fighting In the cuurts2
M for the bill succiiies that the
NOV, ratn IL in ga into effect within
tbi,tv DAYS aftcr Tho order is issued
rnIass a cntrt intcrfcres and tho
President fayors a urovision prepared
i,. Snn,,Cr Sunonrr connecting the
,,urn,d Ia nav into court the differ.
nrc, hatynen lis charge and that or.
Jnrsd nv The comn,iesion This money
,,n,,id a, In IN. simmer If the final
docisinn ',vere i'm his favor. Such pro,
ylsion if is believed. would prevent
tbe railroads from fighting the com