The Washington herald., 1906-11-30
SPENCER WROTE OF RATE LAW
Railroad President Widely Quoted
and Much Written About.

When the railroad rate bill was under
/ discussion and the most prominent men
Of the country were interviewed on the
subject and magazines were filled from
cover to cover with discussions on the al
interesting topic. MIR. Spencer was asked
by the Century Magazine TO give his views
In the matter. Under the caption. Rail
way Rates and Industrial Progress" Mr
Spencer's article appeared In the January
number. It embodies the argument from
a railway point of view. Mr- Spencer. in
unmistakable terms, defines his opinion,
and says in part:
1T has been suggested in high quarters.
and insisted upon, that the Interstate
Commerce Commission shall have the
power under certain conditions. to annul
rate made by an officer of the railway
company and to substitute another there
for, which shall become effective by the
commissions order regardless of any ap-
peal by the railway company to the
courts for a decision as TO whether the an
nulled rate were legally unjust or the sub
stituted rate fair and proper charge for
the service performed.
This question, Of course. has its legal
aspects, which cannot be treated here.
but it has practical and commercial as
every consumer throughout the country.
Those charged with the administration
Of railways believe that from the stand
point Of public interest the rate-making
power should remain with the responsible
officers of the railway companies, but con-
cede that the acts Of those officers should
be subject to all proper review and in
vestigatiOn that may disclose Illegal and
unjust acts, and TO such regulation and
penalty as shall compel the proper. per
formance upon the part Of the carriers
OF all their public duties They believe
that the retention Of such power IS neces-
sary not only to conserve the interests
of these security holders, but also Of the
thirteen hundred thousand railway en-
ployes and their families, and Of the pro-
ducers and consumers Of all commodities
that is, of the public as a whole
1T goes without saying that no govern
ment tribunal can ever be organized
which will be able to deal promptly with
all the rates in this country
However, TO what extent a govern
ment tribunal might deal with these
questions. it is obvious that its action
would be characterized by prolonged de-
lay. All cases demand prompt considera-
ton and decision"
In an article on Railroads on Trial, ."
appearing in McCluTe's March last. the
author says that upon AIr. Spencer falls
the main responsibility Of the work
Chow Railroads Make Public OpinionD
and for several reasons. IN the first
place. Mr.. Spencer had for years made
his headquarters in Washington; the cen
traI office Of the Southern Railway,
where he naturally formed the acquaint-
ance of many Senators and Congressman,
and had come to know all the bypatns Of
legislative activity.
AN experienced. agreeable, discreet
mamie was well-ftted for the task"
Under the title OF American Captains
of Industry" an article appeared in the
Review Of Reviews in the April number
of 1902. Speaking of Mr.. Spencer, it says
in part: Both an organizer and rail-
way administrator, President Spencer, Of
the Southern Railway system, directs the
operations Of nearly 1900 miles of railway,
covering a large portion Of the Southern
States He began at the bottom, soon
identifying himself with theBaltimOre and
Ohio Railroad Company, of which.
through successive gradations, he became
president in 1S5.. He was the moving
spirit in the consolidation of the Southern
railways into a homogeneous system. and
it is not little to his activity and genius
that the rapid growth Of the new South
has been due"
In an article on ''PierpOnt Morgan: His
Advisers and His Organization" published
in the Cosmopolitan in January, 1903, the
author says: Mr.. Spencer. now so int-
mately connected with Southern railways,
was formerly partner and probably he
was Mr.. Morgan's strongest adviser on
all subjects relating to land transporta-
ton