Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-14

accurate Observation-Disclosures map of the
United States were published today there is
hardly any one who could be made to be-
lieve that Il truly represents the actual sit
uation. 1t would be derided by the public
the product and Authorization of a disor-
dered intellect. We know, for instance,
that the rate certain lines OF merchan-
disc from Chicago to Denver is nearly three
times much as the rate on precisely the
same line of merchandise from New York
to San Francisco. We know that the rate
upon f1rst-class freight from New England
to the gulf is less than the rate from Chi
cago to the same terminals, although the
distance is more than five hundred miles
greater. We know that it costs less TO ship
goods the entire distance across the
tinent than 1t does to ship the same goods
one-third the distance, and that when goods
are destined from Boston to Salt Lake City
they are carried TO California and back
again to Salt Lake City in order to obtain
the cheap rate; and knowing these things,
we must realize that such condition OF af-
fairs at least requires supervision upon the
part of some tribunal outside of and beyond
the railroads that are simply building up
their own territory to increase their own
revenue and profits"
Admitting the difficulty of dealing with
this subject because of the effect of water
competition Mr.. Rayner said:
What we require Is little common sense
upon this subject. We cannot pass a law
that will convert the towns and hamlets OF
Iowa Immediately into great manufactur-
ing centers, nor frame a statute for the spe-
cal benefit OF a grain shipper In the city
Of Milwaukee,, but what we can do Is to
take broad view Of the whole field and
ascertain II cannot endow a tribunal
with adequate power whenever cases occur
where unnecessary discrimination is prac-
ticed to apply remedy without nficting
any injury upon the railroad"
Power of Commission.
Discussing what he declared to be tho
sx,4A ~a,a
commission under the present law to en-
force rate-makins DEGREES, Mr.. Rayner
said:
I'VE may scheme and forge the fashion,
but it is not within the realm of human
ingenuity to formulate any plan except the
rate-making power that viii remedy the
defect and supply the omission
He contended that there is no doubt OF
the power of Congress to vest commits
sion with the power to establish rates, bas-
ing his conclusion upon decisions OF the
Supreme Court. We settle the standard
here that the rates are to be reasonable
and not discriminattve, and a commission
in pursuance OF an authority which We con-
fer upon 1t In each case decides the proper
rate to be established. in accordance with
the legislative standard that we here
enact" he said.
Mr. Rayner replied seriatim to Mr.. Fora
ker's points Complimenting his antagonist
in high terms, he said:
II have never known a hopeless cause
to be managed Wlln suCH COUsuUilIldle anu
matches skill The tide dead against
him, and when he encountered a cloud
burst OF decisions from the state and fed
eral courts, torrent that would over
whem a man OF ordinary capacity his ge-
MUS irradiated the storm and placidly ana
serenely he rode upon the pillows. 1t shall
be my effort now to try to demonstrate
that his fabric, beautiful In its architecture
and symmetrical In Its proportions, van
ishes like a vision tho moment you apply
the battle-ax of the law to the tottering
foundation upon which IT stands
The speaker ridiculed the objection that
under the rate bill the interstate COM
merce commission would have the right 10
change all the railroad rates throughout
the country saying that the fact that the
bill provides that no change can be MADE
except upon complaint is a sufficient reply.
Adjustment of Differentfals.
Mr.. Rayner replied to Mr.. Foraker's ar
gument that the rate-naking power applies
TO aifferentials under the constitutional pro-
vision that no preference shall be given to
the ports of one state over those of an
other
AZ know that the senator from Ohio
claims and has argued that this bill con-
fers the right upon the commission to adj
Just differentials. I say that II gives the
commission no such power. / deny
that upon any construction that can be
put upon this language there is any power
whatever IN the commission to adjust rela-
tive rates and strike the proper proportions
between them. The ports of the United
States, therefore, are not within the 5uris-
dfction OF the Hepburn act. If there Is
differentiaI between different ports upon
inherent lines of railroads. there is no pro-
vision of this measure that invests the
commission with the right to change it,
The Railway Equilibrium.
Reference was made to the claim that
the enactment of the proposed legislation
would demoralize the railroad systems and
the business interests of the country, and
in that connection Mr. Rayner said he
would admit that lit would be a great pity
tc destroy the equilibrium or destroy ton