Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-03-24
HE WANTS COURT REVIEW
Senator Scot Explains His Po-
sifion on Rate Question.
NOT OPPOSED TO REGULATION
on the Contrary, He Favors Legislas
ton That win REMEDY the Exist
ing Evils In West Virgins.

@@A6 ~%fAA1 - FF@Se ia = AhaSs+
Senator Scott said in an Interview
that be felt sure some of the pape !
of the state did not riehtly--unders-
tand his pos tion on the railroad ques-
ton.
II am not opposed To the regulation
Of railroad rates or OF railroad evils, =
said Senator Scott. stated fairly
and clearly 10 the beginning. of my
address that there were railroad evils
in West Virginia and the Hepburn
bill. as it stands today, will not meet
them The Hepl urn bill could in no
way touch the Red Rock Fuel case
about which so much has been said.
The Hepburn bill could not touch the
charging of SIS for carrying carload
of merchandise from Wheeling to
Moundsyille on which the railroads
had charged only sl2 to bring it from
Pittsburg to Wheeling. The Hepburn
bill cannot divide cars among the va
rious coal operators of West Virginia,
it cannot force railroads TO make
switch connections. As it stands it
largely deals only with the rate ones
tion and SO far as there are discrimi-
nations in rates, unfair discrimina-
tions, want to see them remedied.
Such a discrimination was called to
my attention by Mr.. Geo. r. f. Gill
christ. of Wheeling, the other day.
He shows that the railroads charge
% cents more ton on coal from Ben
wood to the lake region than from
Bellaire. just across the river.
II expressed myself as in favor of
court reviews of the decisions of the
Interstate Commerce Commission be-
cause these decisions in the past were
all based on mileage distance tariff.
see no reason why, If the commission
had the power it would not impose
rates today on mileage distance Ii
that were tho case West Virginia
would be knocked out of the coal
markets of the lake region, and out
of the coal markets of the Atlantic
ssaboard. She would be knocked out
of these markets because there lies
between her and the lakes coal pro-
ducing states and there lie between
her and the Atlantic seaboa d coal
would get the benefit of a cheaper
rate on account of proximity to the
market.
That is all there is to it. If, in my
opinion, the Hepburn bill reached
these evils, | would be only too anx-
ious to vote for it. / simply want to
see it amended so that it will meet
the complaints that have been made.
For instance, here is an amendment
that has been introduced and which |
am going to vote for and that / think
all West Virginiaps will approve of
1t shall be unlawful for any com
mon carrier subject to the provisions
of this act to engage, directly or in
directly. in the production. manufac
ture, buying. furnishing or selling o
coal or coke or any other commodit,
or commodities of commerce in com
petition with any shipper or produce
on is line or lines. Provided. Tha
nothing in this act shah be >construe'
to prevent carrier from mining Goa
exclusively for its own use
. mu { say that / do NOT hold tht
the Hepburn bill was inspired or is
sacred document. It comes to the sen
ate precisely as any other sIll passet
by the house would come and
subject for senate discussion am
amendment it the senate so sees fit Il
do.