The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-14

and exhaustive, and should not be con-
fined to the operations Of one company,
of the different sections Of the country.
The investigation cannot, in the. ma
ture Of things, be made by individuals.
Hence, it would seem to me to be wise
legislation for congress to- provide an in
terstate commerce investigation COM
mittee OF, say, seven members-four
members to be appointed by the presi-
dent and three members to be appointed
by the railway companies. One mem
Der should be sound lawyer; one
mathematician, one an experienced rail
way auditor; one an engineer of capac-
ity, experienced in calculating costs Of
transportation; one a superintendent,
experienced in the actual movment Of
trains and the use Of rolling stock; one
a station agent, experienced in the de-
tails Of station or terminal service; and
one traffic manager, experienced in
present rates.
The investigation should be system
attic and thoro, and above all, it should
be public. There is no corrective in
f1uence as powerful as publicity and a
thoro comprehension of the facts and
reasonings, which nothing but publicity
can give.
Turning to the other side, what are
the arguments against controlling rates
by law9
The Senate Force.
At the last session Of congress the
house passed bill authorizing the in
! terstate commerce commission in GER
tain cases to fix rates. which the senate
refused to pass. The senate, however,
appointed committee to investigate.
| The committee heard the arguments
Of nine railway presidents, six railway
lawyers, and five railway traffic men
against the principle Of legislative con-
troll Of rates. These arguments are very
voluminous, but hired an experienced
and made the following consolidated
brief Of their contents:
One president and one traffic man
ager objected, because sit would result
in stability Of rates. That is to say
if understand correctly, it would per
NIT manufacturer or merchant to con-
tract to sell or buy goods to be deliv-
cred six months hence with an absolute
knowledge of the rates which he would
have to pay when the goods were
. moved. Would the manufacturers and
merchants regard such knowledge as 9
calamity to their business9 On the con
trary, / have been told over and ovel
again by men in various walks of bust
ness that they would regard such stabil
1Cy OF raCeS as great DeneuC.
One president and two traffic man
!; ayers objected, because cit would result
! in making rates on mileage basis. ,
One president objected, because 81
would force railway companies into pol
: itics.' Four presidents and one traffi
manager objected, because cit woult
be disastrous to railway securities ant
financial interests"
. Have you noticed the course Of tn
stock markets since these argument
, were made, while the bill is still pend
, ing. with prospects of becoming law
with revolution pending in Russia, an,
: other disquieting conditions9
Four presidents and two traffic man
ayers objected, because crates canno
! be adjusted between communities with
out taking away stimulus to develop
: localities, and causing sectional preju
: dices.'
One railway lawyer objected, becaus
! government rate making would be
step towards government ownership.
: Two presidents asserted that legisla
: tive control Of rates would make rate
!. lower, and two presidents and on
: traffic manager said it would max
I rates higher.
a A~~~ The Bogyman.
J. The bogyman which remains to b
: mentioned is the assertion Of five pres
q dents and three traffic men that legis
4 lative control of rates would be detr:
0 mental to the business interests an