The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-17
WEDNESDAY. JANUARY II. 1905.
Experience keeps dear school, but
fools will learn In no other.
b. Franklin.
Major Dooley and His Critics.

Major Dooley and Ills Crltlcs.
The article which Major James III.
Dooley published in The Times Dispatch
on the danger to the South of clothing
the Interstate Commerce Commission or
any Federal administrative body with
attention and has been freely criticised
by Virginia newspapers. This is not
surprising, for Major Dooley is dis
tinguished lawyer and railroad man. He
has thoroughly studied questions of this
nature and when he speaks he always
commands a hearing. The main point
in Major Dooley's article is that south
ern railroads have pursued the policy
of giving cheap rates in southern ter
rltory in order to develop southern In
dustry and that southern development
IS due In large part TO such differenttals.
In View of this Major Dooley contends
that it would be dangerous TO the
South that the power to fix rates be
conferred absolutely upon the Interstate
Commerce Commission, which would he
composed of northern and western men.
for under such conditions, northern and
western communities would bring pres
sure to bear 10 prevent southern rail-
roads from discriminating in favor OF
enterprises in southern territory,
The main reply on the part OF news
papers in opposition to this contention
OF Major Dooley's is that the railroads
OF the South are controlled by northern
capitalists and that such capitalists
would not permit the commission to
pursue a policy which would injure their
railroad property in the South. But who
knows that the Southern railroads will
he thus controlled indefinitely? The
ownership OF railroads Is evidenced by
stock certificates and the stock is con-
stantly changing hands. A railroad may
be in control of one set of men to-day
and tomorrow. by a transfer of stock,
may be in the control of another set of
men. Not long ago the seaboard road
was controlled IL southern interests.
little later the control passed into the
hands of northern interests. Now 1t is.
claimed that it Will soon fall again into
the hands Of the southern men who origi-
naily consrolied. IT, and 50 1t goes
The Atlantic Coast Line is already
owned by southern men.
But granting that most of the south
ern roads will forever be controlled by
northern men. the number of such men
IS very few, and the interests of such
men are very small, as compared with
the whole number OF men and the en-
TIE Interests of the North and West.
II the people of New York felt that it
was in their interests that dlscr,mlna-
ton in favor Of Virginia ports should
cease, IS 1t probable that they would
be deferred from making their appeals
TO the Interstate Commerce Commission,
il that body should be clothed with a
rate-making power, simply because a
handful of New Workers were interested
in southern railroads? The question an
swers itself. There IS no force of ar
gument in what Major Doolcy's critics
say on this point.
Another argument is that the Inter-
state Commerce Commission is now
dominated by northern and swestern
men who treat the South fairly in the
matter of diferentlals, and that the In
terstate Commerce Commission does not
Interfere The Interstate Commerce
commission has no power to interfere.
n dnes unt have nnvthinp IA fn 1,,;tt,
the making of these differentlals True
the Interstate Commerce act provides
that 1t shall be unlawful for any com
mon carrier TO give undue or unreason-
ehts preference or advantage to any par.
tlealar person. company, firm, corpora
tiols or locality and 1t further provide.
that any person or persons claiming te
he damaged hy any common carrier ma,
make complaint to tho commission, ant
that upon such complaint the commits
zion shall formulate the charges ant
forward them TO such common carrier
and put the railroad on notice; and i
the railroad does not take notice dh
commission must investigate and repnr
It's findings to the offending road. Bu
there the power ends. II the road re
fuses TO comply, the complaint the,
goes to court and the railroad Is cite,
. 10 appear and show cause, az in othe
court proceedings But the pro
posal TO give the commission powe
to fix maximum and minimum rate