The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-02-21
WEDNESDAY, FEB. II, 1906.
RAILROAD RATE LEGISLATION

The enactment of a law to cur
lust and reasonable railroad rates on
interest traffic will probably be
secured. after long delay in the senate.
Several members of the latter body
are opposed to rate legislation of any
kind, others desire a law that will not
effect the purpose for which it is pro.
fessed t o be framed, while other MEM
bers-possibly a majority of the sen
ate-intend to pass a measure that
will really benefit the people. The
opponents of such a proposition, how
ever have power under the rules. of
the senate to delay proceedings almost
indefinitely.
1t was announced that the senate
committee which has been considering
various rate bills would report upon
them Friday, but the press dispatches
bring the information that no report
was made. The committee decided to
postpone action for one week, and the
delay may extend over that length Of
of time. The passage of the Hepburn
bill in the house by the almost unani-
nous vote Of 346 to seven, should
convince senatorial opponents OF rate
legislation that further hostility to
the proposition is useless. Federal
regulation of rates is demanded by
President Roosevelt, who is supported
in that action by the house of repre-
sentatives and the people, and quick
surrender by the refractory senator's
would be the more expedient and pat
riotic course for them to pursue.
The regulation of railroad rates by
a public tribunal promises some de.
velopments not anticipated by those
who favored such a proposition. In
the proceedings that may be instituted
to determine what is a fair and rea.
sonable rate, it will be necessary to
ascertain the cost of the service-a
problem which involves the amount of
money invested in track and equip
ment by the common carriers, as we'll
as the expense Of maintenance and
oper alton. Upon these expenditures,
the railroad corporations should and
must receive a fair rate of profit.
This feature of railroad ate regu.
lation has developed in the state of
Washington, where the state railroad
commission has recently issued an
order that certain transportation
charges must be reduced to q figure
prescribed by that tribunal. The rail.
road companies r. resisting the or.
der, and threaten to appeal to the
courts to set it aside, Tor the alleged
reason that the rate fixed by the com.
mission will not yield them q fair rate
of profit upon their investment. The
result of this controversy is that the
Washington state railroad commits.
sion will now devote its entire time to
an investigation of the cost of rail.
roads operating in that state, and
their expenses of every kind.
The information thus acquired will
become q matter of of official record.
1t will be the basis upon which fair
and reasonable rates may be calcu-
lated. 1t will be the valuation upon
which the transportation tax will be
levied.
Then will come the question as TO
what value shall be placed upon rail.
road property for purposes of taxa.
ton. If it is valued at 800, 600 per
mile for rate making purposes, it
would not be just to appraise it at
$4,000 per mile for purposes of lax
alton. That would not be a square
deal. and the railroads profess a de.
sire for only what is square and right.
The public will await with interest the
test of their sincerity in these profes.
siOns,