Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-05-05

SENA lUR SIEP
the interstate committee.
He declared that no constitutional OBJ
lection could be raised against his bill.
He laid special emphasis on the omis-
slons In the Hepburn rate bill, particu-
larry its sailure 10 require interstate
carriers to make . fair and just distri-
button of cars among shippers; to
make prompt aua suitable connections
with branch and lateral lines; to put
In upon reasonable terms switches to
enable shippers to get products to mar
ket and to prevent carriers engaging In
coal mining and Aer business in COM
petition with sb Ders over their lines.
The senator pointed out eonclusively
that none of these abuses is remedied
by the Hepburn bill as 1t passed the
house and was reported from the SEN
ate committee.
Said Mr.. Elkins. The people are en-
titled to protection against these
abuses, which exist generally and work
so much injustice TO shippers and indie
pendent operators, especially in the
state of West Virginia. 1t may be said
that the states should legislate to cor
rect these evils. In the state of West
Virginia and nearly all the states there
has been legislation on these subjects,
but for many reasons the law is not
invoked. In the first place, "A shipper
single handed and alone cannot afford
to sue a great Interstate railroad; in
doing so he is found to incur large ex-
pense, great delay, and Is sure TO incur
the hostility of the great through line,
| which may work iTrenarable injury to
his interests" Mr.. Elkins explained
the amendments which he had intro
duced intended to correct these abuses
and added: Nothing short of their
adoption and becoming law will satisfy
the shippers, Independent operators,
and the people generally of my state,
Building Small Lines.
The senator showed that it was alto
gether improbable that another great
trunk line of railroad would be built to
the large cities on the Atlantic coast
anu W ~ EiNht AahCSs viz WI Ahus
reason the people must depend largely
for the further development Of the
! country upon short lines Of railroads
| reaching rich sections. This Ia espe-
cially the case said he. In the great
state Of West Virginia, n OF the rich
| railroads, reaching all the large cities
and markets, make fair connecting ar
| rangements with branch and lateral
lines the business n development OF
| the country must be retarded. These
| great railroads already have immedi-
ately on their lines all the business
! they can do at the present, n they
hold that no one else should build nee
essary branch and lateral lines in what
they term their territory. There are
many men who can build ten, twenty
fifty or a hundred miles of railroad to
connect with the interstate lines whc
could not possibly build a trunk line.
In the state of West Virginia and
other states there are many men who
have made large investments in agri
culture, coal. timber, iron ore and other
lands who are able and DESTROYS OF
building short lines from ten to a hun.
dred miles long to reach these lands
and find a market for their products
but they will not build them under
present conditions because OF the diff
cuIties in the way Of getting switches
and connections with the interstate
lines and when they do get them secur
ing fair treatment.
MIR. Elkins asserted that the futur,
development of large and productive
sections Of the country would depend
upon whether congress gave the relie'
he had suggested.
Omissions In Hepburn Bill.
The senator pointed out another de
feet in the Hepburn bill wherein it EN-
powered the interstate com
mission to fix rates between localities
1T would place in the hands of five O
seven men the power to impair tn,
growth OF n section of the countr,
and build up another"
Pointing out the interdependence o
railroads and the communities alonj
their lines, Mr.. Eikins said: Railroad
can better adjust rate differences be
tween communities on different line
than a commission, There is an elias
ITCHY in the operation of railroads b.
their officers and employees that tn
commission does not and cannot pos
sess.7 He added that railroad rate,
like water, seek A level, which in tn
end bring substantial justice and sal
isfaction to the public"
i, Senator Elkins showed that Will
through routes and through rates wouI
! furnish wider markets, the attempt i