Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-21

sidered by many minds before any decision
is reached,
Last year this congress passed a resolu-
ton antagonistic to the general clamor
that increased power be given to the In
terstate Commerce commission in the regu-'
lation of railroads and other corporations.
Your contention was that the Sherman
antitrust law and the Elkins amendment
gave the commission sutncient power to
correct existing evils. But since your con-
gress passed that resolution the congress-
OF the United States passed a measure
which is now law, that gives to the In
teTstate Commerce commission almost I'M
limited power. The commission is given
the power to control all of the railroads Of
this country. 1t is composed of seven men,
and four OF these men constitute quorum
who can control all of the transportation
lines of this country.
Commission May Make Mistakes
/ do not want to criticise the commits
sion. believe IT acted in good faith
when IT said it needed more power. But.
as said last night, the president, in his
Harrisburg speech, intimated that still
greater power should be conferred upon
the commission Now, before any fur
Their action is taken, should like to see
how the power which exists under the
not be. necessary for the. commission, to
act under the new law. I hope not. If
I the commission makes az mistake in the
use OF its power conditions may ensue
from which the business interests OF this
country viii not recover in a decade. The
transportation business is the most vital
.
No community could prosper without
transportation facilities. Your success
and the success of the interests you rep
resent depend largely upon the transportA-
tion lines of the country. / think the
railway traffic men have learned by this
! time that they do not make rates, but
equalize them. The rates are made by
the communities served by the railroads.
Common centeTs must be treated alike.
You could not disturb rates at this dis
! tributing center without affecting all other
! distributing centers. The rates are con-
troiled by commercial necessities. But
under the new law the rates may be con-
trolled by political opportunity. The
politician may promise a reduction in
rates for election to office.
The railroads have reached almost the
limit of economy in transportation. II the
rates are 10 be lowered the railroads must
D9 aOiT The 20 carry tfaG az less cost than
this country since 1899 and 1900 has been due
to the fact that the owners of railroads
have had confidence in the communities and
people served. In order to develop all Sec
tions of the country the RAILROADS have i'm
proved their lines and spent hundreds of
nearer perfection. The railroads must con-
unue to improve. The expenditures OF
money for railroad Improvement gives other
business interests chance to expand. II
The railroads are too soon subjected to a
reduction of income, where is the money
coming from to develop the railroads fur
Their and to develop your interests?
Mr.. Kindel in his speech said that Den
yer was the victim of rate discrimination
by the railroads He said that it cost much
more. in proportion, 10 ship goods from
Chicago to Denver than from Chicago "a
Omaha. He quoted rates on various arti-
Giles to prove his assertions. He said he
was not contending that the rates be low
cred, but that they be equalized. He alsc
said that he had shipped forelgn-madC
goods from Liverpool, via Galveston
cheaper by SO a car than he was able II
ship American made. goods from Buffalo t.
Denver, via Galveston.
II. d. Loveland Of San Francisco ad
dressed the congress on the subject Of "sar
Francisco" He was eloquent IN his reclta
Of the horrors Of the city's recent disaster
and in expressing the gratitude of the peo.
pie there for the assistance rendered by IN,
people OF the United States