Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-02-08
MURDOCH ON RATES.
me Kansas Congressman TalkSFOr
Railroad Regulation,
IS NOT a Rash OR HASTY SHEP'
n.ocnl Tariffs Need ReductionTOSHiy
the East oppose the Bill
The "Colored Man I'm
d WOodpile.1


washington, Feb. 7.--Having fixed
lie end Of the general debate on the
rate bill at 4:30' o'clock WEDNESDAY,
fhe recognition Of the chair was passed
around at q lively rate in the house
tuesday. Seventeen speeches were
made. all Of them for the measure.
The railroads came In for an unusual
amount Of criticism Mr. Gillespie o.
Texas expressed his dissatisfaction with
fhe reply to his resolution limiting at
4 combination between the Pennsylva-
MA and other railroads. He Will al
dress request to the president to nave
7 ne interstate commerce commission
make thorough investigation along
alnea he will indicate to clear up this
subject. Mr.. Gaines Of West Virginia
placed in the record evidences OF COM
hinations Of roads to control the coal
output Of his state and a trafic agree
mont between MANY southern roads
ana steamship lines indicating a divis-
10n Of the territory to control business.
FIe said It was because competition mad
eeased already that the pending Dill
Was demanded. :,
The day ended with a general laugh
IL Mr.. Sulzer Of New York, VINO mace
mis- appearance as q humorist he
toasted the opponents Of the bill, View
a with suspicion the unanimous report
ana pointed out as the African IN
the woodpile," the word suspended"
which he said would apply to every
date fixed until the poor shipper was
financially suspended in trying to en-
force It. However, he will vote Tor
the bill.
Mr. Stanley Of Kentucky asserted
that the men who came to the de-
fense Of the railroads in the house
we're all from the east--McCall, SID
lev and Littleheld- added that all
other sections of the country wanted
The legislation.
Mr.. Murdoch (Kan.) arraigned the
! s'conservatlye spirit" Of the house,
which he said appeared other than
conservative only in contrast with the
senate. He said:
''Inasmuch as the first measure OF
this kind was introduced over 40 years
ago by Charles Sumner; inasmuch as
4 similar measure passed the house ~
years ago and died in the senate, by
the way, and inasmuch as the COM
mission once exercising this proposed
power made orders affecting rates, In
ten years in only 100 cases, the Dill
d not rash or hasty step But II
Il Characteristic Of conservative
body, in conservative time, hard u
prick through the callous> of pro
found prosperity. It will enable the
commission to do some needed things
directly and other more needed things
Indirectly, but there are wrongs
wrongs which have been crying out
for remedy for 40 years which 1t will
not reach.
"Silenre the clamor Of city agains
city, market against market, and th'
wrong Of the disproportionately ex
rsssIva charge ON local traflc will 70
main. increasing volume Of through
traAlc according 10 trafic theory
b $500 Il reduction Of local rates. @,
~ the tariff schedules on file and sc,
Il the local rates have been reduced
The mogul locomotive. the larger car az
me reduced grade and straigntene'
track have reduced the cost Of trans
pprtation. Go TO the rate schedule
and see II local rates have shared
The per ton mile rate has fallen iron
e.41 mills in 1880 to 7.SO mills IN 1904
4 magnificent reduction. Go to tn
tarlff sheets and see II the local rat
mas participated In it."
Mr.. Murdoch submitted tables show
fng increased local rates and he ia
rored a provision in the bill reaching
regulation Of them. He described III
railroad magnate as one standing q
the exercise Of great power withou
responsibility. and asking only uni
formIty when It pays and place 9
expeditions redress when It Is injuret
ordering, in sublime certainty Of HI