Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-03-05
= lTII7-Fsfs = z ~ n
M'(lJNBER
Offers Sensible and Just
Amendment to Railroad
Rate Bill

Senator MeCumber mas introduced
a resolution to amend the railroad
rate bill now before congress which
pretty clearly defines his position on
the question. The resolution provides
that the proposed rate bill shall be
amended to conform to the following
ideas: = = i s:4.rs5 + IA
h. That the provisions of the act
shall extend to cover all switching
and all terminal charges of every
description. s .$ s:,. 8 ',ss:l 4; S
q. That If a railroad grants re
bates, it shall be punished by a fine
of three times the amount of the re-
bate granted, and the party to whom
the rebate is granted shall also be
punished ,by a similar fine. + f II
3. That all refrigerator and private
car lines shall be governed by the
same law. sS.5z %E' $50 ;.tt 3: 5 .s; 3s
4. All charges to be. paid any com.
pany for the use Of private cars shall
be just and reasonable to the end
that the owner. Of them will have nc
advantage in shipping his own goods
over a competitor who does not own
cars. ...s~%s 81 ". Is ,s 4,
5. That after January !, 1909, all
railroads + shall provide refrigerator
and special cars for the use of their
patrons, so that a shipper will be
afforded special car service IL he
needs it, irrespective of the owner.
ship Of the private car lines now il,
existence s.>. s...E. z$5 81
6. That all discrimination in rate
or service between persons shipping
T from one point to another point shall
fbe strictly prohibited, but such pro
vision shall rot prevent any railroad
company from making a special rate
to some particular point for the pur.
pose of developing new sections or for
some particular industry for the pur.
pose of establishing or securing a de.
mand for that commodity. ,s< s..E
= T.. That the interstate commerce
commission shall be prohibited from
making any rules OF, regulations or
adjusting rates which shall in any
respect prevent or discourage free and
full competition between the several
carrying lines of the country.
g.. That the interstate commerce
commission shall not make any rule
having for its object the distribution
of the carrying or transpo rtation bust
ness between any particular lines, or
through any particular city, but that
all such business shall be allowed to
go to, such read or roads or through
such city or cities as shall be able,
under free and unfettered competition,
to secure the same. 81
The resolution does not touch on
the question Of the commission max.
ing rates, as that is. a constit utional
question which the senator believes
should be decided by the courts. The
resolution is clear cut, well deemed
statement of the senator's position
II the proposed railroad bill were
amended In accordance with this reso
luton, full and free comp tition would
be allowed between railroads; rebates
or special privileges to any partictl
lar shipper would be prohibited
Owners OF private car lines would
have no advantage IN shipping thei,
product over the private shipper who
has not such facilities, as the railroad
companies would be compelled Il
furnish private car service after tWe
and oneihalf years. n
The upbuildfng Of any particular
section Of the country by q railroat
company making special rates for tina
point, would not be prevented Il thu
/ bin were amended in accordance witt
this resolution, as it specifically states
that the railroads. upon good showing
might make special rates Tor th,
Especial commodities to such sections
Iof the country. There would be ~
4 discrimination in this other thai
1 possibly d discrimination in favor 0
i the country to be opened up, and thi
/ would be scrimination which woult
Ibe beneficial to the whole country.
Under the provisions OF this resolu
ton, the free and unfettered compel
ton between railroads would be cal
ried on and no government commits
sion would have the power OF detern
i lining what freight should go to on
particular road and what to another
The road giving the best service, a
the lowest rate to all shippers Woul,
lbe the road that would get the bus
Il ness
The interstate commerce commis
siou. ID. the North Atlantic seapor
dinerential case, promulgated th'
doctrine that Il should So regulate thy
rates from the Vest 10 New Yora
u B0sfxsr, PhllaxiAiphia. and Baltimore