Mower County transcript., 1906-09-26

A. L. Cole, Republican candidate for
governor, commenting on the recent
action of the railroad commission in
making an arbitrary reduction of
rates, has this to say. 49,. ..... = ...>A.
.'The people of the state will no
doubt be greatly pleased to learn that
the railroad and warehouse commits
sion has determined to put an end to
the hearings. on the present COM
plants which have been dragging
along for months, and will order what
will be equivalent to a reduction of 20
per cent in freight rates. on merchan-
disc of all classes. AS I understand
it, this is not horizontal reduction,
which would leave the present in
equalities in rates intact, but pro-
vision is made for table of distribut
ing rates according to distances. which
will be used as a maximum. The re-
port I read says that "the railroads
may adjust to local conditions, but
cannot exceed the figures prescribed
in making rates to and from terminal
points, and that rates between other
points must not exceed 5 per cent
more than the schedule.
Follows Republican Platform.
''This, it will be seen, SO far as mer-
chandise rates are concerned, is in
line with that paragraph in the Re-
publican platform which I quoted in
my speech delivered the other day at
Kenyon, which declares that there
should be such a readjustment OF
freight rates and charges as will af-
ford to every producer, shipper and
consumer the impartial service of the
railroads of the state.' Further than
this, it is almost literal compliance
with the joint resolution adopted by
, the state legislature, which was intro
duced by Senator Eberhart and which
worked and voted for. That reso-
luton directed the railroad and ware
house commission to undertake the
work of securing a. readjustment OF
the existing freight rates which will
give a more uniform system of rates
throughout the state and a uniform
scale Of percentage which each class
rate shall bear to the first class, the
readjustment to secure a substantial
reduction in the existing merchandise
rates. ~ s@s - 5$ . <
Until the railroad and warehouse
commissioners have fully completed
their investigation into the value OF
the roads inA the state, which they
may not be able to do before the en-
actment Of additional Legislation en-
larging their powers, they, of course,
have: not the best possible basis on
which to order reduction. think
they have done exceedingly Well under [I
the circumstances, and that the rates
they have made will meet with the
UNQUALIFIED approval of the pubic: l
Certainly the reduction will prove OF
substantial benefit to every interest In
the state But inasmuch as the rates
to be. ordered are somewhat higher
/ than those in force in Iowa, think
it possible, il not probable that hen
the information referred to has been
secured and the ,S commission has
finished the investig ion of values in
which it is now engaged the rates may:
be still further reduced.
Not Immediately Operative.
While, however, it is gratifying to
know that the redu uction in rates has
been decided upon, we must not over
look the fact that as our law stands
it may prove impo ossible to make the
reduction imme diately operative. That
will depend on the position the rail-
roads choose to- take. It is new quite.
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