Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-02-15
DISCUSS RATE BILL.
Senator Lodge Of Massachusetts
Favors Railroad Regulation.
ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Practice of Rebates and Discrimina-
lions Required Drastic Laws
If Not Controlled Government
Ownership Would Result.

Washington, Feb. 13.-Mr. Tillmar
from the committee on interstate com.
merce reported a joint resolution ii
recting the interstate commerce com
mission to investigate the alleged dis
elimination by railroad companies ID
the matter Of transportation of coal
and other commodities The resolu.
ton is the result of the complain
against conditions in West Virginia
but that state is not specifically iner
toned in the resolution.
Mr.. Lodge announced his support O.
legislation for the control of RAILROAD
rates along the lines of the Esch-Town
send bill of last session, and said that
he believed the practice of giving re-
bates to be the most serious Oh al tEt
evils complained of. He expressed the
conviction that only by legislation
along the lines suggested could gov
eminent ownership be prevented. Ete
said that before entering upon the
investigation of the question he had
disposed of his railroad interests in
order that his inquiry might he free
from bias.
He expressed the opinion that Tie
rate question is second only as an &C.
onomical problem, to the fn3l".a
question and one Of the most impor,anl
ever before congress.
All were agreed. he said, as to what
we as a people desire to do but the
differences arise over the method OF
proceeding. He was convincei III
there are evils to be remeiied in co7
nection with the transportation rail-
way system but the problem consisted
in finding a fair and just means OF
dealing with them.
He passed over as an established fact
the right of congress to lesisiate for |
the regulation of the railroads. The |
gievances against tie roads he divided
into three classes as follows:
Rebates, or discrimination between
persons; excessive rates, and discrim
ination between localities. ! don't
think that 1t would be possioie
to- pass legislation too drastic
for the purpose CT stopping tle'
determinations between persons. We
have a law now upon the statute books
which, SO far as prohibition can go,
ought to be sufficient. 1t Undoubtedly
has largely checked rebates. but it has
not stopped them entirely. To make
the law thoroughly efficient we ough
10 add, in my judgement, TIRES proVis-
Ions We should restore the former
penalties Of the Interstate commerce ;
aw-which should not have been 70 ,
make these secret evasions !
II the published rates punishable Oy
Imprisonment. The men who perpe- !
rate these evasions in defiance Of the
aw suffer but little BY q hne. even II J
{ be a heavy one. Their resom Ses are 1
90 large to make a money penalty a n
erious one. For this reason they are Z
iersons who would feel asutely q pun \
shment BY imprisonment and that
nalty ought to DO provided in any II
Nv which we pass" b
~The third and last point is that Il
discrimination between localities Il
hat determinations exist under our
Fstem. which work in justice. Il would
} folly 10 dsny, but Il would be SIN
roatsr folly 20 establiah a new series
discriminations, working q larger =
IiustIce, IN TIE hops o. curing the =
fglnal inequalities. Whatever at =
MT % remedy place Determinations,
, M paks ~ re0uld % Eusrd #