The Washington herald., 1907-02-18
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

out all right II not, it win be amended,
no doubt to cover the shortcomings. 60
do not think il would be wise TO en-
deavor to make a political question of
this subject. AS you well know, when the
rate bill was under discussion for several
months during the last session Of Con-
gress. politics cut no figure whatever in
the discussions, so far as / could under
stand it. 1t is a broad national question
and should be so treated, in my opinion.
FaSOrs strengthening the Law.
Senator Carmack, Tennessee-O) 1 do
not favor government ownership of rail-
ways. CD Practical experience will proba-
bly, reveal various imperfectiong in the
present law. 90 The Democratic plat
form should favor the strengthening Of
the present law in whatever respects It is
shown by experience to be faulty or Inn
perfect.
Not Unless Control Fails.
Representative Burnett, Alabama-G)
do not favor government ownership of
railroads unless after full and fair trial
government control proves ineffective. 90
The present regulation OF railway inter
state traffic has not yet been tried SUI
hCiently TO determine whether it is strong
enough to protect the shippers. ] am OF
the opinion that IN some important de-
tails il ought 20 be made stronger. CD I
do not favor plank IN the next Demo
cratic platform piedging the party to gov
eminent ownership of railroads. but ! do
favor plank demanding efficient govern
ment regulation of railroads so far as
Congress has the power TO pass such leg
islation
Give Rate Law Fair Trial
Representative Wiley, Alabama-O /
do not favor the government ownership
of railways 90 / am in favor of Civ
ing the rate law a fair trial If it is not
strong enough TO protect shippers and
the public generally against alleged rate
inequalities and Determinations. I am
sure 1t can be so amended in the future
as 90 attain the desired end. so As
am opposed TO every movement or prop
OsitiOn which smacks, even remotely, Of
Ia purpose 10 further encroach upon the
reserved rights Of the States. ] do not
favor the insertion in the next Demo
cratic national platform of any plank
upon the subject of governmental owner
ship of public utilities
For strong Democratic Plank.
Representative Brundidge Arkansas
U 1 do not favor the government owner
ship Of railroads for the reasons that
believe the same impractcable in a gov
lernment ike ours. % / do not think the
present regulations on railway interstate
traffic sufficiently strong to protect ship
pers. ] believe it can be materially
strengthened by increasing the powers Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission. 81
l would favor a plank, and strong one.
nr in 10.
platform
Opposed 20 Capitalization.
/ Representative Clark. Florida-O I do
not favor the government ownership Of
railways. It would be a total abandon
ment of that fundamental principal Of the
Democratic party, viz: opposition to "a
Capitalization Of power In the general gov
eminent II would result ia the additions
Of what is called the ''Jim-CrOw car" IN
the South. II the general government
should own the railways. the minor posi-
tons in the railway service. such as
conductors, engineers. station agents, &c.
would undoubtedly be put under the civil
service, and that would mean negro rail-
way and Pullman conductors on our
Southern trains, and this would mean in
lteTminable strife. turmoil, and blo0dshed
! as the Southern people would never t0ler-
ate such a condition. l do not believe
I that any candidate who stands for gov
eminent ownership OF railways could pos
sihly carry the Southern states. There
are other objections. but the three I men
ton are quite sufficient for me, and 7
feel sure my constituents VIII agree with
me in the position taken. CO 7 DO not think
present regulations of railways are suf-
hcient TO protect shippers but I think
some Of the present regulations impose
unnecessary bardships on both the carrier
and the shipper OF course l cannot go
into detail in this short communication
90 ] favor a plank in the next Demo.
cratic platform. declaring for common
sense, reasonable. and just regulation Of
interstate common carriers and against
railway ownership.
shippers Need Further Protection.
Representative Bartlett, Georgia-O
do not favor the government ownership
OF railways 90 While the present regu-
llation of railway interstate traffic, as en-
acted at the last session Of Congress, is a
long step IN the direction of protecting
the interests Of shippers, there are other
things that might be done a should be
done to further protect then. To men
ton some. I believe that Ia commission
should have the power to inspect the
physical condition of railroads, and to re-
quire the transportation companies TO
keep their roadways and equipment in
proper repair. The commission should
have the power to compel the railroads
to furnish all reasonable and necessary
Observation-Disclosures Of transportation. and 10
IrequiTe them 10 deliver freight without
unnecessary delay At the present time
the railroads charge the consignees Of
/ freight demurrage, generally after the ex-
piration Of fOTty-eight hours. if they do
not remove freight from the cars in the
yards, and In many instances freight is
received In the yards of railroads and
/ kept there for weeks before ii is deliv-
cred to the consignee. Power should
/ therefore be given the Interstate Com
merce Commission 80 compel the payment
/ of reciprocal demUrrage 10 the shipper or
/ constance for delays in the delivery of
| freight. as we'll as to permit the railroads
I TO charge and collect demurrage from
shippers and cOnsignees. The Interstate
! Commerce Commission should have the
lpOwer TO change claSsificatiOns that are
made by the railroads. because il is By
means Of classihcatiOns made BY rail-
roads in many Instances, that discTimina-
/ tions are made i'm favor Of some shippers
/ as against others Additional legislation
should be had looking TO the protection Of
/ the lives of the travelling public and en-
plOyes from accidents, which are the re-
suit of overwork on the part of en-
ployes, or from keeping employees on
duty for unusually long hours without
! sleep or rest, These are the main points
that should be covered by additional leg
/ islatiOn. and there may be others, but I
believe that il the present law is upheld
/ by the courts and properly carried cut Il
viii be of great benefit TO the people.
/ % I believe that the next Democratic