New-York tribune., 1907-10-12
RAILWAY RATE MAKING
Commissioners Oppose Entire Fed
frd C0ntrOLUrge Closer Relations.

washington, Oct. 1.-THE nineteenth annual con-
renton Of the National Association OF State Rail
vav Commissioners adjourned late this afternoon
sffer deciding TO meet here on October s. 1908
A report submitted by Commissioner Staples.
Of Minnesota, Rates and Rate Making that
opposed federal control of railroads. expressing the
l4lef that it would be better TO lodge that control
.as near at home as possible" The report, which
was adopted. declared:
60 far as We are advised, we know OF no general
feGsrai authoTities We believe the best interests
- the people would not deserved by placing the
entire responsibility for rat control in the federal
Ne have no right 10 guess at values and should
ToTA t f5ol and feSeTss sfitboriee woiId have Com
plete data so far as railroad valuations are con-
Istice requires that there should be fair rela-
lion Of rates; that each clas sof traffic should bear
lis fair share of the burden. Here it may he said
that especially with the freight carried under the
end reasonable in one section Of the country might
There is nothing more elusive. dangerous mis-
leading than the plan OF percentage increase or de-
crease in rates especially so. if there is to be any
change in the classification relation OF rates or
commodities.
Discussion Of the report took wide range. H
A Fairchild, Of Washington State. wanted the
convention 10 60 on record as urging the jealous
guarding Of the investments of the people IN the
railroads Of the country.
Nj Staples Of Minnesota, replied that there was
rot so much water in the stocks of railroads as
people think He contended that the railroads had
ir1proyed their lines immensely and ought to be
given credit for that work.
II Warner Hill. of Georgia. declared that in the
unsettled state Of railroad securities to-day if he
were asked 10 part from what he had accumulated
he would feel that he would not invest in railroad
securities.
Commissioners Hughes of Ohio; Wood. Of In
diana: Meyer OF Wisconsin, fitzpatrick. Of Hi
nois and Earle of South Carolina, were appointed
q committee TO attend the antitrust conference
at Chicago. October - TO ..
4 Warner HILL Of Georgia, presented report
on deuurrage and reciprocal demurrage, in which
he said that 1.-The Congress ought 10 so amend
the act 10 regulate commerce as TO confer, II II
has the power jurisdiction on the Interstate Com
rnerce Commission ard empower it TO adopt rules
urop the question OF reciprocal denurage." The
report was adopted.
The following officers were elected; {. { NC
Chord of Kentucky president; Martin s. Decker.
~ New York first vice-president; R. Hudson Burr
., Florida second vice-president; William H Con-
molly Of the District Of Columbia, secretary, ana
y-irliaro Fitzpatrick Of Illinois assistant secretary
Commissioner Lawrence, Of Washington, oHereo
resolution that provision should De maze pS
-rbic, Inc Interstate Commerce Commission IN
,,,,,tior with the various state commissions.
rhsu obtain the valuations Of all ra1lroaos IN ule
f-ri+e5 States showing cost OF construction. cost
:, -e-roduction and present value. 1t was re-
ferred TO the committee on railway Valuations
without action
The s7ecfsI committee on safety appliances rec
commended legislation by Congress TO compel rail-
roads both steam and electric, 70 protect their
tracks by an automatic block signal system ana
urged that the several state legislatures enact
laws along this line.