Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-10-14
PROPOSED ADVANCE FAR.REACH.
Ing IN CONSEQUENCES.
Rates Cannot be Graduated on Basis
OF Prosperity of Country. inter.
state Commission Should Have
Power to Pass on Rates Before
They Are Effective.

III e proposed advance in lumber rates
from the Northwest states may, if put
IN effect, be more far.reaching in its
consequences than either carriers or ship.
pers anticipate. The underlying princi-
pie is OF great import. 1t is not whether
rates on lumber or any other commodity
shall be advanced, but whether in this
day OF combination such tremendous
power fraught with such possibilities can
be safely left in the hands Of few traffic
officials, responsible to no one save their
immediate superiors.
1t can never be conceded for one mo.
ment that railroad can graduate it's
charges on the basis OF the prosperity ol
q community. Reasonable compensa-
ton, remunerative rates are all it is en-
titled to. Any other theory would enable
the railroad TO divert at any time to ito
own treasury share OF the profits OF
successful industries or occupations. To
countenance such power is impossible.
There SCENE to be q wide difference OF
opinion between the manufacturer and
the carrier as to the result on the lumber
industry of the proposed advance. On
the one hand the manufacturer asserts
that it will be actually destructive, carry.
ing in its train not only partial ruin to
the lumber trade, but corresponding
effect on all lines of business; that no
rational reason has ever been given as q
justification for the advance; and that
the motive actuating it is either retalia-
tion or to divert larger portion Of the
profits of the lumber industries into the
treasures OF the carriers, neither OF
which is justifiable. On the other hand,
the carrier asserts 1t needs increased
revenue, that the lumber rates are too
low and they must be equslized.
In event the shipments continue there
is no question but what an additional
tax OF from five to ten million dollars
will be collected in freixhts from some-
body. On the other hand, if shipments
are not made and the mills close, in
some sections there will be commercial
stagnation.
Such an alternative from such cause
ought not to be possible in civilized
community.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
now has power to pass on the reasonable
ness of rates after they are put into effect
and to substitute rates for periods not
exceeding two years if such rates are
found unreasonable.
Why would it not be far better to pass
on changes in advance rather than wait
until the damage is done and then at.
tempt to award reparation? The public
at large is directly interested in these
questions.
Here we have a proposed advance in
volving the welfare of one OF our greatest
industries, which is made effective by
the edict OF three or four traffic mana
gers. 1t is doubtful if it is wise in the
light OF modern conditions to vest such
power in the hands of any one man or
set of men. 1t would be far safer, where
such changes are proposed, to first sub.
NIT them to the Commission where all
parties in interest could be heard and
where not only the carriers and the
shippers, but also the publc's rights
would be conserved.
There is nothing unreasonable or revo.
lutionary in this suggestion. The sys-
tenn proposed has been in force in Canada
for number OF years and the results
have been good. Portland Journal.