The Washington herald., 1907-02-18
OPPOSED TO OWNERSHIP
Sentiment Same as Expressed
After Bryan'S Speech.
Members Of the Minority In Con-
tiOns, stand for Regulation, but,
at the Same Time, DePreeRte
Pointed Answers to Inquiries.

The Washington Herald a few days
ago addressed the following Inquiries u
Democratic Senators and Representatives
in Congress:
First-Do you favor the government
ownership Of railways?
Seconds the present regulation Of
railway interstate traffic sufficiently
strong to protect shippers? If not, can
it be strengthened?
Third-Do you favor plank on this
question in the Democratic national
platform?
Already sufficient number Of answers
has been received to indicate the pre-
vailing sentiment Of the minority in Con
gress Months ago. Immediately after Mr
Bryans speech upon his return from Eu-
rope. it was made known unmistakabIy
that his party did not share his views
IN favor of government ownership Of the
railroads. Party sentiment has under
gone no change in the meantime. as is
shown by statements printed herewith
but it is notable that some of the states
men whose views are presented indicate
that failure of government regulation
I
ownership
The answers received by The Herald
follow:
Present Law Needs Strengthening.
Senator Clay. Georgia-CD / do not favor
the government ownership OF railroads.
/ favor strict government regulation.
q The present law. in my judgment
can be strengthened. and doubtless will
be strengthened. as time will develop
/ many defects in its operation. The In
( terstate Commerce Commission. under the
present law. is empowered to investigate
existing rates. and If found 10 be TOO
high, the commission is empowered to
lower existing rates. fixing those rates
! that are reasonable and just I appre-
hend that It viii be e very difficult task
for the commission to determine what is
d reasonable and just rate. unless The
| commission shall know the actual cost of
cur railway property. Il wiz not do 90
! fix rates on the basis that the roads cost
/ the amount for which they are capital
/ lied; all watercd stock should he squeezed
/ out and the actual cost Of the roads
/ should be ascertained. and i'm my iudg-
nent, Congress viii have TO provide for
! experts to determine the actual value Of
/ the roads before the commission can as
/ certain what Is a reasonable and Just
/ rate. Such legislation was attempted
when the rate bill was under considera-
/ ton, but was defeated / believe such a
/ legislation TO he necessary in order 10
! have government regulation
Socialism aud Capitalization.
Senator Money, Misslssippi-U / am CD
posed TO the ownership of railroads ~
1 There has been no trial of the new Law
yet, to test its efficiency. 7 believe that
the government can regulate railroads.
properly. and benefcially 80 I do favor
a plank. on this question. in the next
/ Democratic platform. favor a dccIsra-
tion. against State Socialism. and also.
against Capitalization: both. being now
equally dangerous. and both destructive
to the capacity Of the people. for self
government.
/ For Absolute Regulation.
Senator Stone, Missouri-D do not
favor the government ownership Of rail
ways. % Congress has the Constitutional
power 10 regulate interstate commerce,
and / favor such absolute regulation AS
viii compel the carriers of interstate
traffic TO do exact and impartial justice To
all shippers and localities. and al such
rates as will afford just and fair compen-
sation TO companies operating railways
upon capital actually invested. / would
not say that the present laws are ade-
quate to bring about this result. but the
! legislation Of Congress in the last few
! wears has advanced lone
! its attainment Tbe law passed at the
last session Of Congress has not yet been
sufficiently tested 10 demonstrate salts
! factorily its effectiveness. It possesses
some excellent features. and good results
have already eventuated. but in my opin-
ion. the law would have been greatly
| strengthened and improved If some of the
amendments proposed TO It in the Senate
had been adopted instead of being re-
/ jected. II the present law whether
/ through its own defects or through i'm
perfect administration. proves to be in
| effective. I have no doubt that laws can
be enacted and enforced that viii make
regulation successful. and through that
means eradicate substantially all the cur
able evils of which the public have justly
]
| forms have declared for thorough regula-
tion Of interstate traffic. and I should
think it would be sufficient TO reaffirm
those declarations in general terms. To
attempt more than that would probably
provoke "A contest which, under present
conditions would be as needless as il
would be harmful It would be folly 20
precipitate a controversy over somethIEs
which is not in large sense an issue I'm
American public thought. I speak of con-
| ditiOns as they exist to-day. OF course
/ the question of government ownership
might be unfortunately so forced TO the
/ front between now and the summer of
/ 1903. and circumstances might then be sus
that it would become both wise and
cessary for the national DemocraSss
the party opposed to imperial
Capitalization. to make deh9s
ton on the subject.
Not a Political an
Senator Clark. Montana
terably opposed to goveJ
of railways. 90 I 90
an opinion The pE
thoroughly tested be
Of Congress begins.
CONTINUED o.