The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1907-08-01
BARNES ON THE RATE QUESTION.

John Barnes, who recently resigned
as chairman of the State Railroad Com
mission, delivered an address last Sun
day afternoon at the pabst Theater IN
Milwaukee on THE Railway Problem
The address was clear, forcipie'
thoughtful discussion of the railroad rate
question. 1t was characterized by clear
ness of statement for which Mr.. Barnes
is noted. 1t has the ring of statesman
exposition of an intricate and compIl
Gated problem and worthy of careful
consideration by the thinking people OF
the state
Speaking of freight and passenger
traffic Mr.. Barnes said:
Il hold that the earnings from ana
expenses of conducting the passenger
business should be separated from the
same items in reference to freight busl,
ness. do not urge this on the ground
of any legal necessity, but because lne
division rests on a sound economic OASIS
Low freight rates are vastly more I'M
portant to the people OF this common
wealth than low passenger fares, how
ever superficial observers may view the
subject.
"Apyone who attempts to adjust rates
without having some conception OF the
cost of the service affected Is cropping
blindly in the darkness and asking on
the principle Of hitting head when yon
see it"
On the inconsistency Of the Legislature
in passing the two-cent fare bill after
having enacted the public utilities law
the week previous he said,
I'VE have here in Wisconsin the incon'
gruity Of an unusually intelligent legs
lature, denying every municipality IN
the state the right to exercise any con
troll or regulation whatever over its heat,
light. telephone and street car compa-
mes, and placing the power Of regnla.
ton with the railroad commission, and
before the ink was Try on the pen that
made that bill law we find that same
legislature discrediting the work of that
same commission, by overriding deci'
sion made by it, upon which large part
of a year was spent. The public utilities
bill was signed on July 8 and the two
cent fare bill on July 16. Passing law
one day, placing it in the hands OF the
railroad commission powers far IN ex'
cess of those lodged with any other ad-
ministrative body of like character in
the United States, and heralding to the
people of the state within the space OF
one short week, that the self same body
was either incompetent or dishonest, IL
spectacle that would be amusing were
it not so serious
Whether they meant to do 80 or not,
and | fully concede they did not, the
majority of the members of the legisla.
ture of this state have advertised the
railroad commission AZ being either IN
competent or dishonest M Enthusiastically
as if this phrase had been written into
the two cent fare bill.
The vital principle involved, he said,
was that
Every question involving the rights
of the citizen on the one side, ana the
carrier on the other, should be consider
ed and determined by some tribunal
that will carefully investigate the facts
and the laws of the case, and render an
absolutely impartial and judicial deci'
sion after such investigation.
This il work, he said, which the legis.
lature for obvious reason could not do.
The atfront to the commissioners, he
said, if any there was, was intiniteslma
when compared with the assault on the
vital principle involved in railroad reg
ulation.
In all that Mr. Barnes said it is clear
that he is man who will hew to the
line Of principle and conviction, AZ he il
able to see it, leaving the chips Of office
to fall where they will. He is a states.
man and an honest man. His retire.
ment from the commission is regrettable.