The Washington herald., 1907-02-18

majority OF our railway corporations
Railways in this country are the axies
on which a large portion of its pros
perity and expansion depends, and II the
lawmakers viii load the railway inter
ests with much more of attempted leg
islation Of the character proposed, some
Of the railway axies must break. l be-
lieve that railroad corporations are do
ing the best they can, and are endeavOr-
ing to give to the public the best facili-
ties that can be secured. but If their BUSH
ness is TO be unreasonably and IN
justly hampered and interfered with.
as a consequence there win be a
depression of railroad securities, the re-
suit Of which may be much more far
reaching than can be anticipated, and as
a further consequence, railroad facilities
will become impaired the wages Of rail-
road employees reduced, and the number
of employees decreased 1t may be that
in some minor points the rate bill might
be amended, and thereby strengthened.
but at this time ] believe that the present
law is adequate and should be given an
opportunity to be put In operation and
application. and that there should be no
further attempt to radically change the
existing law. 90 I am opposed 10 the in
sertion in the Democratic national plat
form of any plank which, by direction or
innuendo, would favor the government
ownership Of railways.
Strong Enough, If Enforced.
Representative Sims. Tennessee-Q) ]
do not favor government ownership OF
railroads. II it is possible to properly con
troll them without it. ~ 1t seems to me
that the present regulation of railway in
terstate traffic is sufficiently strong 10
protect the shippers If rigidIy enforced,
and if not it can be strengthened. in my
Judgment, by proper amendments. 80
certainly favor plank in the next Demo
cratic national platform upon the sub
ject Of railway control and regulation. %
Does Not Go Far Enough.
Representative Burgess. Texas-D No.
% / cannot better state my position than
to quote briefly from an address by my
self contained on the first page Of the
Congressional Record Of Monday, Febru-
airy II, 1907, as follows: Il gave my vote
cheerfully in support OF the recent rate
legislation, and I believed then, and ]
believe now, that that legislation does not
90 far enough TO meet the situation. and
70 satisfy the demand Of the country FOR
relief, if, as under the Hepburn bill, Con-
gress can clothe the Interstate Commerce
Commission with power 20 fix a rate on
one road between two points. IL can ciothe
the commission with power to fix rates
on all roads between all points, and this
should be done. If It can clothc the com
mission with power 10 fix rates il can
also direct the principles and policies
upon which this raJe-fxing shall proceed
More than that, ii ought 70 declare its
VIII under its power, and leave as little
exercise Of power for the commission
as the circumstances viii permit. and in
my opinion, rate legislation ought to be
Immediately passed. clothing the Inter
state Commerce Commission with plenary
power to fix rates-with the power TO
value the various railroads Of the country.
and 10 fix rates upon the basis Of such
valuation, so that a fair interest will be
permitted upon the basis Of such fair
valuation. that the power 10 fix classif-
cation, and to prevent any change there
Of, so that the rate may not be changed
by change Of classification on the part
Of the railroads, and providing. that when
such rate is fixed, no inferior Federal
court shall. by injunction disturb the
operation Of the rate" 90 I favor a
plank in the next national platform de-
claTing for legislation in accord with nay
above answer 10 your second question.
do not think Il wise 10 touch the gov
eminent ownership phase Of the subject
at all lnasmuch as the party is COM
mitted by the platform Of 1896. and that
Of 1860, upon both Of which Mr. Bryan
was a candidate, and the platform Of 1904
to which he gave his assent, TO the doe
tTine Of meeting railroad evils by increas-
ing the powers OF the Interstate Com
merce Commission. il strikes ME Ii would
be unwise and unnecessary 10 say any
more in the platform than I have in
dicated.
Law should Have Honest Trial.
Representative Garner. Texas-CD I am
opposed to government ownership OF
railways o. ! do not believe present
regulation is as strong as il should be,
bSt favor an honest trial Of present law
before an amendment is proposed. that
we may more thoroughly correct fits de-
fects 90 / believe the next Democratic
convention should declare its position on
the railway question in such language
that there could be no question as to the
party's position.
Railway Competition Needed.
Representative Gillespie, Texas-C) No,
now. 90 II the present uoncompetitive
condition OF railway freight rates Is Ia
continue, I would say unhesltatingiy that
the present regulation of railway inter
state traffic Is not sufficiently strong 10
protect shippers. In this connection ] de-
sire 10 say, however, that in my opinion
the interests Of the shipping public are
best safeguarded by a competitive system
of railway transportation, and that this
competition can be largely restored by
the honest and conscientious enforcement
OF the Sherman antitrust law. In my
opinion, It viii be an evil day for our
people when they surrender the right of
competition among railroads and accent
IN lieu thereof governmental regulation. !
greatly fear the latter viii be the choice
Of the people. If il is not already so I'm
that event there will be no settlement OF
the railway rate question until the Inter
state Commerce Commission is clothed
with ample power 10 protect if possible
the interests of the public and I'm my
opinion this can be accomplished, but not
until the administration obtains possession
of the national government thoroughly IN
accord with this idea. In the absence
Of competition among the railroads. / do
not believe II possible for the Interstate
Commerce Commission, or any other gov
er.Tuental body. 10 protect the public suf-
hcie atty; and as the people awake to the
realization of the fact that competition
among railroads no longer exists, exactly
in that proportion will the demand for
ownership Increase I do
not hesitate to say that it is my opinion
that il competition is destroyed and can