Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-10
State Railway Commissioners
and Federal Control.
NO SERIOUS Difference
Uniform Classification of Freight
Urged.
APPREHENSION OF MAGNATEs
Declared That Constitutional Safe.
guards to Property May Always
Be Secured In the Courts.

| 1t was expected that the nineteenth an
! nual convention OF the National Associa.
! ton OF Hallway Commissioners might
| complete Its business today. but II seems
| likely now that 1t will extend into to-
| morrow.
Thus far no serious difference of opin-
| ion has arisen among the delegates to tho
convention, and the disposition to run
counter to the federal control OF railways
IS not SO strong as at tho opening OF tho
convention.
Two reports were on the program for
today. Those on 'L.egisiation'' and Rates
and Rate Making" were expected to pro-
woke some discussion Of general interest,
both striking directly at the point OF
cleavage between the authority of the ma
tional government and that OF the states
as individual sovereignties.
The committee on rates and ratemak
ing takes sharp issue with the national
government oa the subject OF federal con-
| troll. which. the committee holds. 10 i'm
possible without amendment to the
Constitution. The committee maintains
| that the demand OF the people is that
| the control OF rates be lodged as near at
home as possible. The committee also
urges uniformity of action between the
federal and state railway authorities, and
that in some instances at least the state
| railway commissioners act as agents for
the interstate commerce commission.
Uniform Classification Urged.
P. Gathlin Of Ohio presented a report on
Uniform Classification" in which he Of
fered a resolution that it was the sense OF
tine convention that Congress enact Q
law requiring the Interstate commerce
commission at once to proceed to make
such uniform classification, and when so
made by such commission the same shall
be .--e legal classification for interstate
shipments.
The report recommended the appoint
ment OF special committee to hasten the
adoption Of a uniform classification Of
freight Mr. Gathlin explained that the re-
port meant that no effective action will be
taken by the carriers. There Is a fear
among the public" said he, that IL the
uniform classification is left to the car
riers it will result In a general advance in
class rates.
Commissioner Burr Of Florida main
tanned that the interstate commerce COM
mission ought to have the same control
over classification as over rates.
While 1t Is best to give to the Interstate
commerce commission q fair trial Of the
Hepburn act. 1t Is evident that II the
commission has not authority to control
| classification rates 1t ought to be given
that authority. The railroads employ these
classf1cations as a favor!te method Of
raising rates.
Mr.. Burr maintained that the interstate
commerce commission had no authority
to change rates except upon hearing.
The report Of the committee was adopt
ed.
An important report was presented by
Commissioner Martin g. Decker OF New
York for the committee on legislation. He
said that the enactment of the Hepburn
rate law was "a great victory for the pep
pie and a magnificent Endorsement Of the
President, the Interstate commerce COM
mission, and the state railroad commits
sioners.'
Apprehensions Of the Railways.
The report adds:
THAT the laws passed by state legisla-
lures during the year for the regulation
of railway traffic and services would be
regarded with satisfaction by all railway
companies and others who must con-
form to such prohibitions and require
ments may not. of course. be expected.
nevertheless 1t Is significant OF the ef-
feet of an aroused public opinion that
very many railway officers have during
the year freely conceded that regulation
fair and just as between the railways
and the public, promotes the stability and
even operates as partial guarantee, ot
railway revenues.
Apparently the apprehension Of many
railway executives Is that the roads pos
sibly may be subjected to serious loss
strong federal commission and Congress
standing ready to pass further restrictive
laws and state traffic now generally reg
ulated by state comm ssions having large
powers with such additional laws as may
be enacted by state legislatures. This
fear, or something like 1t. is found in fire.
quent expressions of opinion of railway
managers; but the statements so made
utterly disregard the constitutional safe
guards to property which may always be
secured through judicial procedure"
Harmony in Legislation.
The report urged substantial harmony
in railway legislation with respect to all
phases of the complex question. In clos
ing, the committee recommended that the
committee for the ensuing year be in
creased to eleven members and that 1t
should consider fully what uniformity in
legislation Is desirable or required and
that 1t meet with committees of Congress
and Of the various state legislatures.
The report Of the committee was adopt
ed practically without discussion.
An elaborate report OF the committee on
safety appliances was submitted by Wiz
liam Fitzpatrick OF Illinois. On motion OF
Mr.. Fitzpatrick. a special committee will
submit resolution containing certain
recommendations regarding the use of
safety appliances and legislation bearing
on them.