The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-12
TAX ON ROADS I5t-oNsIDERED .Sys Sestions by State VI Commissioners. THE RATES ARE DISCUSSED Passenger Tariff Less Complicated
 Than Freight. rians for Asesrsai.ins Fair Valuation ef Corporate Property is subject
 of Lively Interest te
 Delegates.

WdSHiuBtoh Oct. AA-AitSr hOuE days session the 18th annual convention of the National Association of State Railway Commissioners adjourned late this afternoon.
 Today report was submitted by Commissioner Staples. of Minnesota. on rates and making" that antago- nized Fedaral control of railroads to some extent. The report which was adopted, declared: "So far as We are advised, we know of no general reduc- ton in railroad rates due to any action by the Federal authorities. We believe the best interest of the people would not be served by placing the entire res- possibility foi rate control in the Fed sral government.
 Washington, Oct. l1.--When the nineteenth annual convention of the National Association Of Railway Com missioners convened today for it's final session 1t took up under special order the subject of railroad taxes and plans for ascertaining fair valuation of railroad property"
 In addition to this subject, upon which a committees report ts pending. three other reports for consideration were delays attendant upon enforcing SS@4Ae%@AtsA(e*@N@ Rates and rate making" and "Demur- rage and reciprocal demurrage." The report on rates and rate making attracted the most interest. as it ap- peals more directly to the people than any other matter before the conven- ton.
 The special committed on safety ap- pliances recommended congressionaI 1 iIegisiation 70 compel railroads. both steam and electric, 70 protect their tracks by an automotic signal system and urged that the several State Leg | islatures enact laws along this line | Charles F. Staples. commissioner of Minnesota, presented the report on Rates and rate making" The repors said there is a growing public sents- ment that the rates charged hy the IfntepSllssssEing the vartesa pfoducts es | the country. from one section. to azi- | other should be 6 sub3act of super vision and regulation by the various State and national authorities and lsupervision should be intelligent and fair to both the people and the trans- portation companies.
 Rates Are Complicated.
 sPassenger rates." the report adds. sare little complicated as compared with freight rates. and whelnsl iisnt lor wrong. the controlling tacgor isa their making Is that of comparison. we believe, however. that public ats- | thortties should carefully consider when induiring into passenger rates the question as to whether that branch of the railway business Is bearing iss 1 proper share of the entire operating expenses.
 If the railway mileage within each State was owned and operated sxcius- | lively by State corporations the matter of rate regulation would be much sim- plified. The cases are rere where road of any importance IS not an inter state road and a large share or the | "This may be argued as a reason | for entire Federal control. something we believe an impossibiltty without Amending the constitution. This we do not believe the States will conceds ,,ntiI 1t demonstrates that it is more practical then experience has yet shown | 1t to be.
 '"There have been many general rats i rad,ictions in different States followed
 hv reductions on interstate trafiic, and so far as I know these have all been hrought about by the affirmative ac- tion of the State authorities. So fai | as x.,a are advised we know of no gen. eral reduction due to any action by the Federal authorities. we believe the best interests of the people would not be served by placing the entire respon, lGovernment.
 Closer Relationship. .sFsv the placing of the entire respon- s,bilitv for rate control in the Federal | Government, we believe there should | he a much closer relationship between l inc Federal and State authorities than seems to exist at present. that In many matters State commission snoulo ac' os agent for the Interstate Commercs Commission to the advantage of both
 "Ye have no right to guess at values end should not accept the values placed b,, the carriers. The work should be | so conducted that when completed both
 Stste and Federal authorities would
 have complete data so far as railroad valuations are concerned.
 Justice requires that there, snoulc
 ha . fair relation of rates: that each
 orosa of traffic should bear it's fair share
 oS tbe burden. Here. 1t may be sata
 thot asnecially with the freight car
 -HoS under the so-caited commodity
 rotas what would be fair and reason
 ahle in one section or the country
 night not be reasonable at some other point. ro~4 toot, |. x,,,ae
 ange Fl. Warner Hill of Geofgis declared that in the unsettled state oi
 retIroad securities today, if he were
 aaEaS to part from what he had ac-
 oYn,mlated in the world. he would feel
 tpat he would not invest in railroad
 saonrities He thought that both car
 rtsrs and shippers were entitled to
 fair consideration in the matter of rates. 1y,,has oI onto,
 uood of Indiana and Earle, of South Csroiina. were appointed to attend the
 enti.trust conference at Chicago octo-
 Der 22 to 26. -. c,...,, ,.....,
 an elaborate report on demurrage ir
 1rh,ch he said, that Congress ought tn smend the act to regulate com
 rosrce so as to empower the interstate commerce Commission to adopt rules mon reciprocal demurrage." The re.
 It was decided to hold the convention
 next wear in this city beginning octo'
 Der 8.
 lc. C' McChord, of Kentucky. Presl. dent: William H. Connolly. District oi Columbia. Secretary