The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-15

road would be of value to the commits
sion in it's work. There are undoubt-
eddy some roads as to which it would
be an advantage, from the standpoint
of the business of the commission, to
have such a physical valuation as soon
as possible
Yet Senator Long, who in this SEN
atorial campaign is SO loudly praising
the president, has voted against every
measure that has been before congress
giving to the interstate commerce COM
mission this power, which the pres1-
dent so urgently recommends.
ION page 1922 of the Congressional
Record under date Of May Ia, 1906, will
be found an amendment which Senator
LaFollette offered to the Hepburn bill
when it was pending before the senate.
This amendment provides that:
1.-The commission shall investigate
and ascertain the fair value OF the pro
perty of every railroad engaged In IN
terstate commerce, as defined in this
act, and used by IL for the convenience
of the public. For the purpose OF sucn
investigation, the commission Is duln-
orized to employ such engineers, eA-
merits and other assistants as may De
necessary. e.
"This amendment, it is observed, IS
in absolute harmony with the declara-
tion of the president. Yet Senator Long
voted against the amendment.
I'm a speech at Belo1t, kan.' IN &c
az voted against the Lafollette
amendment providing for the valuatlon
of the property of the railroads py t.is
Interstate commerce commission. ulo
so because I believed that sucn ln al
nation would be of little value. SUCH
valuation might assist the Interstate
commarce commission in determining
what was a just and reasonable rate,
but it assumes that the element Oh COST
of service is the principal one TO De
rof (ffpnt1n6%
the value of service is more 1mportant
than the cost of service. Rates In tnls
country are not based merely upon the
cost of service; neither can they be so
based without a revolution or our en-
tire Transportation system.
|. HVith due respect for the senator's
Judgment, 1t seems to me that the
above statement, which practically
means that rates should be based upon
the value, instead of the cost. or the
necessities of the individual for the
service. instead of the cost incurred by
the corporation in provldlng II LOT MN
is vicious and, If carried out, would
justify the Infamous olscIininat 10 q
AGAINST the weaker individuals and the
smaller communities, that have been
so outrageously practiced by the rail-
WAYS in this country.
''That the people OF Kansas appIove
can be no doubt. They are with the
nresident when he declares that the
federal government should have full
mower of supervision and control over
the future issuance of stocks and ponds
nv the railroads. and that 1t should
be able to prevent all overcapftaliza-
ton in the future; to prevent any man
hereafter from plundering others by
loading railroad properties with obliga-
tons and pocketing the money. instead
of spending 1t in improvements and in
legitimate corporate purposes, and
that any man acting in such fashion
should be held to criminal liability
'Why, then. should not their repre-
sentative in the senate support their
views and stand in his official capacity
for the policies which his constituents
believe in?"