The Washington herald., 1908-04-17
CARNEGIE FOR REGULATION
Would Increase Powers Of Interstate
Commerce Commission.
Ironmaster FavOTs Making that
Body "IndustriaI Supreme Court"
of United States.

A letter from Andrew Carnegie, read by
Seth Low before the House Committee on
the judiciary. which has under considera-
ton the Civic Federation bill, proposing
amendments TO the Sherman antitrust
act, excited a good deal OF interest.
The ironmaster expresses views at
length favorable TO legislation regulating
corporations doing an interstate business;
declares that the railroads should not be
permitted 70 discriminate against indi-
viduals or committees. and urges that au-
thority TO regulate industrial as well as
railroad corporations should be vested in
the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Mr.. Carnegie has a high opinion Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission. It has
done great work. in his opinion. I'VE are
doing pioneer work just SOW" says he in
this connection; work that this vast
Union must do sooner or later. but the
history OF the Supreme Court should lead
Us to press forward now The Interstate
Commerce Commission has already made
much better start than the Supreme
Court did
Mr. Carnegie then makes this sugges-
ton
within the domain Of commercial re-
straint OF trade there should be an au-
thority somewhere to permit restraint
needed to protect the public interest and
to deny the right to restraint when II
deprives the public Of the benefit OF com
petition, which is It's right. A body like
the Interstate Commerce Commission can
/ perform this duty much better than
courts Of law. It is vital that the COM
mission should win and enjoy the con-
/ fdence of both the corporations and the
/ public, and become our industrial supreme
| court
| Addressing himself 70 the Civic Fedora
/ ton bill, Mr.. Carnegie declares that the
/ government should regard every appli-
cation for the right 10 combine or "a
/ agree TO combine prices as something
wholly exceptional and against public
policy"
He contiaTes:
The railroads must ne allowed to make
common rates to common points. be-
| cause there is little difference in cost
| between moving loaded and empty ears
| sixty passengers in a car cost no more
!
passing per day cost little more than
six. the difference being only cost OF
| labor and cars; the railroad itself and its
organization is already provided. Hence
railroad rates would be demoralized with
/ out common rates to common points
| This is obvious.
Therefore. these must be permitted
but the chief and almost sole duty of the
| commission remains which is to insure
| for the public the benefits of competition
This must never be infringed; therefore
the commission must possess and exer-
else sole authority over these common
rates and be certain that they do not
exceed rates generally prevailing in othei
parts Of the country served by railways
Nor should there be rates which yield
| undue profits to the railroads.
Mr. Low submitted 10 the committe'
amendments 70 the Civic Federation bill
which carry out Mr.. Csrnegie's suggestion
that all questions affecting commerce be
tween the States should be placed in th'
Jurisdiction of the Interstate Commerc'
Commission The Low amendments taxi
out OF the hands OF the President and th'
Commissioner OF Corporations. who ar,
named as arbiters in the measure as i
was originally introduced the determine
ton of questions affecting corporation.
and labor organizations that would sris,
under the proposed law, vesting sole au
thority in the commission to pass upoI
the reasonableness or unreasonableness o
contracts.
Henry r. Towne Of New York presi
dent OF the Merchants Association of tha
city. appeared in opposition to the bill.