The Topeka state journal., 1908-07-04
Discussed the Hepburn Bill Out
in Cove County.
Gave His Idea on Physical Valua-
tiOn of Railroads.
MOTORING In THE MUD
But Roads Give Less Trouble
Than Earlier in Week.
Speculation Over Meaning Bris.
tOw's Democratic Friend.

Grainfield. July with six meetings
Thursday Senator Long concluded one
OF the busiest days he has spent in the
Sixth district and moved on to Rus
sell county where he spent Friday.
The principal speech of Friday was
made at Cove. the county seat, twelve
miles inland. In this speech, and be-
fore court room full of people. he
discussed some interesting subjects.
among others that of valuation.
Il am aware" said Senator Long,
that 1 have severely been criticised
throughout the state because i, as one
or the delegates to the national con-
vntion, and one who helped to make
= the platform. voted against the Lafol-
iette physical valuation of railroads
plank. 1t is construed that / am
against physical valuation because
voted three times against It: First.
when the Hepburn railroad rate bill
was being considered in the senate:
second, when the Ohio river and Lake
at the Chicago convention in connec-
tion with the Republican national
platform.
First, I want to call your attention
to the fact that the Chicago platform
specifically indorsed the Hepburn rail-
passing over the state. one of whom is
my opponent, who seem to forget that
this law was ever passed. They talk.
for instance, of inequality of rates
from Salina to Gulf points. Their COM
plant is filed in political campaign
IN Kansas instead Of where it should
be filed, under the law, before the in
terstate commerce commission at
Washington. The Hepburn railroad
rate law gave the interstate commerce
commission power to hear complaints
concerning rates and determine wheth-
er the carriers rate is unjust and un-
reasonable. and further power to de-
termine what is a Just and reasonable
rate for the future and put it into ef-
feet. Yet, to listen to some of those
now making speeches in this primary
campaign. you would imagine there
never was such a law passed.
ALSO l want to say that Mr.. Bris-
tow, my opponent, then favored the
Hepburn railroad law and compliment
ed and congratulated me on my atti
tude on 1t, and my assistance in secur-
ing it's passage.
Congress cannot fix rates between
Salina and the Gulf, obviously, though
II has the power to do so; but 1t can
delegate that power to an administra-
tive body. 1t can create a tribunal
with power to investigate a complaint
and give relief. A rate anywhere in
Kansas to anywhere in the country
can be challenged, investigated, and
ordered changed If unjust and unrea-
sonable. 4t.tsst
"That is what we did in the Hep
burn railroad rate law, and all the
good desired may be accomplished un-
der it. But the place to file COM
plants is not in the heat of this
political campaign. but before the In
terstate Commerce commission.
I'VE have heard a good deal about
the physical valuation of railroads.
We heard OF it, as l said above, in
connection with the Hepburn bill, the
Lake Erie canal bill. and the Chicago
platform. 1 voted against the valua-
tion amendment to the bills men,
toned. and against the valuation
plank at Chicago. The latter was
defeated in the national convention by
a vote of SO to 917.
You asked me II 1 am opposed to
valuation as a proposition. I answer
that am not. Every time it has been
presented 1t has been in connection
with something else. and not on its
merits. 1 regard physical valuation
as only a factor in determining rates.
am not opposed to it If presented
along proper lines and for a fixed
purpose. ] do object to 1t II for the
purpose of confusing and obscuring
other and more important PROPOSE
tions, as in the case of the railroad
rate bill and the Chicago platform
do not admit that Ii Is an important
factor.
"You must remember that we must
still have competition in this world.
A railroad must meet competition
Irrespective of the cost of a road.
Take the case of the Union Pacific
railroad and the Rock Island railroad,
Kansas City to Denver. Suppose the
physical valuation is determined.
Suppose 1t is ascertained that the
Union Pacific is worth double the
Rock Island. Do you suppose that
from fact the Union Pacific could
charge double the Rock Island rates.
Kansas City to Denver? You know
the result on passenger or freight
traffic IL the Union Pacific should do
such a thing as that.
Physical valuation is an immaterial
factor because railrc ads cannot take
the cost into consideration in de-
termining rates. 1t would be just as
reasonable to expect the eastern Kan
sas farmer to receive double the price
for his wheat because his land is
worth in western Kansas $40 to $25
per acre.
'You ask me whether there is nc
necessity for physical valuation In the
Chicago platform is a declaration for
supervision by the government of fu-
ture issue of stocks and bonds of rail-
roads, 1t may become important to as
certain the physical valuation, and al
information concerning the earning ca
pacity etc. Power is given the inter
state commerce commission now under
section 20 of the Hepburn law. Secre-
tary Taft in his Columbus speech OF
last year stated that in his opinion the
Interstate commerce commission now