The Washington herald., 1909-02-14
SCORESHEPBURNLAW
Representative Lamar Says
Rate Bill Is Ineffective.
DECLARES IT IS A DEIUsION
Would Give Interstate Commission
Power 20 Prescribe a Uniform Rate
for Railroads, ana Also Right to
Prevent Unfair Inereases-BeIieves
in PhysicaI Valuation OF Property.

Representative Lamar. OF Florida, yes
ter5ay delivered a speech in the House,
in which he declared the Hepburn rail-
road rate bin was a snare and a delu-
sion, and insisted that the country had
received no benefits from its passage.
Mr.. Lamar recalled the attack he made
on the bill before its passage. and said
that every prediction he made had come
true He pointed out the various number
Of rates that have been changed. and
said the measure in the main was in-
effective
Two gears age and more, and before
the passage OF the so-called Hepburn
railroad rate bill, termed that piece Of
legislation a 'delusion and 2 snare.
said Mr.. Lamar. i meant then that II
would not give the producers. the con-
sumers. and the shippers in the United
States relief from unjust and unreason-
able rates Of charges by the railroads OF
the country.
IN that sense the bill was a delusion-
Basis for Delay.
"I meant then. and foresaw, that the
existence Of that piece Of legislation, in
complete as It was. would be used as a
basis for delay IN enacting full and rene
dial legislation.
Ny prediction has been fulfilled
within the past few days, and in an
swer 10 a resolution OF this House. the
Interstate Commerce Commission reports
that within two years last past and since
the massage OF the Hepburn rate bill.
the interstate railroads OF the country
bsva largely increased their then exist
inc freight rates. and that this increase
bas bsen done both by direct raise OF
rates and by the devious and insidious
form Of rate raising known as change OF
classification
The Congress has not shown any de-
sire since the passage OF the Hepburn
bill to protect the public from unjust rail-
way rates.
And the Senate Committee on Inter
state Commerce has just sounded the
death kneU OF remedial railroad rate
legislation for long time, unless the
American people compel reversal OF
their position. And I believe the attitude
OF the Senate committee voices the con
trolling sentiment Of this House upon the
subject Of railroad rate legislation Mr..
Chairman. the attitude OF the Senate com
nittee operates 10 the interest OF the
railroads. and not Of the public
The effect OF their report. II ind0rseo
bv the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives. will be to leave the larger public.
their constituents. who produce, con-
sumo. and ship the products Of the coun-
try, to the tender mercies Of the rail-
roads.
Turn over the lamb TO the lion; confde
the sheep TO the wolf; drive the geese
into the den OF the fox. Then stand by
and see what wiz happen.
Profits VIII vanish
In Ike manner. viii vanish the profits
of those who produce and get their prod
ucts 10 market upon railway lines. II this
needed legislation is never made into
law.
The producers. the consumers. and the
shippers generally should az once. and
with vigor. join issue with the attitude
OF he United States Senate and the
House Of Representatives upon this great
Federal question. Three further amend
ments are vital 10 the efficiency OF na-
tional railroad rate legislation
'sFirst-The Interstate Commerce Com
mission must have the power to prevent
an interstate railroad from increasing an
existing rate until the business and rea-
Of the proposed increase has
been arst determined by said commission
-Second-The Interstate Commerce Com
mission should be invested with the power
10 prescribe a uniform classification OF
freight for interstate railroads. and that
no such railroad shall change any such
so prescribed without the
consent Of said commission.
'-Third-That the Interstate Commerce
Commission shall have the power 10 make
a physical valuation Of the property of
the interstate railroads
TinkIIng Cymbsi.
Until these amendments are adopted
By the Congress the Hepburn bill is mere
sounding brass and tinkling cymbaI
1T Is neither fish. fowl. nor good red
herring
Despite its good features, without
these amendments the Hepburn bill ap-
proaches the proportion Of legislative
fake
Without these three amendments The
Hepburn bill leaves IN the hands Of the
railroads OF the country uncontrolled
power Of taxation practically upon the
OF Interstate shipments
This power OF railroad taxation is a
function. It Is a privilege
Of the sovereign There are but two
in the United States. One Is
the nation, the United States, the higher
the other sovereign, CT SOW
ereigns, is and are the state and the
States OF the American Union. These
viii be false TO the people who
constituted them II they permit longer
the creatures OF the sovereigns to despof
the people"