The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-11-11
NEW R. R. LAWS
Will BE SANE
Hepburn Does Not Think They
Will be Hostile If Roads
Obey Old Laws.
MEET BEST INTERESTS OF ALL
The Spirit Of vindictiveness Will Not
Enter Into Railroad Legislation Says
Former Leader at Banquet of New
York Railway Business Assoeia-
ton

| York Railway Business Associa-
ton.
New York, Nov O.-Representative
W. +. Hepburn OF Iowa, and author OF
the Hepburn act, was the principal
speaker last night at the dinner OF the
Railway Business association. Mr..
Hepburn spoke of future railroad legis-
lation and said:
DETERMINATIONS and rebates through
twenty years compelled the legislation
Of 1906. We are now told in some
quarters that there is to be other legis-
lation. Probably some contemplated
provisions would be harmful, others
not. What serious hurt could come to
railroads if their capital could not be
increased until the matter had been
approved by the government authori-
ty?
1T has been suggested that the COM
mission should be empowered to post
pone in its discretion any protected
rate Increase until a final hearing and
determination by the commission. EVIL
disposed persons could suspend every
|
advance until the delay and burden
and expense of investigation had been
met. If at the end of this investigation
ii should be found that the protest was
without basis. no practical remedy
could be afforded If this rule should
be adopted IL would deter roads from
voluntarily lowering rates, because of
the fear that they could not be adj
vanced without protest
"rhe people have no spirit of vindic-
tiveness. 1t would be well nigh suicid-
al for the law-making power TO indulge
in enactments that We're unnecessary
simply for oppression's sake, and
which would cripple the roads in their
efforts to produce conditions OF pros
perity. Yet aw-makers are like other
men. They do not look with favor up
on those who deride their authority. II
the provisions Of the statutes as they
now exist are in good faith accepted
by the carriers. If the interests of the
shippers are looked to- as we'll as the
interests of the carriers. there will be
no legislation that can be called hos
tile"
President Brown Talks.
New York. Nov. 11.-William c.
Brown, president OF the New York
Central lines. said that the question OF
railroad regulation admitted of no fur
ther debate but that the extent TO
which it should be exercised was still
open for discussion. In his speech on
''The Nations Farms and National
Prosperity" Mr.. Brown said:
"The right to regulate railroads is
no longer open for debate The extent
to which this right should be exercised
is still open for discussion-not in
hostile spirit, not for the purpose of
fixing by law an arbitrary point be-
yond which regulation should not go.
but in a spirit of friendly cooperation
to try and ascertain, in the interest
alike Of the public and the railroads.
that happy mean which shall result
in the maximum benefit TO the patrons
of the railroads and the minimum en-
barrassment in the way OF restrictive
regulation. to the railroads.
Referring to the subject assigned
me. the boundless extent of fertile un-
occupied land in the United States is
gone In times of depression our un-
employed will be numbered by millions.
desire TO suggest two plans.
First the broadening of vo-
cational education, especially
agricultural Second. the doubling
of our rural population by more than
doubling the product per acre of the
nation's farms The United States
produces far less grain and potatoes
per acre than several nations, of Eu-
rope having poorer soil. and has re-
trograded in the last 30 years. Our
food exports. including meats, show
an aIarmingly rapid decline. II the
converging lines OF production and
consumption continue to approach
each other as they have during the
last ten years. long before the end OF
the present decade the last vessel
loaded with agricultural product will
have left our shores.
II am going to recommend to the
owners Of the roads. with which l am
connected the operation OF expert
mental farms. at the expense OF tho
road. but under the auspices of the
agricultural college of the state I'm
which the farm is located. If this
recommendation is adopted, I shau
hope 10 see il followed by other roads.
This system would multiply prosper
Gus farmers. II would also return to
the rural districts the preponderance
| OF political power, where IL can he
more safely lodged than in the con-
gested centers of population. already
ominously powerful in many of our
| states"