The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-01-02
President Will Ask Congress to
Strengthen the Powers of
The Interstate and Hepburn
Laws.
RAILROADS NOW GET
MOST OF BENEFITS
Equal Rates to All Rather
Than Lower Tariffs Will Be
The Aim in Enacting New
Legislation.

al government more intimately affects
the life of the people than that of eff
fective regulation of the railroads.
The roads are the mainsprings of
modern progress. The people of the
United States are served by %, 900
miles of railroads, almost half of the
value of the amount of railway capital
outstanding is almost $1,000, 900 900,
representing from - to 20 per cent of
the capital of the entire country, and
the gross earnings upon this capitali-
cation approximate annually about 3d.
shO.OGO.COO. During the last fiscal
year more than Son,OOOOOO passengers
and ,J32 49,, 900 tons of freight were
carried.
Consequently every citizen of the re-
public has a vital interest in the pro-
posed action of the president and con-
gress with respect to further regula-
ton of the railroads. A few states
began the experiment of railway regu-
lation thirty years ago, and from their
beginning has developed great num-
Der of restrictive and amendatory laws
administered by forty-two states and
federal railway commissions.
Roads Gain by Legislation.
At first opposed by the railways, this
regulation has come to be recognized
by them as a public necessity, since it
not only protects the rights and inter
ests of shippers but conserves the le-
gitimate rights and interests of the
carriers.
And. as in many OF the states, pub
lie sentiment aroused by the gross
wrongs and evils committed by the
railroads forced radical local legisla-
ton, injurious alike to the community
and the carriers. and sometimes the
action Of state touching line pass
ing through other states led to dis
examinations against and irritation in
other states, there has become iIp
pressed upon the federal government
federal railroad power. "a
1t is realized that the present wrongs
can not be corrected by the punish4
ment of past crime. though their con1
tinuance may be avoided by examples
made of the Offender. 1t is true there
are many local questions which can
not be reached by the federal govern
ment, and experience has shown how
far the federal government may go in
eliminating the evils.
Want Equal, Not Lower Rates.
It is regarded as automatic that II
all the shippers be treated alike upon
the basis of a reasonable rate. no just
complaint can be made. Indeed, equa
rates are far more desirable than low
rates. The real grievance lies in dis
elimination. If lower rate be Civ
en- to one shipper than to another TO
exactly the same service. then the lat
ter will be driven to the wall.
When the railroads first began oper
alton they were subjeG. to common
law. Under this principe positive dis
examinations are PROTESTED. but mega
tive determinations can not be pre-
vented. A carrier was forbidden t
grant special facilities to one shippe
over another. but if he chose he coul
to quote Judge Walter c. Noyes of tn
court of common pleas in Connection
withhold the favor of low rates fror
one and not from the other
This rue, according to Judge Noye
naturally was taken advantage of b
the railroads, and Determinations be
gan. increased. and permeated tn
whole transportation business.
Public Forces Interstate Act.
No pretense was made by the raj
roads to maintain the rates. The pull
lished tariffs never were Observes
Concessions always were made to tt
large shippers. and monopolies deve
oped through the system of rebate
which, in the case notably of Stan'
ard Oil, enabled them to gain contr'
of the roads.
In response to the public deman
which developed. congress made an II
vestigation of the railroad situate
and passed the interstate commer'
act of 1887. For time the rate 81
uation improved. Unfortunately. IL
Improvement was Of short duratio
Rate wars occurred and the discrim
nations were resumed.
In 1908 the E!kins anti-rebate la
was placed upon the statute book
This law. in conjunction with the 1
terstate commerce act of 1887, tend'
to arrest the high handed and publ
methods of discrimination, but co
cessions were made in secret. tt
country continued dissatisfied with Il
conditions and as result of the enc
getic and determined efforts of Pres
dent Roosevelt. the Hepburn act
1906 was passed.
Provisions Of Hepburn Law.
The Hepburn act was forward ST
in enabling the proper control tt
most important principles which
lays down are the following:
Making public the business Of ,
common carriers.
Filing OF tariffs, making it necess
ry that they shall be published thir
Continued on Page Six.)