The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-05-05
THIRTY DAYS
DEBATE POSSIBLE
Senators May Try to Talk
Railroad Bill to
Death.
BY United Press Wire.

Washington, May 5.-Suggestions
of the physical valuation of rail-
roads as an amendment to the Taft.
Elkins bill i'm the senate yesterday
brought up visions of about thirty
days debate. 1t has been inserted
in the house bill and 1t is being
awaited with fierce emotions by
friend and foe i'm the senate. Only
the tariff offers "a larger range for
views pro and con.
Physical valuation of a railroad
means an apppraisement of its actual,
real property, lands, tracks, buildings,
shops and rolling stock. 1t does not
consider good will, franchise value,
or the value of stocks and bonds is
sued by the company. Such an in
ventory would be of great service
to the Interstate Commerce commits
sion in determining rates just to the
people and yielding a fair profit to
the railroad company on its actual
investment.
A physical valuation would be not
the only but the controlling factor
in fixing rates, said Representative
Madden. Republican, of Illinois, au-
the house. The Madden amendment
directs the Interstate Commerce COM
mission to make the valuation and
TO consider therein the actual cost of
construction, amount expended in
permanent improvements, better
ments and extensions" and the eX-
tent to which such earnings are rep
resented by stocks and bonds in the
treasury of the railroad. 1t shall
ascertain the original cost and value
of the right of way and terminal
grounds and their present value and
the present value exclusive of i'm
provements.
For five years the Interstate Com
merce commission, In It's annual re-
ports, has recommended that congress
authorize II to make such valuation
of railroad property.
number of states, including Wis
consin, Michigan and Texas, have
made valuations of railroad property
New Jersey is now engaged in a SIM
liar work at a cost of 100000.
Railroads have fought the propo-
sitlon to the full extent of their In
nuence wherever II has appeared
L
have the effect of reducing rates be-
low a fair standard and that their
stockholders would suffer injustice.
A more potent reason for their dread
the opponents declare, is fear that
the tax gatherers ana the public will
thus learn the real value OF their pro-
perty and the extent Of the water
in their stock issues.
Advocates of valuation contend
that II Is manlfestly impossible for
the government to fix a just rate un-
less the status of the investment up
on which that rate Is to earn a fair
dividend is known.
REBELS
Vienna, May G.-Consular reports
received today from Uskub say that
the Albanian rebels were successful
in all of yesterdays engagements
with the government troops and that
unless the latter are heavily rein
forced they viii he unable to hold
the positions they now occupy.
There are no reliable estimates of
the casualties in yesterdays fight
ing, but 1t is believed that hundreds
were killed. Wounded soldiers are
streaming into Uskub and they say
| the battlefelds are literally covered
with dead.
From the ferocity OF the campaign
| conducted by the government troops
It is believed they are under orders
to suppress the rebellion by stamp
| ing out the entire Albanian popula-
ton If possible. Several Albanian
villages have been destroyed and their
non-combatant population slain, ac-
| cording TO reports from 1Prisrind.