The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-31
PROTESTS AGAINST.
ADVANCE IN RATES
Senator la Toilette Offers Rcse-
lution Requiring Attorney
General to Act.
OBJECTIONS BY ELKINS
West Virginian Declared That De
bate Would Take Up Too
Much Time.
OBJECTIONS BY ELKINs

WASHINGTON. May Ex-senator
La Toilette introduced resolution in
the senate to-day reciting that the
uniform advance in freight rates ef-
fectiNe tomorrow was evidence of
com bination in restraint OF trade, and
calling upon the attorney-general to
prevent the enforcement of the in
creases.
Senator Elkins republican, of West
Virginia., objected 20 immediate con-
slderation of the resolution, saying it
wouiu require 400 much debate.
1t will not entail more DEBATE now
than wnen ouereu as an amendment
to the pcnuing olii," hotiy repneu La
soliette.
Lar oLlette insisted ON offering an
amenoment to me railroad BIN but
Eikins objected and Lar oliette said
notnlns would be gained ny such
taCtI,s.
Inc chair head with EIkins. who
moved to take up the railroad bill and
tneH yieiued 10 senator owen, rflo
hau given HottCs On speech.
aroIe,te protested but In vain
Ills face was ni4sneo, and IL became
aNIuent that mis- lighting uIood was mp.
foliuwIng IN the resolution:
Whereas. The railroads in official
classification territory have announr-
ed that they wiii make effective at an
carry date "A general advance III all
class and commtaAs.y rates, and nave
recently advanced certain rates from
) to more than 90 per cent, and have
died tariHs with the interstate com
neree commission to become effective
af,er June ], advancing certain other
rates from to more than 90 per cent
and,
whereas Shippers associations III
various parts of the country after IN
yestigation have protested against such
advances upon the ground that the
same are unreasonable. and,
Whereas, The fact thar such III
rreases are uniform by all railroads
In the same territory; are Identical IN
amount for the same service and take
effect at the same time indicating
that such advances are the result OF
traffic agreements In violation of law.
therefore, be II.
Resolved. That II is the sense OF
the SENATE that the attorney general
should proceed at once to institute ae-
tions enioining such advances as have
been and may be hled with the inter
state Commerce commission and should
also institute prosecutions OF the rau-
roads filing such rates as being IN
violation oi ACT N1 &PEEFF%S HEHibNF1
July "a. 1880 (the Sberrnan antitrust
iaa), entitled. An Act TO protect trade
and commerce against Unlawful re-
xtraint and monopoly.
A joint resolution which La Toilette
endeavored to introduce but which was
blocked by Senator Eikins under the
rules ~ili be presented ~ the Nisc"n-
sin Senator when an opport lniiS oNers
later in the session. The resolution
provides
THAT until October ~. 1910. unless
the Interstate commerce commission
shall otherwise order. after application
and hearing as herein after provided
IT shall be unlawful for any common
carrier engaged In interstate commerce
to collect or receive greater otln-
pensation for the transportation of
= properly. than the charge aEed in the
lowest published schedule VI rates for
the same service between the sef0e
points IN force on May /, 1910"
The resolution also provides that shy
railroad desiring 70 advance ar discon-
tinue any such rates shall be given
hearing by the Interstate Commerce
Commission which shall decide wheth-
er the application is reasonable.