The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-05-26
Consumer is at Railroads
Mercy.
Extortionate Rates Made at
Will.
Senator Speaks In Favor OF Cummin
Amendment Which Make Approval
of Interstate Commerce Commits
sion Necessary Before Rates Can
be Incrcascd--Talf Brought into
Discussion
BY United Press Wire

Washington, May 26.-"Railroad
transportation actually controls the
country ITSELF" declared Senator La
Follette. Republican, of Wisconsin,
yesterday in speech in the senate
favoring the Cummins amendment to
the railroad bill, making the increase
OF rates subject to the approval of
the Interstate commerce commission.
TO make monopoly serve the peo-
pie and prevent monopoly from op-
pressing the people," said La Fol-
lette, lis the highest obligation of
the government to the people and
VIII so continue until proper legisla-
ton for the control of monopolies
has been enacted. The power of regu-
lation must be co-equal with the pow
er of abuse.
There is not line in any statute
today that gives the people reason
able rates The law does not go be-
yond the attempts to afford them
equal and on-discriminatory rates.
The only thing accomplished up to
this time is legislation giving the
shipper a right to contest unjust
rates.
No protection is offered the con-
sumer, whose interests are entirely
different from those of the shipper
The consumer is the 9O,O00,0OO peo-
pie as again the 1000, 900 shippers.
THE interstate commerce commits
sion is engaged I'm mere child's play,
seeking to regulate rates. They are
hedged about by such regulations as
prevent control or remedy.
THE railroads of this country had
their own way in legislation for forty
years. Those now in public life will
have the sins of many congresses to
atone for"
La Toilette contended that present
freight rates are too high and the
present bill provides no measure by
which the commission can determine
the reasonableness of any rate He
uation of railroad property as a basis
for freight rates.
The paragraph relating to suspen-
sion of rates in the bill as prepared
for the president last November, La
Toilette said, was in the interest of
the people As ID was afterwards
weakened, following the visit of rail-
road presidents to the White House,
the paragraph was wholly in the in
terests of the railroads, he asserted.
La Toilette reviewed efforts to curb
the railroads since 1874 and declared
that corporate influence i'm congress
was sufficient to strangle all proposed
legislation.
There are no reasonable and just
rates at present as between the pub
lie and the shipper" he said. There
never will be protection for the peo-
pie until congress empowers some
tribunal to prevent the collection of
not only unreasonable but extortion-
ate rates until after investigation and
approval. Those who do not vote to
afford this relief will betray the pub
lie trust.
Morgan and Rockefeller will soon
stand as representing the consolida-
ted railroad interests, Hartman
reached out his hand and grasped the
Gould interests in the Southwest. The
now read the handwrit-
ing on the wall and their grasp will,
soon pass to the common control"
Senator Newlands. Democrat, Of
Nevada, interrupting. said the man
ner in which the house had treated
the recommendations of the interstate
commission was Insulting
and contemptuous"
1t was suggested by Senator Gall
linger, Republican, of New Hamp-
shire, that Newlands was near a vio-
ation of the rules.
II will go further" said La Fol
Iette, "and demonstrate that the
treatment given the commissions
by the proper COM
mittee of this body was insulting and
to the highest degree.
Will prove this by the records and
that can not constitute violation of
the rules"
La Toilette quoted the following
expression used by Carl Schurz 81
10 not say that senators are retained
by the railroads. but do say that
they act as If they were so retain
ed"
'The most charitable view to take
Df this whole matter" said La Fol
ette. "is that the chairman of the
interstate commerce committee ana
The members of that committee pay
lust as much attention to the recon-
nendation OF the commission as they
10 now to the discussion of this ques-
ion here"
Taking up the question of physical |
valuation, La Toilette declared that |
40 adjustment of rates could be prop
srly made until such a system is
idopted.