Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-07-05
HAS TAFT BACKED DOWN
ON RAILROAD POLICY?
Especial Dispatch to The JournaD.

Especial Dispatch to The JournaD.
WASHINGTON, July 2.-President
Taft's declaration at Beverly yesterday
that the new railroad law would not be
enforced against the railroads is taken by
Democrats here to indicate backdown
by the administration of its announced
purpose to restrain and prevent advances
in freight rates complained of by the
shippers. 1t is assumed to mean that the
railroads are to be permitted to put in
to effect many Of the advances recsntly
held up by the president under agree
ment with the railroad magnates.
There was rejoicing at the headquar,
ters of the Democrat congressional cam
paign over the Beverly pronouncement
after the interview had with the pres
ident by Chairman Knapp, of the inter-
state commerce commission. Chairman
Lloyd and Vice Chairman Dixon, of the
Democrat committee, hold that any re-
fusal by the interstate commerce COM
mission to permit advances in rates or
require reductions would be an injury
to the railroads, or would be claimed by
them to be an injury, while such re-
auctions or prevented advances would
be to the benefit of the shippers.
The greatest pressure of the new
railroad la wcame from the insurgent
Republican middle west. The sharpest
protest against the recent threatened ad-
vances in freight rates was from the
middle west shippers and the advanced
rates enjoined by Attorney General
yryg IL - Id 49, he rr,4H Ia
west railroads.
HIS PROUDEST BOAST.
II was President Tafrs proudest boast
when he got through the railroad BILL
that 1t enabled the administration to
protect the shippers against rate ad-
vances by the railroads.
With the passage of the bill there
was a break in railroad stock values
The commission followed up the blow
with a refusal to permit existing rates
in the territory west of the Mississippi
and a general cut was ordered. Then
the stock market went to pieces. On
the heels of this trouble there are threat
ened strikes by conductors and train
men on all southern railroads, excepting
the Louisville and Nashville and on the
southwestern roads running out Of ST.
Louis for Increased wages. These en-
ployes demand a scale similar to that in
the north and west, all the railroads
south, north and west are united in the
declaration that they cannot pay the
Increased wages unless they are per-
mitted to raise rates.
Chairman Knapp carried the report of
conditions to President Taft. The state
ment issued from Beverly indicates that
the interstate commerce commission will
suspend proposed increases in rates only
in exceptional instances. In most cases
II is expected the railroads will be al
lowed to increase freight rates without
hindrance and IN only a few cases will
rates be suspended for any length of
| time, or Inquiry be made into their justi-
fcation or reasonabeness.
Cases that on their faces are fragrant,
the commission will examine infinitely.
Shippers generally have had the un-
Outstanding that all the blanket increas-
es OF rates proposed by the railroads in
recent weeks would be suspended pend
Ing examination and that the commission
would not allow the increases to take eff
feet unless the roads could show THAI
they were justified. 1t Is known in
Washington that shippers in a great
many cases are proceeding on theory that
the shipping in this and the public need
DO nothing at this juncture toward pro-
/, testing against increases, believing that
! later on, after the increases have been
suspended they will have chance for
hearing. They are not putting in COM
plants for this reason.
NO CHANCE FOR SHIPPERS.
But II the commission follows the
course outlined in dispatches from Bev-
| erly, the shippers will never get a
chance to be heard regarding many in
4 creases. Already the commission has al
/ lowed some increases to go into effect
in official classification territory on auto
/ mobiles and vehicles as well as some 9TH
| er articles. This was done on the plea
| that the commission was not prepared ia
say the increases were not justified.
But the new law puts the burden OF
proof on the railroads to show that in
creases are justified. This part OF the
law as viewed by many will not be car
ried into effect If rate increases are not
suspended and the roads made to show
they are justified.
| 1t is expected that a big stir will be
| caused among shippers and among the In.
surgents in congress who were instru'
mental in getting the new law through
by the announcement from Beverly. The
| Democratic congressional committee Il
preparing to make the most Of the pres
/ idents announcement in the western sec
ton OF the country.