The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-07
STUDENTS In DEBATE
Teams of ColumbiaandNeed'
ham Meet at g. W. q.
HoNoRs FOR OSCAR THOMPSON
pronounced by Judges Most Capable
Debater In Discussion of the Me-
cessfty of Physical Valuation of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Side Wins.
Rev. DR.. Thsrkield Presided.

The debate between the Columbian and
Needham debating teams OF the George
Washington University over the question
OF the necessity OF physical valuation Of
the interstate railroads by Federal gov
eminent. held in the University Hall last
night, resulted in a decisive victory of the
affirmative side. and Mr. Oscar Thomp-
son. of the same side, was pronounced by
the judges the most capable debater.
The speakers were:
On the affirmative side-Peter r. Field
man Columbian. Wisconsin; Oscar
Thompson (Needham). Wisconsin. and
Silas w. Rogers Columbian Arkansas.
On the negative side-Frauk E. Edger-
ton (Needham), Nebraska; A. c. Cohen
(Columbian). Wisconsin. and Raphael II.
Blakesley (Needham), California
The arguments in defense OF the meas
ure In question were principally the enor-
nous overcapitalization OF the railroads
stock, teh dividends and interest on
which have perforce TO be extorted from
the public at large IN the shape Of the
freight rates and fares: that there was
no possible way TO determine the fair
ness or otherwise of the rates without
definite information on the subject Of the
actual value of the vested property. the
decision of the Supreme Court unfolding
the necessity of the physical valuation
as teh sole lawful basis for controlling
the height of the transportation charges;
the steady Increase Of the freight rates
from year TO year. despite the fact that
every step in the development OF the
transportation Industry tends toward
cheapening of the cost TO the shipper.
the data furnished by the railroads them
selves having been proven, convincingly
and repeatedly, 10 be utterly unreliable;
the Federal government would be the
best authority 70 cope with the task.
Contention of the Negative.
The contention of the negative side
eentered mainly upon the fact that the
physical valuation Of the property owned
by the railroads would by no means
represent the actual value Of the given
enterprise. the latter being determined
by many In tangible factors. resulting
in its general prosperit; that various In
div!dual States are already conducting
such valuations: that the cost OF such
an undertaking on a nationwide scale,
would consume several years OF labor,
during which period the Interstate Com
merce Commission would have TO with
hold entirely any control and supervision
of the rates: Il would cost Uncle Sam
several millions and give him nothing
IN the end. beyond what he can obtain
at any time from the railroads them
selves free Of cost.
Rev. Wilbur p Thirkield, .. D., IL
D, oficlated as presiding officer The
judges were Rev. William ]. Cary. OF
Wisconsin; Representative AISLE J. Gron-
ma, of North Dakota. and Myron J.
Jones. principal istructor of the Y. NJ. G
A, taking the place OF Prof. r. r. Kern
OF George Washington University, who
was unable 10 attend through Illness.
During the conference Of the Judges
two piano solos were rendered by Miss
Juliana Higgins.