The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-05-25
SEN. ROOT I
SCORCHED
Sen. La Toilette Dis
putes the Correct
ness of Statement

Washington, May 25-"There is not
one line in tho statutes 10 give to the
people reasonable railroad rates" de-
clRrcd Senator LaFonctte in tho SEN
ate today
"All TINT has been accomplished.
he said. is 10 afford means OF Civ
ing equal rates to shippers
The interest of the shipper was by
no means the interest OF the general
public. he asserted. He declared the
people generally were as much en-
titled to protection as the shippers.
Forty years ago the fight was begun
with that end iu view. he said. and
1t was as much a fight against ex-
tortion as against discrimination. but
IN the former respect there had been
a utter failure
With huge chart To show the rela-
tive Importance OF the various rail-
road "grocpe." the Wisconsin sena-
Tor spoke in support OF the Cummlns
amendment to the railroad bill. requir-
Ing the prior approval by the Inter
state Commerce commission of in
creases in railroad rates.
The Interstate Commerce commits
sion Is engaged in mere cbild's
play" said Mr., LaFollcttc. adding
that II was go hedged about that II
could not effectively deal with the
problem.
THE rules OF the senate seem to
be so formed as to prevent one from
speaking the truth The railroads
have bcen having their way for forty
years. We have the sins Of many
congresses to atone for before We per-
NIT this bill to pass from our hands"
While the rate regulation proyis-
ions OF the Presidents original bill
was In the public interest, Mr.. I-aFol-
lette said. the provision had been so
modified by Senators Aldrich and FL
kins as to be wholly In the interest
OF the railroads Since January 1st
he said, tho rates on wool from St
Louis and Duluth to New York had
increased II and S per cent. on grain
and grain products, domestic. from St
Louis TO New York, Is per cent: and
from Chicago to ew York, 30 per
cent, fresh meats from Missouri river
points to Chicago, lG per cent. Mis-
souri, river points to east st Louis. %
per cent. and rates on horses and
mules between St Paul and Lacrosse
10 per cent
He conteDded that instead of an In
crease there should have been n de-
crease
Quoting Senator Root as saving that
unreasonable rates could be corrected
under the present lat. he said: Such
a statement impeaches either the in
tellieence OF the capdor of the man
who makes it"
Contending that the present rail,
road rates are mot only not reason
able, but are extortlonate," Mr.. la.
Toilette declared. Those who Will
no consent TO give the commission
power to examine further increases.
hatray the public interest. I am here
| today to plead that rates shall not be
| further advanced until we go back
and clothe the commission with au-
thority to deermine the reasonable
ness OF rates and equip 1t SO 1t can
| perform the service.
Saying that of the 100000 miles OF
railways in the United States. six
| groups conroled 10000 miles. Mr. La
Toilette found there really WAS yerv
| little variety OF interest in railroad
ownership in the United States. leav-
ing the control practically In one 81.
i gsntIc trust He found Morgan and
| Rockefeller at the head of tho en-
{ tire fabric and he predicted that ul-
timately those two names would
stand. not only for the financial. but
for the production and transporta-
| ton. interests as we'll.