Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-04-01
Root Pleads for Rail RiIl.

washington, April 1.-Commanding
the careful attention of a majority OF
his colleagues, Senator Root consumed
three hours of the time of the senate in
continuing his speech In defense OF the
administration railroad bill. He again
failed to conclude his remarks.
He defended the merger provision of
the bill as great advance over exist
ing law, in that it made the purchase
of one companys stock by another an
offense. while, he argued, such acquisi-
ton was not now illegal except as part
Of conspiracy He also supported
the traffic agreement section but ex-
pressed a willingness to require such
agreements to be dependent on the ap-
proval of the interstate commerce COM
mission. He declared the present pro-
hibitive act provoked It's own violation.
This course was most demoralizing and
should not be encouraged by failing to
put in 1T the power of the railroads to
observe the law and still make their
agfeements. 1t was better to have the
railroads voluntarily conform to the
law than to have them forced to do SO.
I'VE insist upon competition" he
continued. but we prohibit such COM
petition as we think injurious and we
forget that the railroads themselves
may be better able to enforce the law
than can any officer in Washington
Agreements Are Necessary.
He argued that in many matters the
railroads We're practically required to
enter into agreements, and SO long as
this was true. he said, it was abso-
lutely necessary that the roads should
be authorized to come together. To do
this would be to wipe out an anomaly
and abuse.
In reply to an inquiry from Senator
Rayner, Senator Root said he would
favor an amendment requiring that
agreements among railroads should
have the, approval of the Interstate
commerce commission before going in
to effect He did not. however. regard
the addition as of particular import
ance. The only reason for its inser-
ton would be a desire to avoid mis-
understanding.
The concession, however, was con-
sidered by the opponents of the bill
as very important! Senator Depew ad-
vocated amending 1.-THE bill so as to re-
quire governmental approval. He said
he had held 10 that position for many
years before he entered the senate.
"And / believe that is the attitude
of every railroad man in the country"
he added.
Senator Clapp said be would insist
that the bin be so worded as to make
agreements unlawful unless approved
by the commission.
Nation Should Supervise Rates.
Senator Root said he never would
consent to give to the commission the
right to suspend a rate fixed by rail-
road without investigation.
He would not consent that any Of
fetal should fix the railroad rates, but
was willing that the government should
supervise rates. To do more would be
to change from the American. to the
system, he said, with govern
ment ownership inevitably following.
we all desire the extension of our
system, but we will never say to the
capital of the country that we encour-
age its investment only with the end
in view of concentrating its control in
Washington" said Senator Root.
Senator Cummins asked whether
there was any difference in giving the
commission power to suspend rates for
sixty days for the purpose of investi-
eating and in giving it power to make
an Indefinite suspension.
The power to render indefinite sus-
pensions Is the power TO render ANAL
responded Senator Root,
whereas the power Of temporary sus-