New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-05-21
From The Tribune Bureau

RAILROAD RATES.-In the bitter FAC |
tional contest in the Senate the real Issue
between the regulars and the insurgents
has been largely lost sight of The ulu-
mate purpose OF both factions is TO prevent
the railroads from overcharging shippers.
but the difference arises over the metnod
TO be employed. The insurgents contend
that If every railroad is prohibited from in
creasing any rate until such increase has
been approved by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. Just rates will be assured
The regulars contend that the first erect
of such a provision will be an immediate
increase Of all rates in anticipation OF the
law, followed by such a tremendous de-
mand on the time Of the commission tnaI
even where the increases are unreasonaole'
il will be months before redress can De mao
The Cunmins amendment is designed 10
compel the railroads to secure the approval
of the commission before increasing any
rate or changing any classification, scheo-
ule or regulation which may operate as an
increase The regulars .vehemently inslst
that such a provision. once 1t goes INTO
operatien. will involve such labor on the
part of the commission as to cneck Ior al
incaIculable period the adjustment Of rates
TO changing conditions.
THE INITIAL PRESSURE-Of course
the initial pressure comes from the con-
stituents of the insurgents and is direct
result of the recent increases IN railroad
rates 1t is asserted that the railroads nave
recently increased their rates from 10 10 Is
per cent and that these increases VIII cost
the SINNERS or the consumers approx |
mateIy s1O0.O0O,O00 a year. The defenders OF
the railroads meet this assertion with the
contention that the railroads nave oeeh
compelled to increase wages as result OF /
the Increased cost of living, by ike
amount They insist that the ralroads are
nor the gamers. as their wage rolls absorb
all the increase in rates. But the nsur-
gents especially are determined 40 force
the railroads to stand a share or the III
creased cost of labor-ip other words, to cut
their dividends instead of making the pub |
lie nav the extra amount they are COM |
neIIed To nav for labor. On that point the
regulars are divided Some OF them trankly |
assert their belief that such course Woulo
he unjust even If practicable. Others, Whlie
admitting that they would gladly achleVe
that end. are unshakable in their conVlc-
ton that the method proposed py the III
rurgen+s is impracticable, and as has oeen
said will have an effect precisely the re-
a-.a t,f that sought by their opponents.
Meanwhile. the insurgents are asslduously
seeking to create a popular demand which
will make il practically impossible Tor the
Democrats to vote with the Republicans
Their war cry is soak the railroads! anu
II must be admitted that il is one not lack
ing in popularity.
RAILROAD SECURIT1ES.-It Is the ear
nest desire Of the administration that the
pending railroad bill shall provide FOR ade-
o.1ate federal supervision of all raliroao Sc
curitiec both stocks and bonds, ana thal Is
provided for in Sections Is, IA ana 10 Oh
rbA bill passed by the House and pending
in the Senate This policy was first adTo-
Gated b. President Roosevelt, and it was
r1neouivocally Endorsed in the Republican
national platform; but on this point the in
surgents are badly divided Senator Cum
minis wants .these sections retained but
amended 10 meet his views. Senator La
Toilette, on the other hand who is dis
,osed To feel that Mr. Cummins is getting
tco much glory out of this bill, is opposed
IT, these sections. contending that the adop-
ton of his physical valuation proposition
will afford all the check on railroad securi-
ties that IL needed The Democrats, in &C
corssnce with their ttu1e-honored custom,
have applied the states rights calllpers TO
the proposition and have found that II
does not fit the principles Of true Jeffer-
sonian Democracy" What the outcome OF
this situation will be no man can tell
NO BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT.-Sen-
ator Johnston. rising to a question OF per
sonsI privilege. to-day declared that the re-
mort that he had circulated agreement
between the Republicans and Democrats on
the railroad bill and had obtained only one
or two signatures was without foundation.
He said there had been no agreement be-
tween the members of the two parties that
he had circulated a purely Democratic
agreement and had obtained the signatures
thereto of g majority Of his party col
leagues This agreement. which he had
read from the desk, provides that the
Democrats will endeavor TO vote first on
the Hughes amendment, striking from the
hill Sections 13, Il and Is. and that they will
then seek an opportunity TO vote on Sen
ator sinmons's amendment providing that
wbare railroads reduce rates 10 meet water
cornpetiticn they may not raise them until
thew have satisfied the Interstate Com
merce Commission that a substantial
change In conditions has occurred. blank
snace then follows for the insertion of
other amendments on which Democrats
may wish 10 vote. Mr.. Johnston explained
that the purpose Of the agreement was
merely TO expedite consideration of the bill. |
but insisted that no deal had been made
with the Republicans. Senator Hale then
arose and expressed his Infinite gratifca-
ton that such was the case He depIored
the making of such deals in the past and
trusted they would never be made again |!
He hoped every Senator would have an OPP
portunity TO vote in accordance with his I
convictions on svery amendment offered |