The Washington times., 1911-03-27
REPRESENTATIVEADAM
EXPLANATION AND DEFENSE.

Representative Adamson of Georgia.
who is slated to be chairman of the
House Committee on Interstate Com
merce, presents a defense of himself
and his record through the columns of
Washington newspaper. His state
ment is directed at The Washington
Times analysis of his record, and its
criticism that Judge Adamson is
peculiarly untitled to represent the
sentiment of the great majority of
either his party or the country.
It is a weak and ineffective state
ment which Judge Adamson makes.
His initial assumption of partisan pur-
pose in the criticisms of his record need
not be given particular attention.
Whatever Judge Adamson may think
of the motives of The Times. this
newspaper is satisfied to have its
record on interstate commerce ques-
tions compared with his own. and to
stand before progressives of either
party on the showing.
The record will show that while the
Mann Elkins bill was under considera-
tion year ago The Times supported
uniformly the efforts of men who were
trying to make a good and useful
measure out of il. This was accom-
plished; but for the accomplishment
no credit is due to men who. like Judge
Adamson. were unable at any time to
find merit even in the bill as finally
perfected
Judge Adamson assumes that he has
been accused of things which have not
been alleged against him, and then
denies the charges that were never
made. Thus he assumes that he was
charged with opposing physical valua-
tion of the railroads. The Times
charged him with opposing omnibus
physical valuation, covering the entire
railway system of the country. This is
the sort of valuation which is wanted
by people who have sincere purpose to
make a valuatio useful in connection
with administrative regulation. 1t is
the only plan of valuation that will
provide a basis from which to test the
reasonableness of rates and capitaliza-
tion. Judge Adamson indicated that
he was willing to give the Interstate
Commerce Commission authority to
make a valuation of a particular rail
road when occasion might arise for
using such data. This plan would be
vastly more expensive in the long run.
1t would give no guarantee that differ
cnt roads. valued at different times,
could thereafter be compared with con-
fidence in the results.
The particular utility of a valuation
is the data it would provide for COM
parison of conditions on different lines
that are forced to compete. As rail
roading is now organized, practically
all roads compete with one another,
and practically all cooperate in max
ing up through routes. A unified valu-
alton, based on the. application of the
same general principles to all the
roads in the country, is needed. That
is the sort of valuation Judge Adam
son opposes. He would have a patch
work of valuations, representing no
harmony of principle, no unity
of data or purpose, and little
practical usefulness. That is the
charge which The Times made, and
Judge Adamson does not answer it.
Perhaps the Democrats want the
Adamson kind of valuation. If so,
they should be for Adamson as chief
Trainer of legislation to provide it.
The record on pure food legislation
and on the more recent weights and
measures bill stands as The Times set
it forth. Judge Adamson defends him
self in the positions which The Times
ascribed to him. That is straightfor-
word and manly. 1t leaves the issue
perfectly clear. If the Democrats
want a chairman of Interstate Com
mence, who entertains the Adamson
views. tley should take Adamson, for
he has been able and persistent in
opposing the effective legislation which
has developed in the Mann Elkins and