The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-02-25
ounnins and Other Progrsssives
say Ruling That Tariffs Must Not
Be Raised Il Triumph for
the People.
10 Proof Is Produced To Warrant
Increase Appeal To Be Taken
BY Railroads,

achieved their greatest victory fol
the people
The decisaon was based on sec
tion Of the interstate commerce Law
& passed last year that placed the bur
den Of proof that a proposed rate was
unreas0nable ON the railroads. A con
tention In behalf OF the people
throughout the investigation before
the interstate commerce commission
4 wea that the railroads had offered NO
proof justfying an increase but sim
ply announced that they needed more
NANCY.
Senator Cummins. (Rep. Ia.). who
led IN the work OF making over the
railroad bill. originally written by
Atfy.-0en. Wickersham and submitted
II - congress- By President Taft today
The decision is very gratifying to
No and 70 the people who use the
xo&foads. 1t II marked evidence OF
ttho wisdom Of some OF the changes
Iwhich the progressives insisted upon
- the railroad legislation OF last
year.
senator Bristow, of Kansas. another
leader Of the progressiyes. smiled
broadly when asked for an expression
On the decision
~ the progressives had not accom-
& p1iehed anything else" said Bristow,
they would have felt well repaid for
& III their lights for better government
~ having laid the basis that made
poosiblo this decision that confers
substantial benefits to SO many people
B Throughout the country.
There was nothing In the bill al
i drafted by the administration that
would have made such q decision pos
nible and II was only after long, hard
6 contests that the progressives were
4 able to insert provisions that would
place the interests OF the people on
. : fair basis.
II think it - bully. decision."
a member or the Interstate com
merce commission who fUr obvious
reasons declined to he quoted by
. name expressed tho opinion privately
today that the. Failfoads would ap-
II feel sure that -thsy. win appeal, !"
he said. but II Viii not do them any
good. The cCEnmieGf0n did not reduce
B any rates. r simply SiecIined to per-
NIT increases. II ,was the duty 4of
+ NE railroads to prove the increases
( justinable. and they failed to do 90.
The railroads may = continue their
rates. under which they are now
thriving ! am convinced the appeal
!. viii be futfle.s -ass
The general impression about the
,ais.icn -. tnAt the ra.iroaas anu
~ puslness interests OF WaEst:
ouio enqeexor % make the enect OF
kne decision seem az ADVERSE 20 pusl-
- - p.sApie- AZ ~ expected an
enclt Will Pc made 70 produce some
vnc4tao1 iQr Inc uire preuiceions
Y 1z-ae ~ WALSH inkexests CURING the
1xe.tieAti
me conm1tkee' however, ~ IN Dos
session. o. ngures ana lacts showing
me condition OF the railroads. their
Vronts ana their resources In their
present strength and their possibiii.
uo1y ana tnere - NO Ieenns OF Iear
that any danger Whatever to the rail-
roads 10 involved IN the decision.
The plain fact that the railroads
JAILED 20 prove that they neeoeo the
~~~~-
commission a. final and undeniapie
proof that continuance OF their pres
ent tnxihs VIII not work any nardsnip
upon them The commissioners be
lioye that the railroads VIII prove
6V6h more successful In the coming
yoar than they have been under the
oonne tariffs In the last year.
''The decision. of the Interstate
commerce commission appears to me
- - unassailable and to open to
argument only upon one point" said
( Hop. Lenroot (Rep. Wis.,: 1T Is the
.contention of, the railroads that I'M
loos they are permitted to increase
. The freight rates they will be unable
70 secure capital to increase and I'M
& prove their roads.
''This proposition appears to me to
Be unthinkable- 1t means that the
shippers must not only pay the pro
fts on the capital of the roads, out
B must In addition supply the capital
fog endorsement upon which they will