The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-01-27
DOES not FAVOR
INCREASED RATES
President Wilson Says That Rail
roads Must Await Investigation By
Commission Before He Will Act
HE HAS NOT, YET LET UP"
Says Cong. Tavenner In Speaking Of
Chief Executives Attitude In Deal
ing With Special Privileges
From Congressman C. H. Tayenner

From Congressman C. Fl. Tayenner
Washington, January 27.-There
is a lot Of loose talk going the rounds
in Washington that the President has
"let up on special privilege and that
the administration, having put
through the chief measures to which
it was pledged, is now prepared to
forgive and forget past offenses by
the rich malefactors and is intend
ing to let things drift along much as
they have been permitted to do in
the past.
Some Of this gossip is being spread
by well-interested persons who are
letting their wishes father their
thoughts. They see that the tariff
and currency laws have not para
lyzed the nation, and now they are
trying to whoop up the stock market
and inaugurate business BOOM
If this gossip were confined to
Washington it would do no particular
harm. But unfortunately it is
picked up by the newspapers and
scattered throughout the country.
The result is that the people who
elected President Wilson to end the
economic injustices. which they have
ffGrpn fopir
ly to have the feeling that they have
been deserted.
In line with this sort Of idle Cos
sip were the recent newspaper arti-
cles that there would be no trust
legislation during the present ses-
sion. This rumOr was quite gener-
ally credited here, but it arose when
President Wilson was out of the city.
When he returned the correspondents
who had telegraphed this "news"
were ruefully compelled to acknowl-
edge that they were mistaken.
There is now another rumor of the
same sort going the rounds 1t is
ence with the Interstate Commerce
Commission to have the Eve per cent
increase In railroad freig ht rates
granted. Some Of the Wiseacres
studying the Presidents trust mes
sage read his comment in the init
mate connection between railroad and
general prosperity, and, knowing that
there has been a considerable infiu-
ence brought to bear on Mr.. Wilson
to have him sanction the rate in
crease, made the deduction that he
has yielded.
The fact is that this rumor, like it's
predecessor, is absolutely false. The
President has no intention Of inter-
fering in any way with the Commits
sion. | cannot honorably reveal my
source of information as to Mr.. Will
sons attitude, but the above asser-
ton is the exact truth.
A number of Democrats, and infu-
entail Democrats, l regret to say,
urged him to take a stand in favor
Of the increased rates. But these
men put political expediency before
patriotic craftsmanship. Their ar
gument is that, whether increased
rates are justified or not, to grant
them will be to bring about a bust
hOnn, WI oh 10
ty in the campaign next fall could
attribute to the tariff and currency.
But Woodrow Wilson is not that
kind of a statesman. He has told his
callers plainly that his legislation
must stand on it's own merits. AS for
the railroads, they must Justify their
request for increased rates before the
Commission, if they are to have their
request granted. There will be no
executive interference. 3
The Presidents position is simply
this: if the facts are as the railroads
claim, then the increased rates should
be granted; but if the investigation
shows that increased rates are neces-
sary simply to pay dividends on wat
cred stock, there is no justification
for the increases. 1t is question of
fact for the Commission.
Another bit of moonshine is the
story that if the railroads accept the
Presidents program of having the
Commission regulate railroad finan-
ces, he, in return, will intercede for
the increased rates.