Evening journal., 1914-11-10
TUESDAY NOV. 10 1914,

RAILROADS, INVESTORS AND THE COMMISSION.
NE UGH injury has been done to the great trans
IVA portation systems OF the United States by the
nberal and unjust policy pursued toward them in
recent years by the Interstate Commerce Commission
In fact many American citizens who believe that only
evenhanded justice should be dealt out TO the public
and the railroads by the commission are asking wheth
the commission is a egalized robber that may hch
at pleasure those things which rghtfuly belong the
railroad companies 10 the hundreds of thousands
men and who have money invested in their
curtes and TO the general public which is so de-
pendent upon the quality and quantity Of railroad
vice for individual convenience business success
1t Is distinguishing characteristic of Americans that
they like fair-play and that they willing pay
reasonably for service we'll and worthy performed
Public feeling is becoming more pronounced that chi
trely too much power centers in the Interstate Com
merce Commission and that that power which
braces the functions of Judge, jury and prosecutor
should be curtaed or placed in the hands OF men who
are willing to pursue toward the transportation lines
a policy of tvene-handed Justice; permit them TO
living wage, and not TO drive them into bank
ruptcy.
IN many quarters that not affected by improper
railroad influence the opinion grows that there should
he a reconstruction Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission and that unmistakabe policy OF fairness TO
the railroads should take the place the ruinous policy
Of antagonism that now prevails That opinion As cev-
erly reelected of it's phases In the following edi-
iorihl'i the Philadelphia Public Ledger:
One Of the first matters to which Congress on as
sembiing should devote IT'S attention to define ang
restrict more clearly The Of the Interstate
meice commission Doubtless the time had come for
Federal regulation Of the railroads prevent ruinous
competition among them, and especially prevent tho
praclce on reOatng. which the poorer and less cli-
cent railroads constantly exercising to obtain
business; a practice also which the stronger railroads
were obliged 10 follow TO retain the business that legi
tlmatey was theirs No one, however, supposed when
this work OF regulating intrusted Ave men, that
they would i'm such short time so greatly miscon-
Surely. OW-mu
ed way they proceeding in utter disregard of the
BROADER aspects of the problem must n every thoueh
full person with dread of further exercise of Federal
supervision of the business OF individuals and corpora
tons.
checked industrial enterprise in our country in a
short time 1t will in many ways be the gamer though
terrible event If the railroads were permitted a rea
sonable degree of freedom in conducting their bust
revive AS We all know railroads are great spenderg
ot money in the way OF improvements. Every one OF
tnem has we-consdered plans for the expenditure Of
many millions in the interest and welfare of the nub
lie as soon as the needful income forthcoming But
profits are not earned they be spent improve
ments cannot be made, persons who would he en-
ployed must remain idle. Nothing be palmer The
majority Of the Interstate Commerce Commission are
now standing at the gateway Of our mills and reso-
lutely preventing employees from entering: in short
preventing industries from pursuing their normal
course OF development
The most nagrant exhibition Of this spirit OF deter
mined opposition on the part Of the commission Is
seen IN the appointment of an attorney Mr. prandeis
70 oppose the petition Of the railroads for a higher
enumeration for the service rendered by them Tho
commission was created with judicial functions: b,
the appointment OF Brandeis the commission has as
sumed the role of acting representative for shin
pers OF freight and passengers as well as judicial
luhctons Seemingly the commission feared that
Shippers and passengers would be sufficiently mind
iu Of their interests and, therefore itself jus
Tined in the double capacity Of representing the shin
pers and passengers in collecting and presenting fact,
Tor their own consideration, afterward deciding
the case This certainly is extraordinary role Ia
play and the havoc which the commission Is ma,ins
IN the business world ought to lead the curtalmen
OF its power at the earliest moment
Assuming that the majority Of the commission ar,
honest IN thus acting in double role does any one
suppose that the majority of the members are or car
De- iair impartial. judiciay minded? Has never
occurred TO them how by thus acting they have nm.
btted themselves 10 serve i'm judicial capacity? HUI
man beings are not made that they can act fairly
as prosecutors and judges at the same time Conse.
quently they have shown less inclination "a
treat the railroads fairly TO frown more and more or
hef requests TO delay and proOng hearings in short
partial judicial spirit
Wnai then should be done? Manifestlv ,,onares.
th nor hesitate 10 take away from them INC AN.
ues nave assumed of representing through
'l employed by them what they deem the shin
pers or public side OF the questions nrosc,tea Co. ,s
s,,'ol ffs OF all, the shippers have pron,pflv an
b elei. sue OF every question. and conse
I"u9 nave never been IN need OF the assistance ,bct
the commission has rendered to them In ti, M @nie.
place. n the Government should act al All ON ~ -
Of the shippers. such assistance should evidansl t
rendered through the Attorney Generals oe,cc @ % D
through the body that is also decide the matter p
the present method the work Of the commission a.
judicial body has been essentially transformed by tina
body into farce.
If this limitation on their powers is not suaclen
two or more should be added 20 the number p
possessing judicial qualities like those recently IN
pointed by the President. who would seek TO exercis
their duties in fair judicial IL said tina
the commission Is overw0rked body that their wor
has been rapidly growing and that the numbc
s4reral reasons ought 20 be increased The Pres