The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1915-04-30
AGAIN, THE RAILROAD RATE
QUESTION

nor Of Commission for II e purpose of
investigating the railroad rate ques-
ton and report in January, 1916; the
Bill provided for the salaries and ex-
penses of the Commission, ind was In
line with the constant appeal of those
members of the House who have op-
posed the rate raise without such inves-
tigation. However, on the day proceed
ing the introduction of this bill and
> every day since that event, the State
ments of the railroads as to the legal
proceedings in the Federal Courts
which they are taking or were about to
commence.
The railroad magnates left word in
Lansing before their departure on
Tuesday last that they would at once
embroil the State of Michigan in a
number Of expensive law suits to test
out the present cent fare law; there
fore when this Bill as introduced by
Chairman Henry came before the
House on Thursday last, few of the
members inquired into the ACCESSIBILITY
of appointing a Commission to investi-
gate the rate matter if it were fact
that we were standing on the verge Of
multiplicity of lawsuits in the FEEDER
al Courts; the position taken by these
members, myself among them, was that
| this investigation would be an unwise
expenditure of at least 500, 100000, as
whatever report the Commission might
render would be useless to the State if
| the Federal Courts took the matter
| from our hands which they have the
power Of doing If the evidence war
rants no part of this commissions re-
port could be used in the litigation
which is threatened; the State would
be compelled to introduce second and
entirely new investigation into the
Court in order to support its conten-
| ton; it would have to employ experts
and students of the rate question and
bring them into trial of such Rate
cases as may be instituted.
| l told the members of the House
while the matter was being debated,
that while l was not opposed to an in
vestigation, in fact l favored one, still
thought it unwise to have an investi-
cation of this kind if it were fact that
the Federal Courts were going to
assume control of the situation by in
dc Of 40 70
had confidence in their position and
their contentious, they ought, it SEEM
ed to me, to be willing to await the re-
suit of the investigation by the State,
which would be only short period of
eight months, and then if the increased
rate was found necessary, the Legisla-
ture could be convened in special Ses-
sion and the increase granted; in reply
to this, Representative Peterman, spon-
sor for the railroads on the floor of the
House Immediately replied that the
Railroads would not wait and that re-
CARELESS of whether or no the State had
an investigation, the Railroads were
going into the Courts; it appears to me
that the railroads fear the results of an
independent investigation on the part
of the State.
But what is the use to the State Of
such an investigation? If the Federal
Courts assume control, then neither the
legislature nor the Governor of this
State will have any power over the rail-
roads nor their passenger fares during
the tendency of such injunction as the
railroads may secure. understand that
the Attorney General has lately said
that while the investigation, or the re-
suits thereof cannot be used as evil
dence in the trial of the cases in the
Federal Courts, still he says, the report
of the Committee on Investigation Of
Rates, would aid him greatly in prepar-
alton of the defense of the State; this
can be the only use to which the re-
port can be put.
What the Railroads ought to have
said when this bill was up for discus
sion, is this: Gentlemen, we are per-
fectly willing and anxious that you
make as thorough and speedy investi-
cation Of our affairs as is possible; we
will wait the report of your Committee
for period of eight months, having
full confidence in our claims and know
ing that full and fair investigation
will substantiate them"
But no, the State is now engaging In
an undertaking that may cost quar-
ter of a million, that Of investigating |
the rate problem; in addition, they are
facing the defense in several threaten
ed Federal suits. in each of which suits
the State must conduct before the