The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-02
THE FUTURE OF THE RAIL
ROADS.
Mr.. Kahn's Essay and Recommends.
lions Frankly Diseased.


To The EDITOR or The SUN-Sir. ]
| think that Mr.. Otto II. Kahn in his
~.r,tc,. an ~. raurooa o,...,or 4, ,ho
1r,.~,S.. NJ, =. ys~-. ..S.
"U."" WV" VI reo'u@iS na' io"
oereo q true PUBIC service. Inc main
feature or his article demonstrates
that the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion In a failure in prac,,ce lie saws.
pe,A''el : Sno" ~ s"s
Jun w ns s.e"'cs. .nuu',,y :.
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.""s eue'"s.on'' . o."
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-ppss.
| judge and Jury. combdnIns IN itselt ,e~,,.
istivs. executive and Judiciary powers, Is
a nesation Of the root principle from which
me Amencan system OF eoverhmeh'
spr.nss' my oe stated a. ," 'he'n.'o-
ver.o'e ~ "ucn oo"'o'hA''o" o'po~-
ers, n ohe oony mas oeen styleo py James
m.uAson 'ne very aenh'''on o' tyranny
mo evai or impropr'ety OF sueh a union
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'""' 10 zen puone,y .osnoN'eoseu W
"-
! sion Itself. the Hon. Charles A Prouty. In
an address delivered In 1907. from which
inc fo'iowinG extract may be quoted II
-. 80 '"Ma..,t.. - ,"-.m..a.ns
IN .r,.nt sna Of c,,n nn.u,y, .y.ry erort
| should be made to provide a body ade-
duate 10 the trust . . I very much
doubt whether me SAME BODY can prop
.'s uss vo,n ~ wv ,.N
- n".. A.
t,es or will. in tn. yea Of these, become
unnt for the daspassionate performance OF
Its judicial functions Whatever may have
been true In the past the ume ma come
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,.a,,,,. =. al, o. ~. CO.. ,omm,,-
s,ons IT. .ays.
....
"".. No, '... ,hsn $50
tire. STATS eommis,i.n,. exercising vary
| ing degrees OF power over railroads. guided
In their decisions by no preceients OF hSei
rules. their jurisdiction ana 'helr oecrees
INTERVIEWING. conflicting With. upset'inS
those OF each other and OF the Interstate
commerce commission
Mr.. Kahn then states that railroad
credit has become gravely Affected
n that the railroad industry Is in
an inherently weakened condition
The above is certainly sound and is
In accord with a rapidly crysialIizinS
| iLhlln sentiment
When We come to a remedy, how
ever. Mr.. kahn ~ not so clear. His
FIRST remedy is that State commissions
shall be deprived OF their present
power over interstate railroads. This
conclusion Is correct, but II would
merely add To the power of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, which
power Mr.. Kahn attacks successfully
IN the frst part of his article.
Mr.. Kahn then says that the rail-
roads have not been accused Of charg-
Ing excessive rates. Has he over
looked the Minnesota rate cases?
Then Mr.. Kahn says that he be-
~lieves:
TIL. prireip- % s.,inE TO N. Interstate
Commerce com mission power to regulate
rates IL sound and | am convinced that T.
ma come ~ 'aF'
That nay be, nut MY. Mann IN the
hrst part or MS article points u win
great clearness the practically ire
~spons!ole power Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission in this respect
ard very properly objects 10 H.
Mr.. Kahn then say that he thinks
al interests would sain IL the making
rosd officials with power in the Inter-
state Commerce Commission to reduce
| or increase such rates. How does that
differ from the present situation? Rail
road officials now fix railroad rates
and the commission now has power 10
reduce rates or to stop increases.
/ What difference is there between the
| present situation and the one recon-
mended by Mr.. Kahn?
Mr.. Kahn further saws that the rail
| politics" Will il I've taken out of poll
tics by leaving IL under the Interstate
Commerce Commission and increasing
the power of that commission?
fear tina. the railroads cannot be taken
out OF politics unless the system o.
| control Is changed. The railroads are
involved IN politics on account Of their
vital connection with the daily life
comfort nrosperi,y and well being ot
the whole pubIc. II il only nv their
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