The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-10-03
WHY RATES ARE HELD UP

WHY RATES ARE HELD UP
Failure of the state railroad and pub
lie utility commission to authorize ad-
vances in state freight and passenger
charges corresponding to those author
lied by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion in interstate freight and passenger
rates is causing flagrant determinations
in rates and threatening to prevent the
railways from getting the increases in
earnings which they need.-Railway Age.
Possibly were all the state public utilities
commissions to exercise the prerogatives of
states rights and hold up concurrence with
the mandate of the interstate commerce body,
the railways of the country would exercise a
little more care and put forth little more
digent effort in the matter of giving the pat
rons decent service
The Ardmoreite has commented upon this
subject before, but feels that there is still
much that could be said, that there is still
much that should be said if there be the ghost
OF show of prevailing upon someone to take
the matter up with the proper authorities, who
in turn might compel the transportation COM
panies to give the man who pays an eXorbi-
tant freight rate and an eXtortionate passen-
ger traffic, little service which might come
somewhere near being commensurate with the
tax
With all due respect to the interstate COM
merce commission, il made most lamentable
blunder when it carried out the provisions of
The Republican measure and granted the raise
ii rates on freight and tariffs on passengers
and robbery on sleeping car fares in order
lLat the roads might net the additional five
pei cent guaranteed them by Republican
congress doing il all before the operating
.wners had shown the slightest inclination to
grant the consumer an adequate and commen-
~urate return for his money
Two members Of the Oklahoma state cor
p0raton commission committed blind blum
Ger when they wen, head, bullheadedly and
tackled the raises on intrastate business
freight and pas t1r, making these rates cor
respond The interstate increase before
the railways had manifested even an inclina-
rion to ,reat the public with consideration
That the railway operating owners do not
care three whoops and 4 hurrah for the ship
ping or travelling public, has been conclusivey
demonstrated since the rates have been in
creased. And these owners are further dem.
onstratng that they are but the rankest prof.
iteers, now that they are seeking to secure
approval OF new classifications of freight, the
new classificationS being calculated to ado
materially to the already too high tariffs.
Ii has been suggested that the United
States supreme court will have to be appealed
TO before the matter will be finally settled
before 1t will be ultimately determined wheth
ef the state utilities commissions, Of the sew
eral states are bound irrevocably to comply
with and concur in the findings and ruling!
OF the federal commission. insofar as rate in
ereases on freight and passenger rates shall
apply to rail rates within the confines of tht
different states.
There can be no question but that the law
of any state must be made subservient to tn,
laws Of the United States and in obedience t
the Constitution of the United States Their
can be no question but that the provisions o
the national Constitution, and the amendment
thereto, take precedence over all state law
and constitutional regulations.
But, at the same time, there can be foun,
nothing in the Constitution of the nationa
government which stipuates that the finding
Of an interstate commission regulating tn
business of an interstate corporation, shall b
made to govern the findings of state com
mission which regulates intrastate affairs only
Be that as it may, however--and the poin
10 beside the issue-there should be som
means devised whereby the public service col
porations, of all kinds, should be compelled t
give the public value received for its money
before additional taxation be placed upo
that public, as the ultimate consumer.
1t Is an old saw which says that Mr.. Jone
payS the freight, and 1t Is truth wIthou
attempt at denial, that Mr.. Jones, long suffe,