The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-03-21
THEY DIE HARD.

Altho they have been defeated at
every turn in their encounters with
the interstate commerce commission.
and their every action has been set
aside. public utilities and state rail-
road commissions continue their CT
forts to justify their existence. Dwight
n. Lewis. member of he board of
railroad commissioners of Iowa. has
sent a circular letter to the press,
protesting against gross errors in
Washington dispatches concerning
the recent decision of the United
States supreme court to the effect
that the interstate commerce commits
sion has veto power over rates fixed
by state commissions. Mr.. Lewis says,
in part:
Now the fact is that the supreme
court did not take from state commits
sionS their power to fix interstate
rates, and the state railroad commits
SONS must continue to function under
their oaths OF office, just as they have
DONE Nothing but passenger fares
were involved in the cases just de-
cided-and there is nothing in the
opinion to give warrant 10 the state
ment that the power of state commits
sions had all been taken away. We
rates. and hear and determine ques-
tons of public service by carriers. The
fact that the recent reduced rates fixed
by the Iowa board on interstate ship
mentS of coal are being applied by the
carriers is some refutatfOn of the err
roneous construction placed upon the
opinion of the court The chief JUS
tice quite properly announces the prin-
ciple that interstate rates must be on
such level as not to cast any unjust
burdens upon interstate commerce. No
state has any just or lawful right to
prescribe unreasonable low rates, nor
by manipulation of freight rates to
build an Industrial wall about the state
borders
To say that nothing but passenger
fares were involved in the cases just
decided says the Sioux City Tribune.
is true, but unimportant. The court
declared that the interstate commerce
commission has authority to fix intra-
state rates when necessary. in order to
remove undue, unreasonable. and
unjust discrimination against inter-
state commerce" This is the princi-
pie underlying the decision, and to ex-
tend the ruling to include freight rates
would be but n mere formality. In
fact. altho the cases under considera-
ton involved only passenger rates. it
is splitting hairs to contend that the
decision viii not also be applied to
freight rates.
Only in the case OF a railroad lying
wholly within the boundaries of a sin
gle state, and not connected with in
terstate- commerce, it is pointed out.
would = state board retain supreme
power to fix rates. All other rates
fixed by state boards are subject to
repeal and revision by the interstate
commerce commission.
Nor does one agree with Mr.. Lew
ISIS statement, says the Tribune. that
state boards must continue to fix
interstate freight rates" Rail trans
portation is primarily a matter of in
terstats commerce.; and the public
should best be served at the most
reasonable cost by uniform control
OF the roads, both as to rate making
and use OF equipment.
Restricted in their power, state rail
boards will have a hard time TO JUS
tify their continued existence. Taxpay-
ers stand TO profit if state rail boards
shall be abolished.