New Britain herald., 1928-03-08
ESnH MAY GET THE GATE


 The Interstate Commerce Commls- sion's chairman, John J. Esch of Wisconsin. in all probability will end 40 years of public service because he made a serious mistake For this error of Judgment the Senate inter- state commerce committee has voted ,o reiec. his renomination on the great board which dictates the poll cies and rates of American railroads Mir. Esch's term expired this year. and he undoubtedly would have been returned to the board had he not listened too attentively to Penn sylvania politicians. Now it is eN- tremely doubtful whether the Sen ate will override the rejection of the committee.
 The co-author of the Esch-Cum- mins transportation act has been a member of the ]. C. c. for seven years. He was renominated for the board by the administration. and the vote of the Senate committee against confirmation-the vote standing ID to 7-again stresses the impotence of the Washington administration to get its way.
 The rates on coal from the Nir- ginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee coal fields to the great lakes. compared with the rates from the Pennsylvania and Ohio fields, has been a bone of contention for years, The preferential rate voted to the more southern fields in 1925 took economic matters into consld = eration. in pursuant to the Hoch- Smith resolution passed in the Sen ate to this end. Of course, Senator | ftStU oL I cll ci SN>'|A " ~' the injustice done to the coal indus try in hts state, went into mysteries The Pennsylvania senator exercised his influence in inducing President Coolidge to recognize pennsylva- mia" on the I. C. C., but his protege. Cyrus E. Woods, former ambassador to Japan and former attorney for the Pittsburgh Coal company. Mel lon concern, was rejected by the Senate.
 But the Pennsylvania interests made some headway nevertheless and this year the I. C. C. voted for a reduction in rates from the Penn- sylvania fields of 20 cents ton The railroads serving the southern fields then voluntarily reduced their rates to the same extent. to main tain their differential, when the l C. C., 10 the surprise and disgust of the Senate, suspended this rate de- crease. It was the first time that railroads had voluntarily agreed te reduce rates and also the first time that the l. C. C. refused to permit such a reduction. Esch voted tt suspend the reduction.
 Esch found himself between two fires, and were it not for the law which forces the I. C. c. to carry out the will of Congress in a gen. eral way, he would not need to have paid any attention to either side 1T the controversy. He feared the in fluence of the Pennsylvania poll. ticians if he did not agree 10 favor their demands. and feared their op. ponents if he did. It has turned ou . that the opposition has been strong . cI, III iOIHIllIlt'", tIldu lllc d2HllI l istration leaders.
 The Senate does not take cogni ! zance of I. C. C. decisions on ordi nary rates, but the lake-cargo de cision was one of broad genera . policy and was sectional in it's scope The union and anti-union wrangl in the coal industry has been in volved, and the railroads likewis have been charged with being identi fled with the Ia bor situation. As tn law stands. the I. C. c. Is forced t' please all sides. if 1t can. And whel a member is up for renominatiol the melee has begun one side-is sue is this: Is it good that the vii of the Senate. rather than the un alloyed judgment of the I. C. ( members themselves. should deter mine the decisions Of the carrie tribunal