In absolute flat disregard of that, just lately, the Commission has
said that it is no part of its functions to equalize natural advantages
by adjusting rates. So that .those varying rules could be applied,
apparently, according to the fancy of the Conamission, as occasion
might arise. In one case it might be held that the commerce of a
place like Chicago, for instance, was to be distributed, and in another
case it might be held that it was not within the function of the Com-
mission to equalize natural' conditions, because it is on record both
waj's. Suppose it could do this; suppose that it could equalize such
advantages? Is there anything that would stop competition more
than that? Is there anything that would limit the productive activ-
ities of various commercial centers more than the effort to give to each
one some little territory in which it had a natural advantage, because
it was near at hand, perhaps, and to keep everybody else out? Be-
cause that would be the effect of it if such a system could be carried
out. I doubt whether it could be, but if it could be carried out it
would absolutely limit competition and prevent the process which is
going on all the time of developing business, so that manufacturers
and carriers can reach farther markets. That will be at an end. So,
too, under the.Quarles-Cooper bill, a condition of ridigity of rates
would arise as soon as the Commission had acted, because the rates
under the provisions of that bill can not be changed except by the
action of the Conamission itself — not by the court even, but only by
the action of the Conraiission.
