People make the assumption that fares are calculated based on the number of legs or the distance. That is not the case. Fares, whether one way or round trip, are priced based on demand, as Jim pointed out.
You will find in certain circumstances that a one way ticket is less than a round trip ticket. In many markets, however, one way tickets are purchased more often and are in higher demand - especially among business travelers, which make up a large majority of airline travelers. The airlines will price those higher due to that demand. They are a business operating to make money, like any other business, and have the right to do this, just like any other company has the right to charge more for products or services that are in higher demand. I doubt congress will do any thing about that, or even can.
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