The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-02-12

BaflrseAs a Monopoly Qaesties.
The railroad interest has already
imported into our Jurisprudence alone
whether statutory or juridscai law,
whole volumes Of novelty; while its
impressions upon politics sad society
have been no less strong and deep
Its earliest conquest in the former
field was that in which it compelled
the concession, after a decent struggle.
of that right Of eminent domain, =
or ultimate ownership by the State 0.
private property, which is one Of he
highest attributes of sovereignty and
its later progress has accorded with
this inaugural step Yet now more
than ever before do its agents beset
the doors Of every State house in
the country with demands for new
privileges; mad now, within these
few years, almost for the first time
has the Capitol of the United States
become the workshop of its grsndest
operations What wonder, then II
the communities that have 30 wei
coined and fossered il as a most use-
fai helper or even q generous bene-
factor; that have bestowed upon It
singular privileges millions OF money,
prineipalities Of land +; that have sur
rendered 20 il at the outset the right
OF eminent domain, and st last even
the power Of taxa;ion,-should ROW
turn sharply about at its new de-
mands. and begin to ask an account
Of what has been already committed
TO itz What wonder ifthe former SOW
ereisn, finding tha; the useful servant
is become major domo and itself 3
roi faiaeaaf, should presently set II
self TO restoring the normal relations :
Just this IS what, N more or less
blind or intelligent way, lawmakers
and people are very much occupied
with just now. The State does not
mean, if II can help If, 10 be the sub
jeet Of the railroad. But what, in
case Of the EXTREMIST wrong, it has 3
right 10 do for is yindication; what
are the wrongs which IN the Eight Of
a high state Ct morality, would justify
its exercise Of the utmost power still
Jeff to Il; and finally, by what partie-
ular measures a railroad system NAV
Be established in due subordination
70 the commonwealth. and 50 a TO be
most for the public convenience, safety,
economy, and moraiity.-tbese three
are questions which suffer much fron
crude, p-ejudieed, and ignorant spec
ulatioD The first il seems possible,
however, TO answer upon established
legal principles with some approach
TO exaetness; the second NAV be At
least illustrated from daily experience.
The data upon which the proper an
swer TO the third viii De founded
must be very many and various: and
perhaps they must be supplied In part
BY disastrous experiments vet 10 be
made Even Dow, however, certain
prineiples-a- least IN 3 negative
( forw-msy be evc.yed from the facts
Of recent historv, aad when some Of
these have been colss1tred and an
swers scaghs 10 the .wo inquiries
first laid down, the object Of this
paper viii hare beel accomplished
Nothing, perhaps Is now clearer,
even 10 the most ulcompromising
sdhe-ents Of that school Of political
economy which would leave most 20
unfettered personal action, than that
competition can3ot be depended upon
10 regulate abroad accommodation
whether N respect 10 quantity OF ex-
teGt, or IN respect 10 quality, conven-
fence or price. NJ propos- ton has
been generally admitted ss more dis
tnctly ssioDatie n formed diseassioos
than that which expc1;e1ee and reason
now unite IA meeting win this simple
negative Yet i aSy one to-day
should answer, 20 eomp.aint that
the public in this or thar ease = mad
eqlsiely supplied sith roads, or III
served, or over-ebarged, fnst the IN
changeable laws Of demand sud sup
/ ply viii correct all that, z oaly gwen
time and room 10 o2es ate. The eirility
or t;midity Of his hearer = alone
likely TO sare the speaker from the
charge Of being personally Interested
10 naiasa;niuy the ezis.iny state Of
things In fact. t5e grossest faIlaey
y involved 10 t5e attempt to apply TO
such a subjett the economical c. law In
question TIE Circumstances which
make competition possible are wanting
10 the very nature o. he case. To
give scope 20 competition, there mus
be ast olix large AID free demand.
bui The possibility os supplying, BY
many Persoas, from many sources. the
very commodity demanded. Such
possib.lity the nature itseIf Of railroad
tradc. e-eept IN ye-y special cases.
e-Ciudes- The hes; route Is of Deees-
siiy already occupied A new lire
mast he longer. ,0s,lier. more difieuIs
a I'd whss men we,e asking was to go,
and tS send the. -oodz, bv the
shortest, toe safest, and me speesiiess
rode. as wei as b. the cheapest
Toe snos.esi, s5fess, ID sp.ediest Is
wsa. tbe old l.ae -aa alone sapply
ana the fsrt that & c4a also. j. It viii,
supply them cheapest. nus, except in
the rafess .ases deter capital from n
{ trasloa-
/ In short. railroad maintenance and
management, especially between
nearer and sabordinate points, Is from
its inherent nature O monopoly. as
strictly as the business Of supplying
the pubic with Nicholson payment OF
/ gimlet-POinted screws; and il must Be
regulated if at all, as strict mono
poly To refer the public. suffering
from lis extortions. to competition q
the laws of trade for relief. would be