The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-02-18
FEBRUARY 1s, 1876.
TERMS IN ADVANCE.
RAILROAD COMPETITION.

That certain portions of the country have
suffered from extortonate exactions Tor
freight by railroad monopolies is conceded.
The great question has been, and still is,
how to regulate the rates of freight, how to
disarm monopoles of their power OF eXtor-
ton, how to remunerate the railroad, and,
at the same time, protect the interests OF
the people? The answer to this question
seems to be two fold-frst by competition
or, that failing, by statutory regulation
We have believed that the first course, II
attainable, was the wiser and surer way,
but unfortunately, in Vermont the capital
is not accessible wherewith to build new
and competing lines of railways; and we
have therefore been compelled, as y matter
of Justice, to advocate a Legislative control
of the matter. subs antially rs proposed in
the HYDE bill. so-calIcd. The latter relief
has been denied to the people OF Vermont
at present but we feel assured that it com
petition fails us, or il it fails to regulate the
matter, that the people and legislature Will
come TO the rescue and yield to the reason
able demands of the producers. 1t has
been objected that fair competition be-
tween two railroads is impossible that
where their terminal points are the same,
combinations will be formed under which
rates will I've unchanged or if changed,
will rule higher than ever and that there
fore, il would be useless to invest money
in new lines of railroads for the sole pur-
pose of pr ducing that competition which
is the lite If business and for the benefit OF
the community. Unfortunately this has
been too ften the case, and lines OF road,
intended to be competira have by combi-
monopolies. Whethci competing lines OF
ralioad ulc possible aId whether the gene
raj public shall be a!vantaged thereby Will
soon be determined by the issue of the con-
test between the Pennsylvania and the
Baltimore and Ohio railroads. Upon the
completion OF the litter load, that com
pany fixed thirty-fiSc cents per hundred
pounds "as proper and jud.ci"ua rate
for grain and certain other commodities
between Chicago and the sea board, and
then all other through lines, or combiua-
ton of lines, opened war upon them. The
first move was a reduction OF rates to SO
low and ruinous figure that it was hoped
that the Baltimore road would be COM
PEELED to yield to any rates, high or low,
that might be fixed by the combination, o:
be forced into bankruptcy. But reduction
was met by reduction, until the combina-
ton yielded. Now the last card is being
played. The Pennsylvania railroad re-
fuses to transport the cars or honor the
tickets of the Baltimore road, with like
hopes, but the latter company still refuses
to yield. The public await the issue witt
something of anxiety, as the possibility OF
a reduction of freights by competition
seems involved in the result. That the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, representing
the best interests of the people, may tri
umph, we sincerely trust. The combina
IS IS arlayed, alike, against the producer an'
consumer. and every blow it strikes agains
competition is aimed at their own interest
as well as those of the people. If the'
will not allow reasonable competition Il
to regulate rates of freight, the people viii
compel the legislature to regulate them.