The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-08-27

led to remedy these evils. Prices are not
high now. Freight is being carried ior
half mill d ton per mile. Our railroad
system is founded on competition. The
roads are always engaged in great war
among themselves. Competition leads to
difficulties, a discrimination against local.,
lies and violent fluctuations; The only
remedy that could be suggested is ito have q
commission appointed to investigate care
fully the abuses, disagreelnents and griev-
ances which people suffer, and publicly
announce them. Publicity in these cases
would do much good. Tie establishment
OF a commission might possibly lead to the
trimming of remedial laws. But present
legislation could not cure the evils unless
YOU 20 the cart before the horse. You
must get at the root OF the trouble.
O. Railroads are the creatures OF the
States, are they not? AYES, sir.
O. As railroad runs through several
States, no one State could interfere.
Would It be wise for the Federal Govern
ment to assume complete charge OF the
ntircrailroad systemP A.-Itwould not be
practicable. About ninty-nine onc-hund-
redths OF the commerce between the States
is by railroad. IfCongress attempts to re-
gulate that commerce ii has great deal to
do. Wellayc got to profit by English exI
perience. All manner ofSchemes have been
attempted in England and various kinds
OF legislation, but recent commission oil
Parliament decided to formally abandon
these wild notions. The document OF this
commission is one OF the most instructive
pieces OF railway literature. Thepolicy OF
regulating fares and freightsandproiits, the
commission decided was unsound, Their
policy is "hands Off" the railroads, let the
managers run the road any way they see
lit, BY consolidation or otherwise, but
give the largest amount Of publicity to the
management, so that abuses to society will
not be practised. In Massachusetts, We
have adopted the English system, and
it is working admirably. A grievance IL
quickly attended to. A single p0stal-card
from an individual reciting any abuse, re-
ceiyes the same attention that will be
given to a long document from State.
@. Could Federal Legislation relieve
the distress Of case like the following:
A wire maiufacturerinT Trenton Is compet-
ing with Il manufacturer IN Worcester,
Mass, for the Chicago trade. They are
both the same distance away, but heavy
freight duties in the one case debars one
man from entering the market because he
can't sell us cheap. A.-Itis certainly IN
abuse, butt would be impossible torelieve
Il by Legislation. The public can't share
the benefits ofrailway competition without
enduring its harlships too, Public enter.
prise Is not equal to private enterprise, and
Il is questionable II railways would be SO
successful II handled by the government.
Railways are in chaotic state, but the
powers Of the magnates are Diminishing.
In those countries where tho Government
has charge OF the roads, say Bavaria and
Prussia, the same thing exists. No, don't
consider it wise to favor the watering OF
stocks, but it is q matter entirely In the
control OF private enterprise. The man
agers run the road to make it pay; II II
don't pay they will abandon it. Pooling
are only the result Of con-
Charles Frederick Adams, q lawyer, gave
the committee plan of government which
was combination Of the Tontine principle,
md mutual assurance society. Charles
Wingatc gave iew hints about the unem-
ployed labor in New York.