, 1879-01-02
TUE RAILROADS.
NATIONAL RAILROAD BUREAU.
Tn tie Editor ri 1ns Tribune.

AAA@
NATIONAL RAILROAD BUREAU.
II the Editor ~ Ihs Tribune.
SrR1NGP1ELD, Dec. 31.-..lt Il admitted that
the transportation question Il assuming a &C.
I,ous complexion; that the difficulties under
which the railroads are struggling compel them
to course Of action which precinaes the idea
Of fairness aud the obserya at,ee for my lonk
period Of pool arrangements or resolutions OF
conventions; that competition Is fierce. and
agreements to control are almost useless: that
the railroads are in dilemma. II they charge
nigh freight rates, business will leave them. II
they charge low rates, they cannot meet interest
OF l,ny Dividends. Theae admissions arc ali true,
as tho recent experience Of railroads proves.
But 1t ts also snQ that the question Of trans
bureau, and tho reason seems to be BECAUSE no
Legislature can rcRGEnte the conditions OF sup
ply aud demand In the commercial relations
Of tho country. These asserttons are by no
mems evident. .....
IL tho crils complained OF do really exist; II
tho system to which, they leiung Is 40 vast and
comprehensive a. to be beYUnd tho control OF
State Eaws;tf Congress, under the Constitution,
has the power TO regulate coninerce among tho
several States, then It follows, Of COURSE, That
tt is Within tue province Of National Bureau to
take cocnlzanca Of these evils, and possible
to apu}y remedy.
The assertion That "no Legislature can resu-
Into tho conditions Of supply and demand" Is d
moss vlasiu9 mistake. This is the very object
which Legislatures nEG continually regulating.
MnuY years ago there was demand tor the
products Oh tile West to supply the wants OF
Legislature q Sew York authorized M the % con- on
struetlon Of the Eric Canal, and thereby rcgu-
lated the conditions Of supply anil demand.
Tho Illinois & Mfchtaan Canal Sas constructed
under authority ot state law for the same pur..
ma FRTr
obstructions In tue nay'gatiou Of our
rtverst Lhe improvement OF our harbors,
and tho construction Of jetttes at ths
mouth Of the Mississippi by the General tiovern-
regulating tho conditions Of supply and dcmnul
III tue commercial relatfous Ut the country mod
tile world. The Corn laws Of England mud the
tariG sYsten Of our own country hAye the entno
object In 7Iew. Thu circulation Of gold and Ill.
veT 10 the channels OF commerce depends upon
ths laWB which arc passed for the regulation OF
tsade. The Government may place an embarro
upon Our products. br establish commercial
thc commerce o{ ihs world. II fact, tie history
of any commercial natfon consists principally Of
the operation Of laws wh!ch were passed fot tho
very purpose. Of regulating the conditions d
Il &, therefore, strictly within the province Of
law and Of National Burcau to regulate tho
ru,lroud aYstcm ufsthe country ID such way
that The denauls and waots of the vartola
be supplied ID tho most expeditions and
economical mannest II is not contendc9
that the railroad system should bo nntaRouized
or restricted, but, on the contrary. that 1t
should ee developed and made to produce, for
ths benett Of all classes concerned, all the ad-
vautages Of which i il capable. 1t u diillcult
problem to aolre. II will rcquire untirtnx exer-
tions, nice discrimination, sound Judgment, ex-
tcnstve Information. ibaexihle viRor, md incur
Thc det,iis Of the Burea, vii, oecr.sarily In
Intricate and volumiuous, hut few general
principles may 90 tar towards solving the dffl-
Guilty. While the Bureau should possess para
mount authority, It should be auxiliary only,
not Rntagoutsl!c, 10 this railroad systcm. III
object should Ia to fostor and extend, while ut
the same simo It should project tho interests Of
the peoplo. Whtlc on the one hand It should
preserve The rights CT The stockholdcr and b0nd-
prevent extortion and oppression. The prouuc-
tjous OF tha soil and articles Of manufacture
should be carried the greatest dtstanco
at the lowest rates consistent with the intereats
circusnataocca Of tho country. Corporations
that derive their existence from the Legislature
ought h0t 70 be allowed to absorb m untuo
proportion Of the capital Of tho country. Il the
cent Oh the capltal invested. railroads ought TO
bo restrtctel to near tho same amount; because
Whatever they gain more shan their DUG propor-
t;un to the lt'ss Of tho people. froln whom they
not have paid por cent dividend for past
years. but iAia may havs been caused by ex-
trayagaaec io construction OF roads, the high
anlastea Of officers, and mlsmanaKemeat ol
supervision Ut tho National bureau ~ well ~
frelxhls and charges In few ycars We may
discover our mistake ~ having granted inonop
olies, whereby Vanderbilt, or scott, or Tar
hare accumulated hundreds Of ulittiund
| Of dollars, TO The LUXURY OF tho uluase4
of thc peepls. We ought 10 sahsrs
tothe principle that Il We gt.nt exclusive priv
right Of Imposing conditions in consideration q
| the privilege II W. haYu not donc 80 hereto
lore. We should do 70 hereafter, and limit tn
salaEIes Of olllccEs 30 ~ to correspond with sal
! artcs IN other departments of business and all,
tho dividends Ut stocknpsuers mud intercas 0.
bonds. 10 ~ " correspond with the average In
come In other ktnQs ot business, and check th
reckless expenditure Of money WHICH has char
pie part with their rights lo tbosa charteIe'
ulonopoI!es they should 1mpuse Limitations ~
their own saiety, aud secure. II possible, fai
division of tho prodts for themselves.
au aware that this Ia delicate subject Rn
may require careful mana9emens. bul Il OH
law declares that our Governor md other HtAt
oil1cerp shall receive h1ed salasiea. why shoui
not railroad charter do tla aame tlingl
why should : railroad President b. atuwc
e.M000i II the Attoruey4ieneral receives uni
$500 per annuD, why should a ratlroa
attorney receive 313, 900. Tl,ess saIaries ars
dertvod from charters political Or otherwise
they ate al taid W tl!o people directly {
tnaircct'y: they are all conferred In consider,
tton VI exclusive houoFs or privileges, aud the
should I'll 10 controlled by the power thu
gsanta them.
so with ,hs disposition Of lauds granted /
the Government and tho disbursement {
money .iu tht construction OF the roads. II
grants should be !tberat aS ah tnluSeulent I.
capitalists ~ combine their capital With Il
grant, but the Government should hays
speciaEly-sppotatcd agept-a national bureau
to sec that llclr Ktauls arc not rscklessly sgun
dereu, aud TO impose cheek upon e1tsayagsl
railroad officials. Who eau say tLat sucl.
CLeek would not have prevented the collapse
the Northern Pacific Kallruadt And II 9th
Pacific lloaAs arc Go he constructed with 9th
extensive apptopta,ions aud grauts, why shou
not tbu Government. ~ national bulea
| tLln If tho REanfS in Rllrh tuanuer L LII