Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-10-26
lancaster fntcIliafmrer.
The Yowers of A CorporatIon.


true, It shows that this firm has reached
Its present position as the largest con.
Germ in its line of business through tie
drawbacks in freights given it by the
Pennsylvania railroad which favors
were obtained, also providing this testi-
mony is true, by purchase. The latt, r
statement is one that particularly inter.
ests the Pennsylvania railroad owners,
but the drawback, if allowed, has been
at the expense of the business interests
OF the state and in direct violation OF the
command of the constitution. As this
examination proceeds the matter in
uuestion will be more fully developsd'
and 1t will be fair to withhold confirm.
ed opinion upon it until the other side has
had a chance to be heard, No one desires
to do the Pennsylvania railroad or its
officers any injustice. 1t is great high
way, well administered, particularly in
its mechanical departments. But the
people Of Pennsylvania will certainly de.
mand that 1t shall be wholly freed from
the imputation that it is now favOring
certain shippers of goods over others,
which is at the cost of the whole people
and is denounced and forbidden in the
fundamental law. Any proof that this
thing is now being done will surely call
for the interpositiOn of the state through
its attorney general and the present
administration of the state is not one to
permit so great a wrong to pass un.
checked.
While deferring,as we have suggested,
the verdict upon the present conduct of
the PENNSYLVANIA railroad in the matter
Of drawbacks, we consider it just and
right to say that the testimony Of Mr..
Faulkner has great gravity given to it
by the current comment Of the coal upeT
ators upon the exceptional facilities en-
joyed by Berwind, White Il Coin shipping
their coal. 1t is so universally charged
that they enjoy these that it Is difficult
to discredit it. The only fair reason that
suggests itself for such facilities being
extended them now is thai they are the
largest shippers in the business. But
this again argues that they have become
so through the extraordinary facilities
which they bave been given. Mr.. Ber.
wind, when, his company was started
was man Of small means. He had be- n
the agent OF the late Robert Hare Powell,
whose service he left, We uuderStar d,
upon his failure 20 observe his prOu ise
g. 81 aft Of N Of -
business, voging then that he would de
prive him of his title of king Of the
bitumiuous coal shippetS; which he did.
If his success has been wholly due 10 his
great business energy and judgment, it
is one 10 be proud Of; but o.hevw Sc.
indeed, if il has been obtained by unfair
advantages corruplly Obtained over lis
fellows in the trade.
1t is a prime aim Of good gov
ernment 10 give every citizen Of
the state equal advantages in his
business and especially equal facilities
in transportation. The common law
makes this the duty Of the common car
rier, aud the command ofthe Pennsylva-
MIA cols,ituu bat emphasizes this
ancient doctrine of the law. II is an un-
deniab!e outrage if the chartered priyi-
leges of our railroads are 50 abused rs to
deny 10 any citizen their equal use on
equal terms with every other citizen.
The bituminouS coal trade is one in
which great industries OF the state are
interested. In il the good Of the state
demands that there shall be free and fair
competition. The Pennsylvania railroad
at present controls the outlets to the
bitumiDous region. By freely furnishing
cars 10 one shipper while denying them
or providing them stlugily to others, ii
can crush and sustain shippers at its
pleasure, and give ii into the power of a
combination that secures the cars to
make prices to the consumer to
suit themselves. The PENNSYLVANIA Oil
GERS declare that this is not done, but
thai the supply Of cars is distributed ac
cording to the capacity OF each COlliery.
This is the present policy, which is in
reform of its former practice, when
special orders and drawbacks were
more freely given than they are now
But there seems to be something still of
amendment needed, as the small ship
pers of coal complain that they cannot
get their share of cars and there Ger
tainly is at this season great scarcity
OF cars, Notwithstanding the depression
in the iron business has greatly dimin.
ished the demand for coal. There
certainly ought to be no difficulty
in meeting the dehand of the operators
for all the cars they want, as the coal
transportation o: the company is the
most profitable business it has not ONLY
in the larger profit directly obtained in
the carriage of the coal, but in the trans
portation charges on the products of tie
consumption of the coal on the com
pany's lines. 1t is business to be fos
tered, and it is hardly credible that the
railroad company would seek to cripple
II. The result OF the present. iuvestiga
tlon will be awaited with interest. We
trust that it will show that the present
policy at least of the railroad company
Is such as its interests as well as those of
the public would naturally prompt and
that the shortage in the supply of coal
carrying facilities has been unavoidable.
The E,rdminer fails to admire the
demand of the Republican clerks at