The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-03-27
NAruRALLY ADJUSTING ruEMsELvrs,

We have always taken the position that
in ali departments of industry and traffic
certain national laws prevailed which, /
left TO themselves, would work TO wisel
ends by Ear and better subserve the require
ments Of society anu commerce than /
tamrered with by legislation, and have
thus given them an artificial character ant
operation. We haye especially held tc
this plan and economic view in the matter
of railway legislation, looking to regulation
Certain statistical tables published recently
touching the rate of decline in freight
charges upon the railways of the country
within the past fifteen years sustain and
corroborate our position. b. appears from
these tables that the rate per ton per mile
for freight in the last fifteen years upon all
railroads has been steadily on the decline.
Notwithstanding the combinations Of cap
ital and the understandings between
roads, and the poolings OF every
description, the growth, in n word, accord
ing to popular fancy, OF these giant cor
porations and monopolies," the natural
laws of trade have, regulated by the great
principle, everywhere active, of supply and
demand, caused gradual reduction in
rates until the aggregate reduction in 1882
over 1868 and later was nearly SSO0,00O,CoO,
or over $50,00O00 per year for the past
twelve or fifteen years. Figures and facts,
| such as these, cannot be laughed at or de-
claimed away. Here is species of capital
and industry that the populace insists Is
growing more powerful and exactng, be-
coming, by combination and absorption,
year after year, more and more leech and
extortioner, giving up over $500O0,000 an
nually to the people in the way OF reduc-
tons in freights alone. In passenger
rate, reductions have occurred Of
almost equal significance, comparatively,
as the roads have grown more prosperous
aud competition has set in. In the very
fewest and rarest instances has any actual
reduction in freight and passenger rates
arisen from Legislative enactment, the com
panies in all such cases getting the loss back
from the public in some other wav. These
are stern iacts that stare us In the face in
statistical tables, aud only illustrate the
truth, so well known TO any intelligent po-
litical economist, that no matter how mo-
mentous the industry how imposing the
capital, nor how powerful the corporations,
natural laws, competition, supply and de-
mand will, year after year, adjust them
selves in such II manner as TO prevent that
industry and capital and power from OPP
Grating as an oppression or extortion, UNI
less it be monopoly fostered by govern
ment. But there is no such thing
as Tailroad monopoly in this
country, nor can there be, any more
than a dry goods monopoly. Any two or
three or more men, with money enough to
enter the field, can get charters and build
railroads to their hearts content, cut down
rates and serve the public TO their utmost
desire. Of course poor men cannot do it.
No more can poor men open u dry goods
store or build mills, but this fact does not
constitute monopoly in these lines. A
monopoly is simply the exclusive privilege
to do certain thing and thus stop compe-
tition. SO long as there is competition and
business Is left to Its own laws the people
are perfectly safe. We were gratilied to
notice the sensible course adopted by our
legislative committee the other day in rec
ommending that the bill proposing to
usurp and exercise such authority over the
roads in our state do not pass. Tho
action was taken after listening to
the powerful argument OF Ex-GoygRNoR
JonN c. Brown, in opposition to the bill.
The action of the committee was as COM
pIimentary TO the distinguished ex.gover-
nor Us IL was creditable to themselves. As
stated by GOVERNOR BRowN when Texas
railway system shall have been completed
and enterprises now in a crude and infant
state shall have become profitable invest
ments, and bidders and rivals for last
freight and passenger traffic of the great
southwest, reductions and Inducements
arising from competition, rivalry and sound
business calculations will naturally follow
and equitably adjust themselves to the dc.
MAIDS of the public by the natural laws of
trade. Until then the best interests of the
state, rs well rs common sense aud justice,
require that such enterprises be encouraged
rather than attacked by legislative enect.
ments.