Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-11-22
HOSTILITY TO TRANSPORTATION IN
TERESTS,

In the North American Reriew for De-
cember, William X Alderman has
thoughtful article on Railway Manage
ment," in the course of which he considers
several very interesting questions, not the
least f0rcible of which is that Of the diff
culties that appear to surround the rail
ways of the country for the future.
The chief embarrassments with which
they must contend he believes to be First,
the burden Of unproductive branches
acquired by lease, purchase or construction,
and which do not earn enough to pay their
fixed charges. Second, oppressive legisla-
ton. On this subject he says; of any
one doubts that there is danger from this
source, let him examine the calendar of
any of our State legislative bodies after
they have been in session a few weeks, and
note the number of bills that are hostile to
the interests of railways. Each member
appears to regard it as a solemn duty to
his constituents to introduce at least one
bill of this character during session; and
the extent to which this warfare has been
carried on does not argue well for the
future"
Whether or not Mr.. Alderman has
been overhauling legislative history in
California for the last past ten years,
we are uninformed, but he certainly
has described it. 1t would have
profited him to have gone step further
and have examined into the course of this
legislative hostility. Here he would have
had no difficulty in probing. Political
demagogy is found very,ne to the surface
of most Of our legislation hostile to trans
portation interests. SO much OF it as has
had its genesis in honest conviction has
nevertheless been fostered, promoted and
turned to account by the political blood
suckers. At this very hour there is on foot
II scheme to revive the anti-railroad agita-
ton, and to thrust into Legislature that
was chosen TO rebuke demagogues and
systematized blackmail, questions that will,
if taken up, not only disrupt the dominant
party, but induce greater stagnation of
business than now prevails, which is Ger
tainly bad enough, and in San Francisco is
quite at the worst
Another factor of embarrassment is the
hostility Of the press, (Which, in its strife
for popularity with producers, shippers and
politicians, evinces disposition to magnify
every little evil in the system, and ridicue
every effort in the direction Of reform, by
which course it practically encourages the
communistic tendencies of the age. In the
discussion of the difficult problem of rail
way transportation, which has been carried
on through the press during the past fifteen
years, the railways have not been allowed
fair presentation of their case; and even
in Courts Of justice they have had to en-
counter much iudici.,! prejudice engen-
d re by the press in its umcandid state
ments of fact
Mr.. Alderman points ont that the re-
ports prove that increase of freight earn
ings is arkei by proportionate increase
in tonnage moved showing that larger
amount of freight is being carried at
lower rates. He also points out that the
increase of Operation expenses is dis
proportionate to that of gross earnings,
which proves that the additional business
is done without profit; " or in other words,
it shows that the operating expenses have
been brought down Us low as possible"
lie finds that source of great embarrass-
mcnt to railways is the clamorous and I'M
reasonable demand of shippers, both as to
rates and facilities, the extent of which,
he adds. can only be known to those that
come more directly in contact with this
class, whose claims are often presented
with degree Of persistence and selfish
ness that places them beyond the pale of
reason. Still other causes are considered;
as the attitude of railways toward one
another, even where their interests are
Identical the unnecessary rivalry between
the principal competing lines, etc.