Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-27


The CullOm interstate commerce bill.
which has Just passed the Senate and gone
10 the House, illustrates the incapaciiv of
the average legislator in dealing with oues-
tons which have no politics" in them.
The bill has section in it which prevents
railroads charging more for freight per ton
per mile for CARRYING it a short distance
than long distance. If anything in rail-
way management in its larger phases has
been demonstrated in the last ten years it
is that the adoption of such Il law, if it
could be enforced, would either mean the
bankruptcy OF the railroads affected or the
serious pecuniary injury of many Of the
people whom those railroads serve proba-
bly, both. If all rates were to be based on
the ratio for the long distances, either that
ratio would have to be increased or the
roads would quickly pass into receivers
hands. If the ratio adopted should be that
for short distances, then the rates on
through freight would be so high that that
branch of the railroad business would be
crippled, to the injury equally of the pro-
ducers and consumers of the products
affected and of the railroads
The bill, indeed, does contain a proyiso
that exemption from the operation of the
long and short-haul clause may be OBJ
tanned if the Commission created by the
bill so orders; but pending such decision,
traffic might, and probably would, suffer,
and the trade dependent on it become de-
mOrallZed.
One of the first fruits of the granger leg
isiation of a dozen years ago was the enact
ment of laws in some of the Western States
similar in principle to the long and short
haul clause in the Cullon bill OF course
the effect was disastrous on the railroads
and highly injurious to the people of the
country which those roads traversed. The
laws soon became imperative, and then
were repealed.
If the Cullom bill should be enacted. one
of its first efforts wonld be to increase the
prices of the grain and meat products of the
Yves: and OF the cotton of the South to the
Eastern and European consumer. As a
consequence sales of food would decrease,
because of the impossibility of competing
with Europe and Asia even in the Ameri-
can market in the Eastern States If the
law were permitted to remain in force two
or three years, the commerce of the coun-
try, domestic as well as foreign would be
seriously crippled, the American consumer
Impoverished and the Western producer
ruined.
The theory on which this class of legis-
lation is based is fallacious The expense
to the railroad Of carrying a ton of freight
1000 miles without change of car is not
ten times as great as carrying the same
quantity 100 miles. Usually, also on the
long-distance hauls larger quantities are
carried than for the short distances. This
element of quantity has, like that of dis
| tance, an important bearing in determining
the expense of transportation A whole
sale flour dealer who disposes of $4,000
worth of that commodity in large consign-
ments in day sells for a smaller price per
barrel than the retailer whose daily sales
amount to only 500. These transactions
are, IN some respects, analogous in prin-
ciple
These considerations ought not to be diff
cult to understand. Nevertheless they APP
pear to be beyond the comDrehension of
the majority of our lawmakers. We have
not the slightest fear, however. that the
Cullom bill will become law in this shape
Not that the House is gifted with more
common sense on this subject than the SEN
ate. By no means. That body has listened
too patiently for years past to Mr.. Reagan's
toying with the interstate commerce ques-
ton to merit that accusation But the
hopeless confusion in which legislation is
thrown by the Incidence and inefficiency
of that body is the peoples best safeguard
IN this matter However, If it should pass
the House i'll the shape that ii has gone to
ii from the Senate. we look to the press of
the country to enlighten the President as
to his duty in the premises.