Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-03-09
- wTUlepAone Connection.
M FslIsltened Railreads. !.

It b interesting to note the carnestuess
With which the railroads are wont to talk
now IN these days Of strikes, Of the need
of their obeying the inter. state law and
carrying all the goods that are offered
them. This was the cry OF Corbin snd
nov the Burlington people have taken 1t
m. and it seems that there is nothing
eat 90 delights the railroad president as
% otey the law and carry the goods
brought to him by rival railroads.
It will be noted that the inter state law
makes no new law In this regard, and
that the common law which We imported
4 from Great Britain laid 1t down as the
duty Of the common carrier to carry all
goods that were offered TO him and not
only to carry them but to take them upon
4 the same terms and conditions from all
his customers.
The inter state law added no penalties
70 TIE infractioE CT this law. 1t created
commissioners to see that 1t was observed.
lt must be gratifying to those commits
Z Glonors to note the present eagerness OF
the railroads to obey it. 1t has lately
been suspected that the railroads were
\ MT % inclined /; and we have just re-
ceived from the commission the report
Of IL decision in charges brought against
nine different roads by one George Rice,
! who complained that they would not
carry his goods on the terms upon which
they carried for the Standard oil COM
u~t,n oov,, mi oc;ov 0pdo fhio to havo
besn the case. Perhaps, IL these nine
roads had been tied up by their workmen
their officers would have had clearer
& idea Of their duty as common carriets.
And probably the Burlington road will
know more about its duties and response
bilities when 1t gets through with its
y present application to the United States
court at Chicago, for an order compelling
The Wabash railroad to receive freight
from it. This road is being administered
By receiver acting under the authority
OF the United States court and it is quite
certain that he will be required by Judge
Gresham to discharge fully his duty as O
common carrier. That duty will require
him to receive the goods cent him by Other
4 railroads and carry them, II he can. But
he will advise the court that ht
cannot carry them because the drivers
and firemen of his locomotives tell hin
that they will leave his employment il HI
puts the Burlington cars in his trains
4 and that he can get no other skilled mer
70 take their place tho consequence
being that he cannot run his trains ant
that all his customers will be deprived O
ths use Of the road.
The court will not readily put the Wa
hash out Of service; and it will be likel!
70 make careful inquiry into the situation
Il With view to provide q remedy. Tn
Darlington people think that the onl
thing to be done is TO require the Wabasl
to take their goods at every hazlrd an,
to clap the engine drivers and fremel
into Jail il they refuse to man the trains
But the court may not be able to discove
4 it, power to command this remedy fol
the evil.
It will be likely to recollect that there
u rule which commands those witt
seek equity to do equity. The Burlng
Z ton officials in demanding the equitable
relief OF the court, must come to it will
i clean hands and show that it is not thei
fault that the Wabash road canot recev
their goods and keep its employees.
This will bring before the court tn
merit Of the controversy between tn
Burlington officials and their engineer.
y and will provide an effective tribunal 70
the arbitration that the engineer Brother
hood are asking.
II IL appears to the court that the dt
mAnd OF the engineers upon the officer
y reasonable, it will refuse to order th
Wabash receiver to take the Burlingto
ears until the Burlington managers hav
done the equitable things which it think
they ought to do.
II Ia not often that a wrong exists I,
which the law does not provide remed,
II Il is diligently sought. This recours
70 the United States court will show, "
think, that it can command the propt
relief to the public and bring obstinat
men to terms who are careles
Of the public interests in looking for the
own. The railroads that are compelle
to ask for relief from the law, will lear
that to get 1t, they must be just and thl
they cannot spurn fair demands of the
employees, or withhold their service fro
the public, while asking the laws he
against those who are unjust to them.
Tha E.nnarnr