Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-12-15
y. RAILROAD QUESTION OF THE
HOUR.

n.
No one questions that the intent Of
congress in framing the interstate COM
msrce law was good one. There were
great abuses in railroad management
Capital, organized and combined in
great railroad systems, under the con-
troll of few men, was, in many instan-
ces being used illegitimately, and in
come instances almost disasfrously to
the interests Of the people. Congress
was aware of it, and after some study
OF the various railway problems, very
short considering their magnitude.
framed the interstate commerce law to
correct the evils existing.
It might have been expected that the
law would have many defects. To estab-
lish rules and regulations governing the
whole railway mileage of the United
States, matters which the combined rail-
way intelligence Of the country had at
tempted in one way and another hun
dreds Of times, and failed, was q task
even greater than Herculanean. Time
has proven that the law has most serious
defects in many sections. The Inter
state commission has gone as far as it
has authority, and widely construed the
the law in some instances and overlooked
its observance in others.
There are portions of the law, how
ever, which the commission cannot &C
cept but in letter and spirit, which weigh
most heavily upon the carriers, even to
the extent of depreciating the value of
their property millions of dollars, and
placing them almost in the hands of
receivers. We refer to the long and
short haul clause and to the clause en-
tireiy prohibiting pooling. THE UNION
hes heretofore referred to the first of
these and will say nothing now in regard
to it.
Pooling in its best form does not pre-
vent legitimate competition and never
did, but it does check cut-throat rail-
roading-which is an injury to the
public and to the carriers. Cut-throat
business is always deliterious, whatever
its deld. Business is never of general
and lasting good if it is not remuners-
tive-if it does not pay small profit.
As matters now stand in railroad affairs,
there being no way TO maintain fair and
reasonable rates, the cut throat road,
the bankrupt road, the road that has no
dividends to pay, merely the interest on
IFS bonds, has the great advantage in
the field Of competition and is eventually
in the position of dictator.
There is nothing short of general con-
solidation to ameliorate the evils of des-
tructive rate cutting which now menace
the railroads of the country, especially
the western railroads, owing to over
construction, save pooling, which would
be infinitely better than wholesale con-
solicitations, as there would be much freer
competition under pools. Already there
has been talk OF COZ oscillation OF all the
lines of the southwest, the roads tor the
time descsiring of help from congress.
In 1887 10000 miles of new road were
built. It does not make matters better
to say that this road was built too soon.
It is built and hundreds of millions ara
wrapped mp in it. Money invested in
railroads cannot be taken out, and the
practical, common sense question which
appeals to every man, whether railroad
man or not, is, can the country afford to
see this new mileage-the building of
which YVES of greater general good, than
of advantage to the corporations, even if
it had made operating expsDses-drag
great and powerful and good roads down
with il? That is almost the situation.
In the case o: the trans continental
lines, there is another very eggrsvating
question to contend with, which was not
taken into consideration when the law
was framed, but which is of very serious
of water transportation.
which competes directly with them in all
seabosrd business at ruinous rates. Pre-
vious to the framing Of this law this
business was pooled, snd by subsidies
and other pool arrangements the rates
wore kept at q fair and reasonable figure
By 'fair and req sonable" we mean fg-
ure that enabled them to pay operating
expenses and email dividend.
We believe in government supervision
Of railroads and that the interstate COM
nerce commission has mission. It will
continue to have one while unjust dis
lasts; but there are intrica-
sizes of management, born OF rival lines
and increasing competition which COM
mission cannot best solve.
Despite the clamor to the contrary,
sometimes heard, the railroads have done
more for the country than they have re-
ceived. They ought to, and have the
right to exist and pay their debts, and
wait while the sections which