Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-03-06
- rssspaoss conBsss,on.
The Penneylvanian.

The Pennsylvania railroad prints the
1opurt or its business for the past year,
which q the largest It has ever done.
Ihe prosperous condition of the road IL
to6ection OF that OF the country, which
yeor ago seemed to be filed with business
'oopiidence. Tho railroad earnings Tor
the coming year will not be a. great -
they we're for the past year, unless
change In existing conditions takes place,
y there has been pronounced decline
"a business enterprise since the open
ine Of the new year. The cause Is
largely TO be found in the conduct OF
The railroads themselves, because,
flushed by q year of prosperity,
they undertook to increase their charges,
and some Of them sought to lower their
wages and to cheaper their materials.
The Pennsylvania was pervaded with the
idea that 1t was not making enough
money, notwithstanding 1t had made
more than it ever did before, and II
moved up freight rates and declined
longer to sell thousand mile pa 'senger
tickets and insisted on debating to the
steel rail makers the price at which they
should sell rails. The check came when
the steel rail combination shut down
their mills and business fell of, and 1t
became evident that to keep the country
floating along smoothly no stones must
b thrown in the stream.
The Pennsylvania has the credit Of be-
Ing the first to rea'izs the situation. 1t
accommodated itself to the steel rail
mAkers' views and bought rails. 1t be-
came amiable to freighters and put down
rates. It began again to sell ticket books
at cents per mile. 1t has given out over
two thousand freight cars to be made,
ana is doing what 1t may to revive the
business tone 1t has turned Its back on
the temptation to reduce wages, and has
even Increased them on the western sys-
tam. It is to be said for the Pennsylva-
MIA management that it is the most lib
eral and enlightened railroad manage
ment we now have; which may not be
saying that it Is all that it should be, but
it Il saying a good deal for 1t in the
devillsh temper..of railroad magnates gen.
erally prevailing.
The Pennsylvania used to be the worst
Of the lot, and its managers only
{ thought Of filling Their pockets and
5 oorrupting legislation that they might
1 obtain better facilities for SO do
ing. That class OF men and temper have
largely disappeared from the control OF
\ this company, and as q consequence Its
ancient unropularity has passed away.
The state can afford to be proud of it
now that it is manifestly growing In
grace. Its president has expressed him.
self q in favor Of the inter. state law, and
be may well be, as 1t has been great
boon to his road, and would be greater
: ono II the commissioners had power
Z to enforce their decisions under the law.
1 Mr.. Roberts in his present report, sug-
Rests that the law needs amendment to
3 secure its strict enforcement as we'll as to
protect the carrying business from the
Canadian railroad robbery. This would
b matter for treaty negotiation, now
that We are busy treating with Great
Britain over matters OF much hess conse-
! quences to US.
Tho interstate commission law evil
dently needs amendment, when great
railroad, whose interests lead 1t to desire
1 70 obey the law, finds that its infraction
I ( y competitors forces it into like antag.
/ Onism.