The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1888-12-06
fotal....... .....-........ ........... ......luI
UnOn the subject Of the operation Of the

Upon the subject Of the operation Of the
law the commission says:
To what extent, II at all, the administration
of the act has teen harmful to the carriers, is o
subject upon which the views of railroad man
ayers have from time to time been publicly ex-
pressed; sometimes to the effect that the dam
age has been yerv considerable The commits
sion s possessed OF no evidence showing that
the general result has been otherwise than
beneficial. Unquestionably the railroad busi-
ness of the country has suffered many and very
severe losses during the past year But these
have not been due to the act TO regulate com
merce.
Discussing railroad trusts, the commits
sion say:
Any thing equivalent to consolidation OF all
the roads OF the country under single head, or
even those OF a considerable section, whether
by merger or by the formation of confedera-
ton which should have powers OF legal control,
or by the formation of what is now technically
denominated a trust, could hardly be supposed
possible, even il the parties were at liberty to
form at pleasure. II the parties could come
into harmony on the subjeet,an arrangement OF
the sort would be so overshadowing. so powerful
in its control over the business interests OF the
country, and so susceptible of being used for
mischevous purposes IN many ways, that pub
lie policy could not for moment sanction 1t,
at least unless by statute IL were held in close
legal restraints and under effectual public su-
pervision and control. The voluntary arrange
ments Of the kind in other lines Of business are
already sufficiently threatening public inter-
est, and the most ardent advocate OF the con-
centration OF railroad authority can not rea-
sonably expect that any thing OF the sort to
control the transportation OF the country will
be provided for by legislation. Without legis-
lation to favor it, little can be done
beyond the formation OF consulting and advise
ry associations, and the work of these is not
AaFna 10 uaJcr
ed TO circumscribed territory. In the absence
of any such concentration of authority, the
carriers by rail have it in their power to do very
much toward establishing better relations with
the public at large, and toward performing bet
ter service for the public by first establishing
better relations among themselves. The need
OF this is very imperative. The first requisite
TO the establishment OF better relations among
the carriers by rail would seem TO be a recogn-
ton on their part of the fact that they seem TO
the public 10 constitute class, with, TO some
extent, at least, common interests, and likely
to be controlled by the same motives.
The commission sums up its conclusions
on the subject of uniform classification by
saying:
Uniformity in classification, as fast and as
far as IL can be accomplished without serious
mischief, is desirable There is gratifying
progress in the direction of unltication, and 1t
has been very marked within the last year. So
long as the carriers appear TO pc laoorlng
towards unidcaton with reasonable diligence
and in good faith, it is better that they should
be encouraged and stimulated to continue
their efforts, than that the work should be
taken out OF their hands. The commission
recommends; That some place of greater ca
pacty than Castle Garden be provided for the
reception OF immigrants, located somewhere
upon New York Haroor that all regular lines
OF interior transportation be allowed TO have
agents at the place so provided, who may sell
tickets under regulations prescribed TO secure
opual prevent abuses.
that the payment of commissions for the rout-
ing of immigrants. and for procuring the ship
ment OF immigrants from foreign countries, be
declared Illegal and be made punishable, and
that the commission be authorized to prescribe
fares for the transportation OF this class OF
passengers.