Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-01

roads in southern and southwestern states
as there is reason to believe that there is
| need OF remedy. The commission deplores
rate walls and thinks that these evils are
! magnified by the custom of allowing sub
| ordinates to make rates.
| On the subject of pooling and trusts
the report says: 1t is reasonable
VIII, where practicable, make such joint
arrangements, so that the public shall find
| an arrangement with one adequate for the
purpose of any single transaction. There
should be some means of enforcing among
carriers the obligations, moral or legal.
THAT would grow out of such arrange
ments. The only effectual means by
which good faith could be enforced was
the pooling of freight or earning. but pool
ing Is now out of their power, being for
hidden by law. The tendency among
railroads seems likely to be in the direc-
ton of consolidation as the only means of
mutual protection against rate wars; but
what is technically denominated as trusts,
could hardly be supposed possible,
even II the parties were at lib
erty to form it at pleasure
II the parties could come into harmony on
the subject an arrangement of the sort
would be so powerful in its control over
the business interests of the country, so
poses, that the public policy could not for
a moment sanction it, at least unless by
statute it were held in closele legal restraints
and under public control. Like arrange
ments in other lines OF business are al
ready sufficiently threatening to the pub
lie interest, and the most ardent advocate
the concentration of railroad authority
can hardly expect that it Will control the
transportation of the country. Lacking
concentration of authority railroads can do
much towards better relations with
the public and the establishment of
better relations among themselves. The
need of this is very imperative. In
all the cutting of rates the party be-
ginning it makes insinuations against its
Carriers cutting rates have
proclaimed that the reduced rates were all
that could be justly demanded, when |
persons having experience knew that their |
lnsistence in such rates would lead |
directly to bankruptcy. An impartial |
observer is compelled to say that such |
methods do not belong to the present age. !
10 make an adversary feel and fear tie |
power to inflict injury is often tie first !
and principal thought and a rate is cut |
when in ruder age it " ould have been a |
threat. The motive is to obtain
right, or extort privilege or punish |
a wrong and irrespective of any question |
whether there are not legal remedies which |
tlal jus ice. While this commission is not |
at this time pared to recommend general |
legislation towards the establishment and |
promotion of relations between carriers
that shall better Subserve the interests
than those which are now common. it must I
nevertheless look forward to to the posi-
bility of something of that nature becom-
ing imperative unless great improvement
IN the existing conditions is voluntarily
naugurated.
Immigrant transportation is next con-
Sidered and various facts stated which were
developed upon two investigations held in
New York. IN view of all the circumstances
jhe commission recommends a reception
place larger than Castle Garden from
which those not iegitimatety connected
With the immigrant transportation shall
De excluded. Interior lines should have
agents there on a equal footing. Payment
IF commissions for routing immigrants
md for procuring shipment of immigrants
rom foreign countries should be declared
Illegal and made punishable. The COM
nissioners should have power to fix immi-
grant fares. These objects cannot be fully
except by the federal govern
nent taking complete control of the whole
subject.
The subject of payment of commissions
s treated extensively. The commission
believes that the evils of the system exceed
is advantages. The subject is brought to
he attention of congress.