Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-08
OUR MAIL POUCH.
Railroad Freight Discrimination Against
Pittsburg-Mr. Carnegie DefeDded.

Railroad Freight Discrimination Against
Pittsburg-Mr. Carnegie DefeDded.
To the Editor OF The Dispatch:
Amest remarkable article appeared in your
issue of Saturday morning, devoted mostly to
Mr.. Carnegie and his observations on "Freight
Determinations Against Pittsburg and It's
Manufacturing Industries" That there IS
ample cause for severe arraignment OF the
railroads on this score is certainly apparent TO
anyone who takes the trouble to investigate
never so little the subject. And the endeayor
to make it appear that the railroad is making
an effort, assisted by the interstate commerce
law to reform its former abuses, seems rather
ridiculous, to say the least
The writer of the article referred to- and who,
for layman, seems to be remarkably well
posted in railroad matters, and who is inspired,
we are to suppose, by no other motive than TO
see the railroad justly dealt by. seems to us to
be endeavoring to cover the sins (?) Of the rail-
road ompany with Mr.. C.'s coat and reminds
that gentleman that people who live in glass
houses ought not to throw stones" Now, Mr..
g. may not be saint" as we Christians
reckon il" but he is at least entitled to be
heard as gentleman, and SO far as he tells the
truth and stands for right and justice, he is
entitled, not only to a hearing but to the graft
tude of every right thinking man.
The Pennsylvania Railroad Company is not
only not a benevolent institution, but il Mr..
Carnegie's charges are true land they are not
denied), 1t is vast concern that is engaged in
business that, so far as the community at
large is concerned, is unjust and in It's methods
dishunorable.
The argument of the writer is not that Mr.
C.'s charges are not true, but that the fact
that his great works are enabled to use 1t for
carrying on their extensive business and are
compelled to give the Pennsylvania Railroad
large amount Of hauling to do, is a sufficient
reason why he should not complain, when
therein lies the very reason for his complaint.
True, he could not do business without using
the facilities furnished by the railroad COM
pany, but that is no reason why they should
treat him unjustly:
Mr.. Carnegie has large wealth, made fright
here" as the writer afirms-made out of the
coal and gas and iron combined, that gives
Pittsburg and her surrounding territory great
facilities and advantages, and he is succeeding
in his business in spite of the injustice done
him. His mills are running, and he manages
to add year by year to his vast fortune. All
this is true, as affirmed. But, has Mr.. Carnegie
no rights as a man and an American citizen
that are to be respected, just because he has
succeeded where many others have failed?
Now am not defending Mr.. c., nor champion
ing his cause because he is Mr.. c. (for do not
so much as know him personality; but such
arguments as that, and such public and cor
pOIdIe morals as Lnab Ougnb not TO go unre-
buked. Andrew Carnegie is right, and when
heis right he needs no defense from me or any
one else But the writer of this article, instead
OF personal attack should answer his argu-
ment, show that he is wrong, or approve his
course.
The argumentof "Layman" is that the rail-
road company ought to be participator in the
pronts OF gas and coal. That if the manufac-
turers of Pittsburg. through providential cir
cumstances. are favored in the matter of fuel
they oughtto be charged higher rates for trans
portatlon than other localities where. such
providential ordinations are not found. The
rallroad company thereby reaps a double
profit: First, by the increased tonnage it re-
ceives from the greatly increased production
OF the favored locality; and, secondly, by over
charging on this increased production. 1t
really trebles its profits. And yet this writer
says it is justified. The only basis on which it
is done is because there is no competing COM
pany by which it can be held to equitable busi-
ness principles, and there is no competing
line because, by palpable violation of law
the railroad company has prevented the build
ing OF such a line. Does any man argue that
because mans farm produces more wheat to
the acre than his neignbor's farm, that there
fore he ought to pay higher rate for sending
his produce to the mill or the market? Or be-
cause one man, by reason of his business sue
cesses, has attained greater wealth than an
other that therefore he ought to pay more for
his dinner or for his railroad fare than his
ne1ghbor? The fact is the injustice done to
PittsbuIg is so palpable that all the country is
talking of it Men wonder that the people
have not risen in their might and made such
demand as is never disregarded by even the
mostpowerful corporate combinations.
The writer says: "Pittsburg may claim that
the discrimination enables Chicago to shut it out
from markets beyond Chicago, to which she is
entitled. Is that true? Is it not more true that
If Pittsburg intrudes upon trade areas which
naturally belong to Chicago, she must take
her chances of getting kicked out"
In answer to this we say: First, that there
are no trade areas which belong naturally to
Chicago or any other place. That's fallacy
fatal to all principles of justice. The wrong is
not inflicted upon Pittsburg alone, or upon any
other city or community against whom dis
examinations are made, but upon all those who
use the products of such localities. The con-
sumner is a greater sufferer really than the pro-
ducer in snch case. A railroad company Is a
common carrier, and, doing legitimate and
honorable business makes reasonable profit
in its business 1t is its duty to deal Justly and
equitably by all its patrons. and if there is any
benefit to be derived from natural or acquired
facilities by localities or individuals, the whole
body polite is or ought to be the beneficiary.
Any other principle of business is wrong
wrong in principle and wrong in practice. The
corporate powers granted to these common
carriers" contemplates nothing mole than the
furnishing Of just and equal rights to all, and
the primary idea is the greatest good to the
greatest number.
Inc Ieal secret OF Inns great system OIL IN
justice lies in the fact that the great corpora
tions, through their endeavors to make their
business pay large dividends on largely watered
stocks, have to resort to dishonorable and lille
gal means to accomplish it. There are SO
many wheels within wheels" that the poor
stockholders" IN whose interests these things
have to be done (?) get but small pittance out
of the enormous profits, and the balance goes
to fatten those who are In position to have
the run of the crib Only when great cor
porations shall be compelled to do justly" by
great and small, will the country be freed from
a great peril that now threatens us with civil
and political destruction. And only when men
like Mr.. Carnegie, who have the courage of
their convictions and the financial ability and
influence to make themselves felt, move to the
front, in an earnest endeavor to secure justice,
may we hope to see better and safer condition
of things take place. Let Mr.. Carnegie con-
tinue to speak, and let the country have the
facts, and THE truth shall make US free.
PITTsBURG, April 6. VETERAN.