Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-01-13
NYE ON RAILROADS.
HOW THE INTER STATE COMMERCE LAW is
WORKING.
Items From a COmpany's Lsdger-ASystsm Of Book
keeping That is Exquisitsly
Simple.
philndelnhfn Prfss.

Philadelphia Press.
On board of a railway train, which is
Just in the act of passing a given point,
1889.
Since tie passage Of the Interstate Com
merce law, a measure, which has, no
doubt. contributed more to the literature,
and less to the prosperity of the country
than anything else since the organization
of the Adams great Apple Trust, when
the country was new. many people who
are not drawing salaries as Interstate
Commissioners, have frequently wondered
how the old thing Was working. They
have noticed with pride that rates have
greatly changed forn so much per 100
pounds on first, second and third-class
freight to SO much and half on same
character of freight, and that there is
prospect for the consolidation OF all great
trunk lines and feeders, whereby rates
will ultimately reach so much and three
fourths per 100 pounds with all response
bility AMI the entire onus resting On tie
shipper.
But there has been much curiosity felt,
especially By the laitg, as 10 how news
papers we're meeting the Law and what
methods were employed in preserving an
Alo and
the roads without the use of passes. Oh
course, the general taxpayer recognizes the
fact that the locomotive and tie perfecting
press 90 hand in hand, 50 TO speak, having
as may say, grown up as boys and girls
together, go 1t IS generally believed that
there is a tacit understanding between
them whereby the press caa swap kind
words for transportation and still dodge
the penitentiary.
Bat how is it done?
Simply by keeping a running account
and by the ase of system OF debts and
credits between the road and the paper, so
that it IS only business transaction and
not an evasion of the law. So that passes,
are, of course, abolished, and tickets or
milssge 90 over the counter in exchange
for little acts of kindness which any child
may show. In tais way an editor who
cultivates a sunny disposition may scoOt
I'D and down over the wiO'e broad land,
eating worthless cooking apples and throw
ing the debris unler the seat OF the man
who does not advertise.
In this way general good feeling is pre-
served; the taxpayer, as represented in
Congress, feels that all is well. and the ed
itor whose money is mostly in non-tsxable
bouds or the rusty and buTglar-pt treas
ury Of a lard which is more preferable tban
this feels contented, while the railroad con
tinues to drag out miFerable, borrowing
few dol'ats row and then to psy divi-
dend with ard reading pleasant notices Of
its prosperity from time 10 time ia the col
umns OF the psp.r, it's attention having been
called TO them by someone.
Bat very few even of those who know of
the plan, really believe that al actual &C
count of this kind is kept. o. course,
ftff IN, tables snd regular standing adver-
tisements can % e.ssilE settled for at regu-
lsr rates. but do the roads acgtsally keep
an account Of other matters that 60 IRIS,
neas? am free 10 esy that l did rot be-
lieve in the existence Of such an account
myself till the day before yesterday ct
which time l was permitted to glance over
aad even make notes f;om a page or two OF
the ledger belonging TO road, the name Of
which shall be considered soemnly hcti-
tom so far as | am concerned.
II shows how the road, in order to COM
ply with the law, is put to crest iocon-
venienoe, 60 that TIE fierce snd viItuous
Interstate Commissioner will always
find. no matter at what unhallowed hour
he may approach, that the kind words
which can never die, 70, never die, and
which are far more valuable to a lofty,
bigh-spirited and tender-hearted aud rock
ballssted railroad that wealth or honor or
land grants are made to balance the trans
portation account and ell Is we'll.
l sppsnd few items of account taken
at random, aud using names which are
of course extremely fictitious. 1t is emit
ted the Spiegelpster, Eaglesburg, Shaken
rag and Polypus Railroad, in account with
the Squirreltda Echo and VOlksbldtter.
The paper it charged as follows: April
ID. To mileage book, 500 miles issued to
Squirtie J. Fountain, associated editor OF
the Echo d YolksblattT, who went over TO
sue the Legislature about fomething, $40
April Sd. To milesge book with red
conditions on the back, issued the senior
editor of the Echo C Volks5latter, because
he really nesded it; $40.
May /. To round trip ticket for Attic
Place, who vent over to Muskrat Valley
to write up the new side track at that
place and also pick up few subsci ibers,
and possibly some Job work; 1915.
May 10. To conditional l GOO mile ticket
issued to Sans Sarahbellum," humoriet,
of tbs Echo and VolksJlatter, with the I'M
derstandisg that so long as ne used them
in prolooging his absence, other books will
DO forwarded to him and charged TO the
paper; $50
The paper is credited as follows: "MaTch
81. By Tire following news item at half q
cent word:
"The derailment referred to in our las
issue as having taken place On the Esrls-
Vile Branch of the Speigelpeter, Engles-
burg, Shakenberg and Polypu5 Railroad,
turns out to be canard. We make haste
TO print the correction and also a regret
that these columns, which have erstwbile
bcC0 % ltll ahh uHpA'hOAf ohNNA~
prostitute themselves 60 such hy-up-the
creek rumor about one Of The most genis
and urbane roads it has been our 10. to
associate with. A Iold that minds lis
own business, a road that has endeareC
itself to one and all By thousand LITTLE
Thoughtful acts and joint resolutions
road which has never gone cut Of It's way
to injure any man, woman or child, and /
it did has walked up like man and paiC
for such person, AID always at a muci
higher price than such person wss wortl
to said road. What other road would pa
SIS, 900 for a man and then dollar and {
half for gathering him up?
182wo,ds. 81 II t."
April 5. By taking out at the lime o
going to press the following communication
aud putting in it's place an electrotyp
treating of the life work and literary habit
of Lydia E Pinkhsm.
Editor Of the Echo d; Volksbldtter:
l write this because You ought to know
about it and say something about it il
your paper. For some weeks past my dol
has been in the habit of sticking hinssl
onto the cars as they sped apast M