The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-03-19
THE LAW MUST BE OBEYED.
Chairman Cooley Talks Plainly to the Man.
ayers of Railway Lines.

Chairman Cooley Talks Plainly to the Man
ayers of Railway Lines.
WASHINGTON, March 1S.-The Interstate
commerce Commission gave hearing to-
day, to representatives of the trunk lines
in relation to certain irregularities in con-
nection with export rates. After the hear
ing had been concluded, Chairman Cooley
said: Il made the statement, while ago,
that we propose, at the request of gentle
men here representing the Southern roads,
TO give them a hearing, and they have
named for that purpose two weeks from to-
morrow. We should be glad to announce
an earlier date if practicable, but we do
not find that it is. / do not know that
there is any reason why it should be
earlier, excepting the one that this sort of
North-of which 1 think the evidence Is
abundant-may perhaps continue unless
the commission makes some deliverance on
the subject now. We do not want
to. be compelled to announce an
opinion on so important matter
without careful deliberation. nor until
those Southern gentlemen have been
heard. but it is very manifest that there
have been things going on here that should
been done, and if they should cease forth
with this would be no reason why we
should not take two months or even a little
longer time, for final expression of opinion.
AS to what has been going on, we must
compliment Mr.. Hays for coming forward
and stating frankly just what the facts
were rs regards his own road. We should
have been better satisfied if a like course
had been taken by all others. They must
all be satisfied now that what they have
been doing has not been justified by the
law. and that there should be no more of
IL. They ought all now to do what. no
doubt, Mr.. Hays will do, namely: In a
manly manner endeavor to comply with
the Law. Our purpose is not to hurt any
body, but to be of service to the community
In seeing that the law is observed; and
while we have fixed two weeks from to-
morrow for the hearing of these Southern
gentlemen, in the meantime we expect tho
parties TO take up the law and study it, and
see that. so far as their own roads are con-
cerned, it is lived up to. Here is the law,
and it Is not for you hereafter to
say to us that there are practical Obstaclesi in
the way of complying with it; that you
that sort of thing. Wea not concerned
In that. We do not wish to do anything to
make you lose business; at the same time,
we cannot accept II as valid excuse that,
If you obey the law, You will thereby lose
business. The time ought to be considered
as gone by when a manager can come to us
and say, Il named this rate and did it re-
gardless of law, because my competitor
had done the same thing There is no ex-
ecuse for that practice. III wrong is done
by one road to the injury of another, the
proper method of redress is not to duplicate
the wrong. but to go before the committee
on authority, whether il be the commission
or the voluntary association, with COM
plant of the wrong. One crime in railroad
circles is no more to be excused by another
than one theft is to be justified by another;
and it ought to be just as discreditable to
violate criminal law which affects rail-
road managers in order to make
money for their roads, as il is
10 violate criminal law in the
appropriation of private property. / say
these things in view of the fact that we
think, in Justice TO these Southern gentle
men. we ought TO give a continuance of this
investigation for a couple of weeks, in
order To let them show what there is that
is peculiar in their case. We do not want
TO express an opinion that will affect their
interests until they have been fully heard;
bus In the meantime practices in the North
hat have been justly complained of. and
which have all appeared to be unjustifable,
should not be continued. That should be
distinctly understood. / trust that. after