New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-17
TIE ALLIANCE md RAILROADS.

Since the American citizens a ConGfeSSlohM
district, elected Mr.. jeremiah simpson, some
limos called the ~ockleSs Solon OF Kansas, and
no i said 70 be by far the most popular leader
If tbe Farmers Alliance in that state. his opln-
ions have public interest. What does TINS west
orn unrjsinc mean? That must be clearly
settled before 1t is possible t. judge whether II
will amount to anything. For faith III Anel-
can capacity for self-goveTnmcnt implies III inc
long run. that organizations having no wise
nn,no,e will fade into nothingn"sS
Mr. Simpson seems not 10 regard the tam
question or the money question rs thc most
imporant. On the tariff question, IN long
interview published by "Ihe Evening Fo>'
which would assucdly make prominent anything
he had - say agains, Protection, he appears 10
have said substantially nothing. On the mono!
question he talked largely, but expressly de'
clared 1.-The question which is OF more ihpof-
lance in the West than any other IS that oil
tr,u,poytailon." Evidently his views on thar
subject deserve serious attention. and are quo"d
at some length:
Take orr state as an example. We have about -o'o
mile, Of railroad thee. The as c'' F'o"o'o''' -
round numbers and the securities '>lci u 'I1 'N'''
are r,.-o1alc and right lat t.c people who own ih'
s-OOOCO,oOO mo.e II wa.cnd stock. We VINO Use '"'
ro,d- are really paying interest on SGJjoopO2' I,fM
ol S1UOOOOO0O, "a, We ought ".
Ii if j. true that one buShe OF com IS gwen
70 get another bu>hel carried from any poInt III
Kansas +, Kansas City. there is room Tor great
reform in the charge for transportation. but
the statement scarcely seems consistent WIN
fact. i'm view Of quoted price, OF corn AT Kansas
CITY. 1t j, certainly not true that the RAILROADS
in Kansas are paying interest on #G0o,oOo.ooo
instead Of 500. O00. 600, for the obvious rcaSj
that many of the railroads in that state ale
having nothing whatever on their stock. All
The railroads in the southwestern group OF states,
including about four times aS many mics Is
there are in the state of kansas pad III me
wear 1889 only so OOO. 600 interest on $40
coo. 600 bonds and only SJ.00O.O0O dividends
on SG93. 600 900 in stock. But what would
the Alliance have done with the roads whch
DO not now earn interest on their naked cost
even though their charges are considered by
farmers cXtOrtonatc? i it the duty oil The
railroads 20 transport freight for less than ac'lll
cost? Is it their duty To cut down the wages
Of their employees? Is the mon Paclhc, Tor
instance. bound to transport freight al rates
satisfactory to the farmers, whether 1T pays IN
,oro,t on Government debt or not? II Is the
public belief that there exists IN intense and
vidcsplcad demand at the West for the virtual
seizure of railroads by the Government in order
10 secure failcr and cheaper transportation. Nj
Simpson says:
mink we Alliance members Will bring the transpor
totjon question TO the front. None OF ia" half WAY
measures thus far tried t0 do II, any good our
Is iiid less, Dem
,yb,llv under the domination Of The carrying corpora
lions A, for The Interstate Commerce law, II has
proved terrible disappointment {" all except the rail-
road people them civcs-they have tlrlvcd under H.
Wly when tho Commissioners have to siIaghtcn ont
the difference between long ana short haul thcJ don't
urteud la iudgc for themselves whether the condition,
are alike or otherwise, but have O call in The railroad
uaeuaie, who Of course. make out their own case In
tor on way The result is that the long haul rate j,
mora frcdrcny increased to pond with the short
haa rates than The general effect Of the
law has been 10 raise the cost Of transportation
rather than 10 lower IL.
II will strike many people that this objection
is not new. il has been heard many times be-
fore from railroad men and others. 1t was
urged by The TRIBUNE, in fact, before the
Interstate Act was passed, that IT would not
produce lower rates for transportation IN the
long run, but would only compel tie railroads
TO combine for their mutual defence against the
public, ard to charge more for through freight
because Obliged 90 get their living mainly from
local freight. If State regulation ends in fail
ure. and If Federal regulation only adds to the
cost Of transportation, what conceivable reason
is there to justify such interference?
The one practical measure which the Alliance
leader proposes is TO take possession Of the Union
Pacific. and TO run that read at cost, like the
poStonce Department. Government would then
find out by experience what is the real cost of
transportation, and It's experience would be
valuable guide for future legislation in the
different States This is very true, but some
information would be exceedingly dear at the
price. All evidence points 10 the conclusion
that the Union Pacific, if in the hands of the
Government, could not carry freight Is cheaply