The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-14
ALLLINCh AND RAILROADS.
The Statement that Reform in Transportation
j. Seeded.


Aftcr an. experience Is the only teacher
from whom some people can learn anything.
Who does not remCmhorWith what passionate
ea,uestness the people Of many western
States, and OK Kansas particularly, demanded
the enactment of the Interstate Commerce
law? II was % them a matter Of necessity
as we'll as Of justice. they declared. Their
substance was dov0urcd by transportation COM
pauir-. and the people could not exist unless
th0.e companies could bee compelled 10 charge
reasonable rates. without discumration IN
favor OF large Shippers or long haulage. lhtN
were told. these unhappy Western people,
that the very measure they asked would GER
tainlv tend H. enhance the cost Of transporia-
ton. but they would not believe IL. The Inter
state law was passed, and las been enforced
for years.
Now comes the most popular member Of the
Kansas Alliance vino declares on behalf of the
farmers hc represents that the one thing they
need more than all others ls reform IN trans
portaUou. because the State and Federal laws
have proved farce and nspOrtailonactuaily
costs. more than it did before the Interstate
law was enacted. But what sense Was
there in surprising That it would nOt Most
of the railroads have 10 yet great part OF
their living from the people along their lines.
that is from local transportation. Through
transportation. on nearly all roads, IS COM
paratively small source of revenue by far
the greater number Of them pay no dividends
now and are obliged tOmake what charges they
do in order TO keep from bankruptcy. II they
can barely live. doing the local business al two
cents per ton per mile and through business
at less than one cent. and are compelled 10 do
both at approximately the same rate. u IS
plain enough that they cannot cut down the
local rate 10 the through rate, and therefore
must raise charges for through transportation
| materially.
But the Western people would not listen
10 reason or common sense, and so they
have tho Interstate act and the higher
! charges They get furious about It, and
declare that the railroads belong % the
| people. who have only To take possession
| of their property and manage il as they
| please. OF course. they viii find all the
| courts in the land opposing this view. II Will
! Doe long before the voters ~ amy State are sui
/ ferrd to take possession Of tho property ot
! those who paid money for building or equip
| ing railroads without paying To the owners
/ full value But If they could take posst sslOn
! of railroads. what would they do then;
! Would the Alliance shut mp m0St az the
/ railroads in Kansas for example stop their
/ operations. take up the rails and sell of the
| rolling stock. or would II ruu them 10 a loss,
! The theory apparently Is that the State can
! buy out the individual owners. compelling
! them 10 receive only what the state may de-
! clare the roads actually cost, hut
even on That basis "a great many would
! be unable 10 earn interest on that
| assumed cost Is IL the idea. then. that the
| Government should manage this property ioI
| the public. without trying 10 get from those
! who travel OF have property transported the
! bare interest on cost: If SO, the plan Is silu-
| ply "a partial couiiscation OF tine earnings OF all
| other people. who would have 10 pay interest
ON the Government bonds issued in the pun
chase, for the exclusive benefit Of the indi-
! y.dUas who use the railroads.
| But everybody uses Them directly or indi-
| rcctly. it Is said. and thus everybody would
! he to some ext M "a sharer in the benefits q
! cheaper transportation That Is not 80 clear
| but let that also he assumed. The roads now
/ pay only ABOUT three hundred millions o.
| owner, In dividends and interest ont Of about
/ one thousand millions collected for services
( rendered. But docs anybody suppose that
| the bare cost of running. now about seven
! hundred millions. would be as small
| under Government management Would
! Alliance statesmen be able 10 induce Knights
al Labor 10 charge less for their work on rail-
/ roads than the companies now paw PLAINLY
! 10 would le Just the other way having % vast
/ number of votes behind them. the employee
! would demand and get from Government
! officials more than they are now paid The
/ experience Of Government in hiring other
/ labor. IN every part Of tie country, IN every
| occupation. proves that 1t would be likely 20
| pay more money for less work than any com.
! pany pays.-New York Commercial Bulletin.