The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1892-12-02
me 1N11- IRUs7, L-tJV. Il NUL
LTI'Y-

u the government against tie Trans
I Missouri Traffic Association, WAS de-
eidei iu the United States court at
/ ropaka, Monday, ggainst the govern /
iEeut ou every roiut ia issue. The
action was based upon tie antitrust
law passed by congress, which wis
held mp to tile admiration Of the people
,,y thc republican orators during The
campaign as q specimen u tine v.=ur-
Gus warfare Ihe republican part, Hs,i
ina lie against trusts. Fine court held
in effect that the agreement of the
Tramc Association to maintain rates
was mot ia viulaLiOu IF the law because
it improves facilities for trans portatiou
and maintains What the court holds to
( be reasonable rates
The following is an account of sIn
interview with District Attorney Ady
on the case, which appeared III the
Ika..sas City Journal:
1T WAS impossible for tile govern
meHt to prove that rates al competing
points are unreasonable said Mr..
Ady. '-Cu the contrary, tile IOwHess
of these rates is made an excuse for
higher rates locally But LiIs WAS not
LllE tEttt question l-lElsA5'A 90 l0ll Dl TIC
government. If the fact that facilities
are improved by combination and
that prices are reduced, il d defeuse
j under tile antitrust law, then none Of
the trusts ANA confines oil winch tie
people complain, sucH 5ts tile STANDARD
OH trust, tie sugar trust and tie beef
/ com bIHe, is obnoxious under the law.
II is a fact well-kuOWn Lu everybody
that tho Standard OIL uusL has i'm
fr8r.
lowered The price. SHch "a consirUc-
ti1u pgjlctic;L!y uHuGis tile antitrust
law.
The real object Of the law, rs
insist, Is to prohibit these great conf
binatiuHs OF capital which. though they
may reduce prices at the c. mmeucc-
! ment, tend to - monopoly ia the pro
. ducJiUu and distribution OF prime
necessities and are dangerous t. tie
Il welfare and perpgtuiIy of republican
Institutions. TIE court also holds that
% tie antitrust law dues not apply TO
p traffic associations 10y rail- Oad com
pauies which are governed 10y The inter
state commerce act. This is squarely
i'll the face of the views expressed by
r Senator Sherman, Senator EdmUnds,
and SenaU Vast when the law was
Trained. ] shall appeal the case"
On account OF Judge Riner's de-
railroad circles.''
Of course the best of feeling pre-
- walls in railroad circles. They always
Il feel good after decision in the L. 5
"a courts on IA railroad question. This
&c decision is the last one needed tu wip,
. out nearly all the legislation that LA
10 been eEacted eiIher ia congress OF ia
y the legislatures OF the states, to regu
u late the operation Of railroads in Ill,
10 interest OF tEe people, OF protect t'a
people from eXtut ton and oppression
'l' The railroads now are practically il
I tie SHINE position they were in UeIuI
er any attempt Was ulade to reg ul.U
at yates by law, and the railroad com
q paGies now have almost rs uHlImiJe
~ control over the nations highways a
On they would have if the railroads TeI
o. purely private property entirely diss,
slL esuted from a public use.
,,s Under the late decisions of the U s
nm courts il vii be absolutely impussib
pc 10 p;,55 ;uty laws eIJh-r in congress
Sc. in the state Legislatures iuaC viii
~ any appreciable extent limit the T1gl
~. OF pow er OF the railroad companies
on make whatever agreements u pc
ny fruights and maintain rates they III,
sh desire.
It's As long rs the courts assume juri
is diction To decide invalid any law VIII,
'ut does not secure to railroads reasomab
ne rates, and to decide the question of Il
.hs FeasOnIbleness OF rates upon eyiden
On. adduced III any c;,se that may con
zen before them, it will be Impossible
OF regulate rates by commissions OF
an statutes. The railroad companies
in any one csse eau always prodU
abundant expert testimony to she
red that in the particular case the rat
in charged were reasonable, and the rat
no fixed by law were unreasonable,
md Under the late decisions of tie coul
ln- it is impossible for complainant
cry against the railroads to procure e
OF dence of discrimination ia rates
ITa favor Of other parties, and that bran
ley OF the legislation designed to prove
is discrimination is rendered MULTI
ehl In fact the whole system Of Iailw
traffic regulation that now exists j.
,,,a farce, and affords no protection to t
ne people, and what is more, under c
to system OF Jurisprudence, as long as t
7ss- railroads are owned by private in
yiduaIs OF corporations, no system -
iaI- lie devised of any practical benefit
M the people that will stand the test
! to the United States courts.
pub Step " step Ws are being drawn
the Irresistible force Of evolution to I
UNI inevitable result. which neither pr
ate ticIans nor railway magnates can 10
$ Of pJstpone: Government ownership :
the management of railroads.
/ on -------=
lean TIE FORECAST OF THE FUTURE
ank - -. -
oois The independents who gave Gro