The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-10-14

prevails in certain of the countries Of
Europe. but only as mill tary measurs
and as part of the schsme of arma-
ment for the maintenance of the peac
of Europe. Besides, the average cost
of transpor alton on European rail.
roads is nearly twice that on American
railroads, although the rates of wages
paid to employees are only about half
the rates paid in this country The
fact that it requires three or four times
as many officers and labOrers to op.
crate n government railroad as are
employed on railroads operated by
private capital explains the greater cost
of transportation on the former Again,
the facilities for railroad transportation
an Europe are not to be compared with
those provided on the railroads of the
United States. These facts are patent
to the observation of every American
who has travelled in Europe.
D The government of France has
never owned the railroads of that cOun-
try, nor assumed their management or
direction except in time of war
g. Italy tried the experiment of gov
l - --iAat IT tttA wv Oil y anu
| OF railroads, but it imposed too great a
responsibility, as well as a financial
burden upon the government Accord
/ lngly the government has Invested it,
self of this veXatious function by leas-
/ ing all the railroads to two private
corporations, each having d separate
and clcarly-defned geographical area.
| ~ this means the government has
freed itself from the troubles incident
to competition and the determination
or relative rates
:. THE people of England. proud of
their commercial ability and Jealous of
their commercial liberties. spurn the
idea of governmental ownership or
management of the railroads.
5. The political objections to gov
ornamental ownership and control of
the railroads were clearly enunciated
by United States Senator Carlisle IN re-
ply TO inquiries propounded 70 him by
certain delegates to the recent third
party convention, who sought his
opinion upon that plank of their plat
forIn, his home in Kentucky being Just
across the river from Cincinnati. Sai&
the distinguished senator in reply:
Do You propose to confiscate the
roads? Do you propose to buy the
roads. whose total capital is SO. O90, OOO.-
OO0 of which $500, OOO,O is bonded
debt, which must be paid? Do You re-
member that in the records of history
no government has done business at q
profit? Do you realize that the. owner
ship of the railroads would add 1900
900 persons to the roll OF government
employees, which, with those now en-
ployed, would enable any party in
power to perpetuate its rule state of
things which would eventually destroy
our government? -...
THE attempt to plunge this uncon-
sidered question into the caldron of po-
litical contest at the present time is
utterly ridiculous. 1t appears to be an
exhibition of ignorance or of malevO-
lence.
The troubles which now affect US
arise mainly from a false method of
procedure, viz, attempting to manage
what the government does not own.
and for the success of which the govern
ment is in no manner responsible, in
stead of trying to build up body of
law based upon the lessons Of expert
enee and the dictates of an enlightened
sense of self-interest, as evolved liz the
interaction of the forces reproduction of
commerce and of transpOrtion. When
the latter policy is adopted, as it has been
adopted in Great Britain, one decision
of our interstate commerce commits
sion will go further toward allaying
discomfort than hundred decisions to-
day. At the rate at which that highly.
respectable body is now evolving decis-
ions, it is to be apprehended that in
the course of ten years the railroad law
yers of this country, except those will
ing to study themselves to death, will
throw up their profession in despair,
for the reason that it has become too
much for them. The new departure
will come when congress and the coun-
try shall be brought to realize that, in
the language of Mr.. Evarts, certain of
the fundamental provisions of the in
terstate commerce act are outside OF
law making"