The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-09-23

latures to regulate rates through com
missioners have proved failure, and
nothing short of National ownership
gives any promise of meeting the reaI
requirements Of the situation This
would place the rate making power in
one body with no inducement to act
otherwise than fairly and impartiallv.
1t would also do away with a whole
army Of traffic managers, general freight
agents, soliciting agents, bookers, seal
pers, and hundreds of other traffic
officials now a burden.
National ownership would always Sc.
cure the shipment of goods by the
shortest routes, and thus save heavy
tax to which the industries of the
country are now subjected The fact
that goods can now be shipped by the
longer routes for less than the direct
lines will carry them, is presumptive
evidence that the rates are now too
high.
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP WOULD
SAVE ALL ATTORNEYS FEES.
Now each OF the 600 railway com.
panies Of the United States has from
one to twenty lawyers under pay. Some
of these lawyers are U. S. Senators,
and some are members of the House of
Representatives Over $14 100000 a
year is paid in this country to railway
attorneys, and the patrons of the roads
have to pay these fees.
And this is the smallest part of the
evil which comes from such expendi
ture. The wrecked railroads, plunde
shareholders, purchased legislation, and
ruined citizens who have sought legal
redress of wrongs Inflicted by the cor
porations, all plead even more empbat
icalIy for reform in this matter.
With the nation operating the rail
ways there would be no deadheads
All passengers would pay, and thi,
would increase the revenues at leas
10 per cent, or $50 900, 900, or permit
reduction to that amount. Mr.. Davis
tells US that as an executive officer O.
railway company he has, at the
request of the Legislative agents of sale
company and under instructions of ,ht
president of the corporation, signed vas
numbers Of blank passes; in short ha
furnished lobby agents all they asked
tor. National ownership is the only
remedy for this evil
Under the existing system immens'
commissions are paid to agents fo
diverting traffic from lines on which j
would naturally go to others less de-
sirable, and these sums are frequent,
divided with railway officials. Nothing
short of government ownership will
bring relief from this burden, which
costs the people from twenty to twenty
five millions a wear.
Again, the high salaries paid b,
railroad companies to managing official
are not paid for legitimate railroad
administration, but for checkmatin,
the cbicanary of corporate competitors
1t is ability to keep ahead of the oths
in the tricks of the traffic that com
mands such enormous pay. The rea
) work of operating the road is done b.
men whose salaries are moderate, s.
that under National ownership, wher
all necessity for checkmating riya
schemes is done away, reduction a
this point could be made of severa
millions. "Of the six hundred corpora
tons operating railways. probably fv
) hundred maintain costly general offices
where presidents, secretaries an
treasurers pass their time, surrounde,
by an expensive staff. Most of thes
offices are off the lines of the respectiv
corporations in the large cities, wher
rents are paid and great expense
entailed, that proper attention may b
given to the bolstering or depressin,
the price of the corporations shares a
the interest of the management ma,
require. These Offices, so located
serve no purposes beyond those o
speculation, and yet they entail al
expense upon the public of not les
than $4,000 each annually, o
S25 ,000,0 for the whole, all of whicl
would be saved under Natioua
ownership.
Besides, under National ownership
the whole business of specializing il
railroad stocks would he. ended. al
incalculable gain in every sense o
the word.
Stota ond Not;oool Io;oI4:,