Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-04-17
FEDERAL CONTROL OF Rail,
WAYS.

From the Railway Age and Northwest
crn kailroadcr, April i4,lsD3 Hon $
NJ Cullom, United States senator from
Illinois, contributes 10 the last number
at the Railway Age of Chicago an elab
crate paper ON "Fedenl Control of Rail
ways" In which he cuonzos the inter
state commerce act aud the work of
the Interstate Commerce commission aud
closes an follows.
Important legislation affecting vast in.
terpstH Oyerturnng old conditions and
requiring new methods b. always re,
sisted and subjected To the most critical
analysis and the severcst tests by the
courts The commerce act has been sub.
jcct 10 such criticisms and tests and win
continue 10 be- perhaps In the future
The people will finally learn what their
rights are, however aud IL h 60 be-
hoped that when the duties aud obligu.
tiOns of the common carriers doing an
Interstate business are more clearly de
hucd the laws viii be more generally
obeyed and greater harmony will prevail
between rnrricra aud shippers The
common carriers cuuuot live and prosper
without the aid OF the people. and the
people cannot afford to do the carriers
an injustice The prosperity of the one
h, In large degree, dependent ON the
other M business IN community or
state cun be injured by mtwise lcgisla
ton or by any other means without. 10
some eNtcnt, impairng other business In
terosts. Hence In legislation under the
constitution the utmost care should bee
observed go that only wise laws should
be enprted, The vast wealth invested Ia
American railroads, amounting Ca about
SluWO,OO0t NO, must be- given an equal
chance with Investments la other enter
prisea No fair-minded man should seek
10 enforce by legislation n policy which
becomes injurious TO any legitimate
business enterprises whether carried on
by individuals or 10y corporations. The
difficulty In dealing with railroad common
carriers "a 10 properly enforce just laws.
There are good fnd had men engaged M
the conduct OF railroads just ns there are
Ia any other business men who are hon.
est and do thugs in the honest way.
aud men who are not honest and do not
enjoy doing even honeat things in an
honest way. II any other way can be
found,
The railroad interest in this country
stands more nearly perhaps as one inter-
est than does any other. Legislation
affecting IL should he enacted IN the light
Of the fact that while there are hundreds
of separately chartered and organized
railroad companies the combinations and
consultations which have beeu made
have resulted IN placing the control OF
the American roads IN the hands OF
but few men, II this were not 30.
that great interest must stih be recOg.
nized az distinctly one by itself, aud
| legislation fn respect TO Il must be en-
acted Ia full recognition Of the fact that
i the practice OF unjust determinations
/ rate cutting or other schemes Of viola
ton OF the common or statute law by
| Que common carrier, however remote frolr
\ the others, has Us injurious effect upon
the others. This being 50, Il Is pleaded
as an excuse by those who desire to obey
the aaw uhat self-preservati0n drives
them to violate q because other ear.
rlerH persist Ia doing so, Railroad eou-
panies urge that no law for the proven,
ton Of unjust Determinations viii ~
can be enforced as against all the Con-
mon carriers. unless The anii-poolinE sec
tlpn Of the commerce. act shall be- re
pealed and 4 law passed legasizisg con
tracts between railroad eomWfh carrier,
AUTHORIZING pooling Ia some form Op
position 70 pooling hy cOnmou carrier,
y stropg h the minds ssk4he people. ano
i ~ urged with great force thar 10 legal
i've p0oNng Of frelghls aud earnings. 81
either, wonl5 result Ia the carriers beinl
abba 70 laaihtain higher rates than weulc
otherwise obtain; that whatever power
] miSbt h given 20 the oounliasion u,