The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-30
THE LABOR COMMISSION ADVOCATES
SOCIALISM.

A. a meeting OF the American Economic
Association A day or so back, In New
York city. Mr. Carroll d. Wright, the
United States Commissioner Of Labor.
who has recently been part Of a Govern
ment commission to investigate the Chi
.ago strike OF last summer read a very
interesting and notable paper. lie took
the ground that when, in 1884, the Con-
rsess OF the United States. at the in
stance of shippers. passed the Interstate
Commerce act regulating the charges of
railroads in transporting passengers or
freight II accepted and acted on the
principle OF State socialism. He added
that a bill is now pending before the
United States Senate. which has passed
the House of Representatives, at the in
stance Of both shippers and railways,
which will probably become a law that
derogates from the principle Of the Inter
state Commerce act by allowing railroads
10 form pools under watch and superin-
tendance of the United states Govern
ment. This he claimed. carried the prin-
ciple of State socialism still further, con-
verting all the railroads into a great
trust. with the United States Govern
ment as the trustee There remains, said
he. but one further step to be taken TO
make the principle OF State socialism. so
far as the railroads Of the country are
concer~ d. the accepted basis OF our Gov
ernmenrs action. and that is for the
Government to establish a board or COM
mission which shall fix the wages that
the railroads shah pay their employees, and
this he is in favor Of.
We quite agree with Mr.. Wright that
when demaeogical Congress enacted the
Interstate Commerce law. and. both un-
wisely and contrary 10 every principle OF
right. put its finger into what was
private pie. il introduced into the theory
Of our Government the hateful and de-
structiyc principle of State socialism. And
nothing but discord and trouble To all par
ties concerned has resulted from the
hour the act was passed until now. Even
the shippers, at whose instance the law
Is supposed 10 have been framed. have
come forward and asked Congress TO
practically emasculute it 10y allowing the
railroads TO form those very pools which
the law was enacted to prevent them
from forming. We quite asrec with Mir.
Wright that both these measures have
their foundations in STATE socialism. But
NC do not draw from them the same
deduction that ne does, by any means.
BecauSe our Government has gone wrong
In these two particulars he would have
II 20 still further wrong by taking an
other step In State socialism. that would
so embarrass the railroads in their power
TO serve the public as 10 lead to re-
suits which no man can prengure. We
ssy 20 Congress stop where YOU are.
Pass the pooling bill undoubtedly. be
cause that tends TO Indong the wretched
work YOU did when you passed the Inter
state Commerce Law. But stop at that
polrt. and, If YOU take another step at
all let IL bc in the way Of totally re-
tracing your original false step.
There ore two good reasons FOR this.
one ~ hat your first action was State
socialism, and that will destroy all Of
our institutions and bring US under inn
pcrlalism. The next is that it is rePug
nant 10 the Constitution Of the United
States AS We said yesterday. it has
come to be- UNREASONABLE TO refer 10 the
Constitution. But II is the law OF the
land ii is the greatest law ever vouch-
safed 10 man Stree the Creator gave His
ten commandments 10 Moses, and we in
tend TO invoke that law from this time
forward whenever its wise provisions are
ignored.
Congress bases It's right to interfere
with the railroad transportation OF the
country upon the clause OF the Constitu-
tlon giving II power TO regulate commerce
between the States.
But whoever knows anything at all