The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-08-15
THE RAILWAY PROBLEM.
Resolutions Looking Towards Gov
eminent Control.

Resolutions Looking Towards Gov.
eminent Control.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. 1.-THE
TRIBUNE several days ago noted the fact
that Congressman Haugen, of Wisconsin,
had prepared a resolution instructing the
house committee on interstate and foreign
commerce to look into the matter of regu-
lating the railway business of the country.
Mr. Haugen says the time is at hand when
something must be done with the railway
problem. Personally he inclines to the
views of A. B. Stickney, of ST. Paul, who
in his work on 1.-THE Railway Problem,
takes an advanced position, considering
that he is not theoretical reformer,
though great practical railway manager.
Mr.. Haugen believes the transportation
business to be public business, and as
such the public has a right and the gov
eminent has a duty to see that no quarrel
between the managers of the roads and
their employees is permitted to delay or
hinder the road in it's public function.
The resolution which Mr.. Haugen has
introduced reciteS the several arguments
against the railways at present man.
aged and in his preamble strong argu-
ment for an investigation is made.
THE RESOLUTIONS
Whereas, The railway system of the
country is an indispensable factor in the
progress of our civiliza ton and it's unin-
terrupted activity necessary to the very ex-
istence of life itself; and
Whereas, Frequent strikes and conse-
quent interruption of traffic on the rail-
ways of the country offer conclusive proof
of the absolute inability of unassisted pri-
vate enterprise to control the immense
forces necessary to render the service to
which the public is at all times entitled
and which by their public charters and
the exercise of the right of eminent do
main the railways have bound themselves
to perform; and
Whereas, The suspension of Interstate
commerce recurring with alarming FREE
quency, entails untold losses upon ali
classes of the population in the lowering
of prices and destruction of the property
of the producer, and in enhancing prices,
if not absolutely cutting off the supply to
the consumer, besides the direct danger to
life and health; and
Whereas Transportation is essentially a
public and not private business, and so
acknowledged by railway managers, when
ever they are beset with difficulties which
compel them to ask for protection from
the public authorities; and
whereas, The railway service is cOntin.
ually becoming more and more demora,
lized by the want of good faith on the part
of railway managers towards each other
towards investors in their stocks towards
the public and towards their employees, to
an extent that it has become notorious
that American railways are being operated
for the personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of the
men engaged in their active management
without reference to the interests of in
vestors or the legal rights of communities
and individuals, to fair and equitable
rates, that agreemnts between railway
officials as to rates carry no moral weight
for their fulfillment and that deception
and evasion of law and of their own agree
ments have become the highest recon-
mendation for prefernlent in the service;
and
Whereas Determinations in rates be-
tween shippers have in the past taken the
place of honest competition and business
ability, and industry and economy have
been compelled to yield to railway favort-
ism; and
Whereas Discriminating rates in favor
of particular localities have set at naught
natural advantages and have built up cities
and congested population in a few great
centers in violation of the natural health
full development of manufacturing and
business in the smaller cities and towns
and thus depriving large agricultural COM
munities of that immediate home market
to which under natural development they
would be entitled; therefore.
Be it Resolved. That the committee on
interstate and foreign commerce be in
structed to investigate the causes of the
evils now surrounding the question of in
terstate commerce and to report to this
house by bill otherwise such amend
mentS to the present law such new leg
islation as will in their opinion tend to
remove or ameorate the evils now sur
rounding this vital question, and to report
as to whether control by legislation short
OF government ownership will suffice, and
as to the advisability of enrolment into
the public service of the United States of
the officers and employees of the railways
engaged in interstate commerce. in the
same manner officers and enlisted men
are now enrolled and sworn into the mill
tary service of the United States, and
placing them under similar penalties for
violation of their duties and as TO whether
the powers necessary to be conferred upon
officers of the United States can be eXer-
clSed advantageously to the public by the
war department as at present constituted
or through the interstate commerce COM
mission, or through the war department
with the interstate commerce commission
as legal advisory counsel or whether a
railway department shall be organized
having the same general powers similar
departments exercise in many European
countries, and to report such other matter
as said committee may deem necessary to
carry into effect any legislation proposed
by it,
These resolutions will lead of course to
no immediate results. but may be an en-
tering wedge for important legislation.