Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-18

I
ton; and the most
FAIRLY TREATED By THE PUBLIC.
II is Of the utmost i'm portance that they
be maintained In good condition, aud
thus enabled to discharge to the public
those duties which they were chartered
TO perform, and for which they exist;
and this cannot be unless they are per-
mitted to charge fair prices for their
services. They must have 1t In their
power to arrange for and agree among
themselves in reference to rates. The
apprehension that they would charge
excessive rates is not founded on fact,
nor borne out by past experience.
There NAV have been, In this great
country, with it's thousands OF branch
lines and short roads, isolated cases in
which excessive rates were charged, but
they are unimportant and not worthy
OF serious consideration In connection
with this problem.
The Government OF the United
States having taken away from the rail-
way companies the power 10 enforce
the agreements made between them
selves, in regard to rates. has to that
extent assumed toe management OF the
roads. IL is therefore the duty OF the
Government to supplement this legisla-
tion by such laws as will enable these
properties TO be rightly managed for
their own safety and the good OF the
public. As they now are under the
operation of the Interstate Commerce
Law, they resemble ship stripped of
its sails, helpless to direct its own
course and at the mercy Of the waves.
81 firmly believe that it is to-day
more 20 the interests Of the country TO
enact laws compelling the railway COM
panies to charge fair compensation,
to be regulated by agreement under
proper supervision, than to allow the
open and violent competition now pre-
Vailing over the great highways OF the
continent. The railway companies, be-
fore the passage Of the Interstate Com
merce law, made pools and through
them endeavored to regulate their rates.
There being no law by which such
agreements could be enforced, their OBJ
servance depended entirely upon good
faitn. This was not always sufficient
though in general it availed. But this
right having been taken away, the rates
are now subject to the whims Of lines,
in many cases
WHOLLY IRRESPONSIBLE.
at seems, therefore, that thought.
full mind must conclude from the re-
suits OF the Inter State Commerce Law,
in the past two or three years aspect
ally, when commercial activities have
been curtailed, that the effort OF Con-
gress TO take away from the transportn-
tion interests Of the country the means
of sustaining fair and reasonable rates,
condition Of affairs has been brought
about far more disastrous to the general
public than could result from any rea-
sonable law that permitted these com
panies to make proper agreements to
prevent destructive competition.
probably no matter is Of more i'm
portance to the welfare Of our country
than the enactment OF proper laws tor
the regulation of the great transporta-
tion interests. In fact, / believe this
stands hardly second to the tariff prob
lem which has recently claimed so
much attention, and has agitated so
deeply the whole country. The laws
which have been enacted have been so
hastily prepared, and are 30 crude, that
the notifications that have Leen sug-
gested have not received the attention
which the interaats inVOlvad would
seem TO demand; and 1t will not be I'M
I'll the public clearly understands tnat
the prosperity of the railroad Is vital
TO the rosperitY of the country. that we
can expect thoughtful consideration OF
the question AMI proper recognltlon
of the intimate relation between the
shipper ana transporter. This Will be
finally brought about. however, and the
public and railway corporations Will
then mutually share in the advantages
accruing from such legislation.
Vice President Green was in company
with President Roberts when saw him.
NV notes OF the interview have been
shown 10 Mr.. Roberts In the shape here
given. In the course OF the converse
about wildcat securities, Vice President
Green said:
at is perfectly proper to say that the
securities OF the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, OF the Illinois Central Rail
road Company, OF the Chicago ana Al
ton Railroad Com pany, Of the Chicago
and Fort Wayne Railroad Company, OF
the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
Railroad, and Of the Panhandle Kali
road Companies, have fun cash value
behIpd thsm." He is one or the most
careful students In this country OF rail-
way affairs and all that sppertains to
them. JOHN FAUL DOCoOA'