New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-24
INTERSTATE RAILWAY LEGISLATION

To the Editor of The Tribune.
sl-. one Of the most important questions that VIII
,e before Congress during this session will be the
,.lation OF the Government and the railroads.
T. has been eight years since Congress first unoef-
,ook 70 regulate the operations of interstate ROADS
.rs the study OF these years has done little more
,han show the difficulty Of the work then under
taken -
Tho 49,, Of Congress 10 regulate commerce between
the States commonly known rs the Interstate Ooh
rsrce law was the response 20 popular ana very
general demand that the Government take some ac-
linn 20 prevent abuses that had grown up in con-
rac,lon with the rate-making power whereby GER
tain localities or certain individuals OF the same
locality were given undue advantage IN Heis"'
charges.
.uosn the States s clearly given by the Constitution
The necessity of such a law. not only TO pFoect lhe
reope from unreasonable rates, or UNJUST uisc''ii
ina:ion. but also for the conservation OF 'he ran
roads themselves. is becoming more and more APP
r3~sut every day In fact. the operation OF the
n.,san, law tends 10 show that minimum rates are
as necessary 10 protect the securiy-hoiders' as
mn, inum rates to protect the Shippers Inc
Average charge per mile for the transportation Vi
asergeis or frsgh; is extremely low, ana YET II Is
a e;,rious fact that, while the charge for trans
portation IN this country is but from one-third to
or. half the charge for like service in Europe
ne freight IN some sections are so heh as
10 be almost pIohbiive and this. too in the thckiy
q. -,tes that seems 10 the greatest present evil
AM one which as yet railroads themselves have
oeen unable TO handle satisfactorily, so that Il
would appear TO be absolutely necessary 10 nave
controlling power outside and independent Vi
the roads themselves.
The intention OF the Interstate Commerce law was
good That it's result has been largely failure is
due partly 10 the vastness and compleXity OF the
subject hand and the inexperence of the trainers
Of the law but more because instead Of enacting
aarsniSc ar IlSf
stable principles and placing the whole subject
under their control they undertook 10 make certain
specific acts of railway operation unlawful 1T fol-
lowed. the logical sequence that all acts not
specifically declared to be unlawful We're permitted.
They created a commission to carry out the proVs-
IONS Of their but did not give Il authority 10 en-
force its DEGREES.
The Commission was formed lines that are
not in strict accord with the spirit OF equity The
result has been constant friction between ne Com
and but little real progress. Owing 10 me PUBIC
LEM qhree parties must be consdered-the Govern
ment, which is the people acting as a whole; me
and the railroads themselves While the railroad
sad TIE shipper are most Immediately concerned
In each separate transaction. the fundamental ana
controlling power must always be the eiovernment;
and this applies not only 10 the making Q; rates
To obtain the best results ne tgnts OF an M
,erests be fuy protectedmof the railroads ,1S
knowledge OF the subject in hand, as well as hon
sy Of SO Should GOq be semposed Of
sentatives Of the shipping Interests the railways
and the Government. - =, an
pointed bv the President-three on the nomina-
ton OF the shipping interests ~ho Would Know the
demands Of trade: three on the nomination o. ne
railways who would know OF the ability OF me
roads 10 meet these demands, ana three on u W.
domination OF the Supreme Court who W9 2lda
o. the shippers and railways might Teach coh
sn bd 10 b 6nf aw re S would be Obtained
under present arrangements. me V S,iiar
sloners should hold office during gooa penari1 ~
leave all details as TO rates and method o. opera
ton. Including the long and snort maui ia, Sdau 90
The Commission should have final authority in
al rates both passenger ahu ~ az Fed
eTsi court 10 Charter should be granted for the
construction OF any ne% road wi,nous ' iodaY bnr
dened by unnecessary roads that 90 not no" pay
and may never pay that Were pun s ,bls 'co1nen-
ton 4 Talchi be we'll 10 make IT a criminal offence
for any officer director OF any roaa 20 hs that
ieTestod in any way IN any contract hhaue ~ '""'
AiihoGgh the present Commission has not i9un "a
il poss be 10 accomplish what was eXpec,efu;,
has reDJrad very valuable service in the stailscs
Il has 50 carefully collected ms 49, ysb
judgments unite generally entertained aga nst the
rsijroads and go FAR toward a more equitable ana
Permanent settlement OF the f,%;Ihstandn the
many faults the railroads have been guiitS o. Ia
country has the hes, railway service III e ,"aJrht
ransnortstion is the lowest in the word Una. .i,e
paid are the highest ia the "oi 81. loss than
interest paid on the eap road being slightly less
than per cent. This is not a al rn1e, ma ieriay
reduce even This low figure. Leg station, 70 oe e
Just must protect those who own the ra."oa"S a.
well as those who use thceHW men, W. WELLS
Pasadena CAL Dec 8, 1886.