New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-25
TILE RIILWAY CONFERENCE.

TIE RAILWAY CONFERENCE.
The Railway men who are in conference ut
Manhattan Beach would do well TO keep In mind
the fact that there have been conferences of Rail
way men before and that though they are not
the topmost things in the public mind at the
present moment still they are remembered.
There was meeting for instance, several years
ago M which an agreement WAS entered into
currently called the "GcnllcmcnS Agreement
1t was intended to settle whole lot of differ
cnccs and disturbances among traffic managers
and freight agents the results Of which had been
made manifest in disastrous dimlnution OF the
legitimate profits of the railroad business with
no corresponding benefit 10 shippers or To the
Interstate commerce Of tho country. Cut rates
and sharp practice In granting rebates ana DINER
devjous methods had brought stockholders 10
grief without cfrcc,ns anything for the good Of
the general public II was Ia put a stop io the
universal cuthroat game played by subordinate
officials that The "Gcnemcn's Agreement was
entered into But the parties 10 II. though they
called themselves "gentlcmcn. had 80 little OF
the sense Of honor and uprishtnc>s which Is
generally supposed 10 charac"riz" gentleman
that the ink upon II was hardly dry before they,
or the undcr-oiiicalS who were obodicni 10 their
orders. FASTENED to violate Us provisions and
resume the tricks subtcrfuscs and cyasons So
familiar to the business. The 'Gentlcmcn' :
Agreement" soon became n hyword and dis
grace.
Complaint is often made that The public.
through the press and the legislatures elected
by It. Is unjust TO railroad corporations: that 1t
cxacts too much from them In some ways ana
puts too great restrictions upon them in others.
n is not 10 bc denied that the public is hard
master. and for what II considers great privileges
and valuable franchises Is oftcniimcs disposed
10 compel cxactOns that bear hard upon honest
investors In these great enterprises but II Is no
less true that the managers Of these corporations
are prone not only 10 make the most Of their OPP
porunltlcs 10 the public dctrimcnt. but that they
further forfeit public confidence by dishonest
dealings with each other Both The corporations
and the public have rights. and they are not in
the larger view of the general welfare conflict
ing. 1t IL not for the interest II the public that
the great transportation companies In their com
petition for business should haul freight or pas
scngers at loss S'll less f. n for The interest
Of the rival corporations. All that the railroad
companies have a rsht 10 ask T.. reasonable
rates and hy reasonable is meant of course.
such rates rs bring fair profit 20 The stockholm
or. When they descend 70 loss ih.y are not only
running their own business. but are unsc'iline
the general business II the country The cold
truth is that the railroad companies have them
selves 10 blame for The present Improbable state
Of the transportation business IN the country at
large. Their suborlnatcs have dcmorallzcl the
trade Of the country while they have been On
gagged In improbable aud sharp competition
among themselves
What the transportation business II ihc coun.
try needs to-day more than anything else is some
thing Ike Concert Of action; a mutual under
standing between all he interests concerned
based upon common honesty AMI common sense.
And that not because II l. gcnilcmanly to be-
honest or sensible. but because I'm the end. out
side OF all considerations 81 honor morality. II
IS the only way 10 gather profits or achieve On
during success. The surcst way 10 this is rail
way trust. but that cannot be- thought If and is
impossible Perhaps the next best way would
be by means Of pooling arrangements. These
under existing laws cannot b" made. and are
consequently impraciicablc. How would II do
for the representatives ~ the great corporations
10 come together upon the platform of common
honesty and bind themselves In some way not
only to act honestly toward each other. but 10
compel all their suborlinatcs 10 do the same
upon penalty of dismissal? The Railway men
now in conference will do well TO consider with
some seriousness the rather important circum-
stance that for much Of The disturbance In values
in their property growing out Of unrcmuncratiye
rates they are themselves 10 blame.