The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-06-20
devoured by p,ecemeal b, the commlsson'e

devoured by plecemeal by the commissioner
rulings. 'p
In this connection, as a resort to tho
courts is among the imminent possibili-
Ties. the following excerpts are made from
an address delivered by Edward Il. jeff
cry. president of the Denver and Rio
Glande railroad eonpany. before the an
maui convention Of the Interstate COM
merce commission ana the boards OF the
United States, acid IN ST. Louis May IL
iasL Mr.. Jcticry is one of the broadest
men and deepest thinkers in the railway
world today. He says;
Il need not rcclte tho achievements oil
American railway managers in economical
operation. They stand unriyaled in this
respect, American rail carriers sell trans
poTtaiion at lower rates and move freight
al less cost per mile than the rail carriers
OF any other country. But wa have reached
level below which II is not possible to
20 even to moderate exteut in cost OF
transportation unless the prices paid for
!abor throughout the land are materially
reduced The rails. ties. bridges roadway.
pululhss, equipment and transportation
expenses are ali mainly labor in one form
and another The difference in value he
tween the ore In the ground and the steel
ran IN tho track is mostly labor. The diff
ference IN value between the coal in the
EARN ana in the locomotive furnace is
largely labor. The enhanced value of tim
per IN the bridge. car or crosst.e over what
IL was IN the forest tree is labor So we
Sso mat idbor can not remain unaffected
u transportation prices are 10 he mate
rialIy reduced for maintenance and opera
tlon expenditures must fall proportionate-
~ ana labor constitutes by far the greater
part ~ them, either directly or In an indi-
recV manner. as already indicated The
situ"'loI Is conitssedly n grave one. 1t Is
entitled TO broad and statesman like CON
siueiatlon, Tor on the one hand are mil
Mons OF "orkmen whose interests may be
injured and on the other vast Investments
of capital which may be affected dlsns
'Fousiy IN truth, the latter contingency
carries Wlih 1t direct and immediate in
jury TO the great army of American work.
men but the situation does not receive
we proad and statesman like consldera
loh throughout the land, The gravity is
i'ot iVul42ed The far reaching and de-
pressing ehoots OF e,sn a continuation of
present transportation conditions are NO,
generally admitted Facts as to this are
NOV understood. or II understood are mis-
S'aleu' pcmdgoguos acquire Temporary
prominence and political preferment by
lhhiserlininatoly assailing the curriers'.
misleading sim farther the public mind
anu pulidlhs up with greater force public
pleluuice. and. | suppose, this wiz con-
~. f'f ~ - NuilllENUtUubl tnlt the
Nlai interests OF great masses OF voters
are 1.opardlled, Then these same dema-
tosues' or their counterparts, Will espouso
rue cause or the voters for their own ag-
will defend the corporate
.mpioycs they now attack aud insist that
tu''r aplllty 10 pay fair wages shall not
De impaired. The working clnsses of the
country, the mass 81 laboring. struggling
thlhking voters WILL in time, demand that
me capital which affords employment 10
thein' which pays them their wages. which
maintains scales of wages higher than are
pald In any other country. shall not be
hhorn OF Its ability to properly repay them
Tor their toll. The great fact will be clear
iy perceived that the wages of nearly one
million railway employees are more stable.
less subject to variation Than are those
OF amy other class OF labor, and that they
bear favorable comparison with those paid
other classes"
Again th!s great authority says
'N0 come now 10 the regulation of
carriers as praeticed by duly constituted
commissions and by tho courts OF the land
IN decisions handed down from time 10
time unon various questions submitted TO
Them The fundamental principles OF our
National law arc that all charger on inter
STATE commerce. shall be reasonable and
Just land the same principles is presumed
10 underiie the Texas law-Tribune), that
thero shall be no unjust determinations
~ favor OF individuals, firms. corporations.
Mites or sections Of country; that ali