The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-14

cents per 100 pounds from Chicago To New
York, and such negative Legislation as
would sustain that rate undeviatingiy
until as publicly altered, rather than con-
cur I'm legal decisions or railway practices,
which stimulate concealed rate OF ID
cents for large shippers, when the pub
lished tariff is 20 cents. They well know
that such vicious Determinations reseiI-
bio trust methods and render commercial
competition impossible except between
controllers of vast capital. who may I'M
poverish smaller traders, and, controlling
warehouses, full Of traffic. tender IL IN
train loads 20 pliable railways or those
which lack business or shift their large
tonnages from line 10 line, or unite Win
other. shippers Ia more compel preferential
rates or conditions. lt Is regretabie TO
say that they too often obtain them: by
such means some dealers become shippers
In diverted railway earnings as much as
In their own merchandise, and thereby
grow the stronger 70 exact further railway
CONCESSIONS To stipulate purchase prices
tosproducers and sale prices 60 consumers,
and perhaps to Use their combined rebates
and capital to further control values ON
trado and financial exchanges.
Laws Purpose eversed.
The real purpose OF the antitrust law
Ia thus reversed. Not being rs the rail-
ways contend, meant 10 apply To them,
being clearly applicable TO trusts, the
latter escape Its offoct and grow stronger
from those large transactions between
themselves and those carriers which grant
thcnf special advantages, which that
decision more encourages them 70 DO
Reasoning from these conditions, it can
not be too often or strongly argued that
however much all competitive railways
but one may observe common ana legal
rates, the strongest and best disposed
companies must sue I'm b TO the objection
able conditions forced upon them Dy the
weakest or worst competitor lhls also
reverses commercial and trust conditions
wherein the stronger control.
As further illustration, the govern
ment's postal business would be impaired
and disorganizcd II railways, express
companies and house To house carriers cut
the postal rates 20 per cent yet II real
competition is the legislative intent why
should they be restrained from such car
riage by law they now arey As Com
missioner Schoonmaker well said: "A
rate made by one line on particular
traffic must he the rate OF all other lines
To share in the business" He also said !:
And this pernicious power Is the crea-
tion of law, and is protected by law upon
the antiquated and once respectable
theory, bur now fully demonstrated fal-
lacy, that unrestricted competition
All such rate-cutting methods simply
sell transportation awards to the lowest
and not the highest bidders, and are not
proper competition more than are auction
sales of pawned, bankrupt or damaged
goods legitimate business rivalry. IL ~
the control or extinction of true carrying
competition and the destruction OF all It's
legitimate rules functions and agencies.
In these facts and illustrations lie an
swers TO those who say the railways have
only themselves, 10 blame for the unreason
able reductions of rates and the untowarc
conditions ofswhich they now complain.
what Competition Means.
Based on these proven premises, com
petition properly means that wher
various persons seek "a coveted -consnm
nation or patronage they shall b,
| governed by those rules in each branch
| of endeavor which apply 6Iually TO al
honorable contestants therefor. and which
| experiences have proven fair and essentia
| To enable the best man, horse, yacht
| machine picture, shipper or railroad Il
win under equal conditions
Comprchensively, justly and legal,
| considered, ard applied only to railways
| competition means due adjustments anC
! adjustments of rates To conform eqult
| ably to those causes which properly con
/, troll or affect them; such as riyalries will
| oceans rivers, lakes and canals compet
| ing markets which distribute, consum,
| or rcship, the relat ions of localities, etc
| Economies in cheaper rails, coal, etc.
| longer and more numerous trains. lowcl
| grades, improved terminal facilities
! better station houses, more and satel
| tracks, celebrity of service. etc, are also
| elements of legitimate emulation INTENDED
| to transfer and increase business anC
| which effect lower rates thereon. This
| true competition will. therefore, neve
cease between any rival lines.
When all these Justly competitive force
| have been duly Expressed in reasonable
and uniform rates, fares and rules, eacl
| and every violation of them, howeve
small especially by those who helped 4
make or who indorscd them, constitutes
| discrimination; is dishonorable competi
| zion, and should not longer receive ever
negative trade or national sanction.