The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-03-27
THE RAILWAY PROBLEM.

A bill to amend the Interstate com.
merce law was introduced in the last
congress, and it is certain to be laid be-
fore the present congress, if not at the
special session, then at the first regular
session, which begins in December.
The bill is described and advocated by
|. the Hon. Lloyd Bryce in the March
number of the North American Re-
view.
The problem, of course, is to make
railways pay, while at the same time
satisfying the reasonable claim of
small as well as large shippers with re-
gard to freight charges. MIR. Bryce
holds that the national legislation re-
specting railways which was in
augurated ten years ago was move in
the right direction, and he thinks that
in its extension and improvement
may be found the solution of the prob
lem. The railway companies Of the
country generally recognize, he says,
the usefulness of the interstate COM
merce commission, land have aided
the commissioners in the enforcement
of the law. Had it not been for what
he deems the fatal experiment, known
as the "anti-pooling" section of the
law of 1887. the work of the commits
sion would have been, il his opinion,
far more effectual, the earnings of
and an equality of rates between large
and small shippers would have been
much nearer accomplishment. It is
pointed out that Judge Regan, the
author of the anti'pooling section, now
confesses that further study has
caused me to believe that the section
may be amended so as to benefit both
the railroads and the people by allow
ing the railroads to enter into traffic
arrangements with one another"
The state commissioners of railways,
at convention in Washington in 1894,
adopted resolution of similar effect:
"It is the sense of this convention that |
competing common carriers may
be safely permitted to make lawful |
contracts with each other for the ap-
portionment of competitive traffic or
of the earnings therefrom; provided |
that conditions and restrictions be i'm |
posed which protect the public from
excessive and unreasonable charges"
Mr.. Bryce considers it fully estab-
lished that under the working of the
present act unjust discrimination on
the part of common carriers is more
hurtful, although it is more secret
than in was formerly. If all the rail.
way companies charged according to
their public rates, there would be no
trouble, but the increasing cost of
and the enormous sums
paid for soliciting business betray the
existance of discrimination So plainly
that even Judge Regan, as we have
seen, thinks his favorite ''anti-pooling"
section may be amended. 1t appears
that the proposed law would remedy
the mischief of discrimination to a
large extent. The railways would be
benefited by being relieved from ex-
penses which they are now obliged to
undergo through inability to unity and
their business. Not only
would the railways be satisfied with
with the projected change in the law,
but so would all such shippers as seek
no individual advantage.
Under the proposed law the deter
niuation ofwhat constitute reasonable
'ates on competitive business would be !,
subject to- review by the interstate
commerce commission and by the
courts. This seems to Mr.. Bryce an
adequate guaranty of justice and
quity. and he submits that law {
which sanctions an agreement for the ]
of maintaining fair prices and q
f paying endurable wages cannot be 1
ontrary to public policy. He would t
ave the measure, in word, so framed G
8 to protect the public and the ship C