The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-24

legislatures and courts to reduce rates and
fares continues.
The Board of Trade and Transportation
OF New York we'll said in February, 1896:
Rates may be too low as we'll as too high
Tor the public interest"
More legislative, legal and commercial
consideration for railway interests seems,
Tor all these strong reasons, a long deferred
Justice, especially as the form in which it
IS urged viii also conserve the public veal.
One alternative is more railway consolida-
porationS, when the desired uniformity of
rates will more fully ensue
ABSENCE OF LEGAL BELIEF.
These facts and arguments remain uncon-
troverted, yet national and state legislation
grows more hostile, and legal decisions
more restrictive. Not only has there been
no congressional recognition of interstate
railway benefits, but consideration therefor
has decreased as those benefits have be-
come more apparent. National and state
legislatures constantly consider, or enact,
additional restrictions upon the railways
and courts inherit and proclaim this ten
dency. Within five years numberless ma
tional, state and municipal measures have
been enacted or entertained, or are now
pending to reduce rates and fares, for pro
rata rates, amended bills of ladng, car
couplers automatic brakes and safety APP
crossings, speed of trains, elevated tracks
in cities, reduced working hours, legislation
as to strikes more taxation. etc, all tend
ing to. or producing, decreased net railway
revenues.
There were, for example, over thirty
measures pending in the Fifty-third Con-
gress affecting railways, but one-the pool
ing Notwithstanding for their relief, ana
it was unhappily defeated. If the public
good requires additional import measures
to protect tin makers, farmers, umbermen,
importers of silk, etc, and national finance,
should not railway owners and employees. be
also now reasonably protected in some que
and Well-regulated manner, since they must
make effective the cheap and quick DIS
tributions of American products through
out the nation and world?
To this mutual end two views are to be
reconciled: One, the fear that if pools are
authorized rates will be advanced; the
other, the conviction of the railways that
without pooling, competitive rates viii be-
come yet more Improbable.
The railways propose TO protect the pup
lie in the first instance by submitting their
rates to the review and judgment OF the
Interstate-commerce Commission They
propose, on the other hand, that the car
riers be empowered to stop undue deple-
tions of those rates by enforceable agree
ments, and that they be enabled 10 coliecI
and enjoy those reasonable and pubhshed
charges through the agency or poohng;
which shall also be open to a governmental
reports. If fairness and intelligence ana
the precedents of all experience are 70 pc
regarded, as in all other leading pr1nclpieS
of government law and justice no Ndlla
objection lies against such mutual Dement'S,
and all interests should be able to agree
upon the needed contamination.
In q word we claim small relief FOR great
benefits conferred.
We will show next how pooling mas peen
recognized and Endorsed. -
GEORGE r. BLANCHARD.