The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-08
SSMLIS~
Daily Eagle
NJ. n. MURDOCH, Editor.
THE PEOPLE AND THEIR RAILWAYS

THE PEOPLE AND THEIR RAILWAYS
The address by Edward F. Jeffrey,
president of the Denver and Rio Grande
at the annual convention Of the inter
state commerce commission at st. Louis
May IL, 1897, entitled 1.-The People and
Their Railways" has been received.
The tone of the address is conservative,
and the matter surprisingly liberal. Ii
all the railway presidents had acted in
the spirit Of the views expressed by
Mr.. Jeffrey it is safe to say that the
railroad problem would not be so men
acing as il is to the railroads today Mr..
Jeffrey maintains that rates should be
just and reasonable, and that this ap-
plies to both the shipper and railway.
With this position no just complaint
can be made. He further says: The
interstate commerce law, after some
hesitation. has been taken by them (our
leading transportation companies) as a
text; in support of it new associations
were formed; 10 strengthen it new
agreements were made; in pursuance of
it tariffs were published; under it many
public hearings have been had and
step by step the conservative, law-abid-
ing and experienced railway managers
have sought TO weave a fabric of rea-
sonable and just transportation charges
throughout the republic"
That the leading transportation CON-
panies have made the interstate COM
merce law text to work out system
of just and reasonable freight charges
will be doubted by many. DiScrimina-
lions still eXist-and orders of local
state boards of railroad commissioners
are defied by railroads. Mr.. Jeffrey adj
mits 1.-The inability thus far Of the state
and federal governments and their
boards of railway commissioners 10 en-
force the laws and bring the law
breakers to bar in courts" but adds
that it is 'the desire of all conservative
self-respecting and law-abiding rail
carriers 10 comply with these laws and
give to the public just and reasonable
and stable rates without unjust dis
elimination" and the failure lies with
''some shippers and some carriers
While unfair determinations last; or
ders Of commissioners are disregarded;
princely salaries are paid TO railway of
ficials; railway promoters" in some
way or another are permitted TO become
immensely rich, and watered stock and
fictitious valuations made the founda-
ton to base transportation charges on,
the rail carrier companies will find a
public prejudice against them. While
these companies maintain Hobbies at
state capitals, engineered by men who
vulgarly insinuate that it is cheaper to
buy legislatures than it is TO convince
the public Of what is their due, lit is a
safe prediction that the end OF pre-
judgment against rail companies is not
in sight.
However, If the railway managers
can be brought to the view Of Mr.. JEFF
freys; If there is in fact an unheSitating
effort to make transportation charges
just and reasonable; if the spirit of the
interstate law shall be made the text
In the effort TO make such charges only
as will insure reasonable earnings upon
the cost to reproduce the railroads, roll
ing stock and pay operating expenses,
then, when the public eye is satisfied
as TO the good faith in these matters,
will the railroad problem be settled for
a long time 10 come.
Mr.. Jeffrey takes serious objection TO
the supreme court decision that agree
ments to maintain rates are Illegal I'm
der the antitrust law. This agreement
he assumes was one TO maintain reason
able rates. The court held that whether
the rates maintained by the agreement
We're reasonable or not. under the law.
lawful. Now it is claimed that unless
some agreement is allowed, capitalistic
war and general ruin will follow
What is the end of such agreement?
That railroads, at least some of them.
do not aim 10 be reasonable with each
other, but seek each others ruin. If
such is the spirit toward each other the
public may well inquire what would he
its fate when left 10 the rapacious self
ishness OF railway companies. The
conclusion is. there must be some pub
lie arbitrator 70 which the carrier In
terest and the public interest must be
submitted for decision. The great rail
way interest of this country IS a most.
if not the most important adjunct of
the business of the nation. 1t is not
the business Of the public TO cripple or
ruin 1t. All the public wants, TO be fair,
Is 10 know the truth.
The address Of Mr. Jeffrey can. in the
main. be commended and il is the hope
that the transportation companies Will
make true his statement, if not now
true, that the interstate law Will be the
text upon which they shall build in good
faith, a schedule of just and reasonable
rates.
CURSED FROM THE EARTH.