The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-26
Kansas and Oklahoma
Against the Railroad Pool

ject 20 the APPROVAL or Gisa pproval by the
interstate commerce commission These
however, are believed by some of the
most sagacious observers OF the practi-
cal operations OF the interstate COM
merce act to be totally Inadequate to the
achievements OF the objects professedly
aimed at, without serious menace to the
interests Of the people
Editorial ST. Louis Republic: There
is no demand from shippers for the res
toration of the pooling privilege. The
demand comes wholly from the princi-
pal railroad corporations. Every broad
minded and patriotic member of con-
gPess who wants to save his country
from train of evils, the final result Of
which no man can foresee, should op-
pose this bill
Editorial Sc. Louis Post-Dispatcn,
December Atm, 1897: Stripped of all
disguises, the pooling bill means the
legalizing of a great railroad combine,
which will completely crush competition
between transportation lines. 1t is the
trust scheme applied TO railroad trans
portation. No ingenuity of wording or
of argument suffices 10 conceal the fact
that the amendment to the Interstate
commerce law is devised IN the interest
of the railroads, as opposed to those of
the producers and shippers-in short, of
the public
WHY POOLS ARE DANGEROUS.
'fMr. Prouty, member of the inter-
state commerce commission, has been
quoted quite extensively by those favor
ing pooling. But in his Forum article
find the following, which is food for
thought:
Now the purpose of the pooling law
is to eliminate entirely from railway
operations with regard to the traffic
which it affects, the factor of railway
competition No trust can be
50 dangerous as a transportation trust.
First, because no other trust or combi-
nation OF trusts can affect so large a
number Of things. There is nothing
which we eat, drink or wear, which the
freight rate mas not entered into, and
in many cases it forms the larger part
OF the value. A transportation trust is
the most dangerous of all trusts, be-
cause it absolutely dominates the situ-
alton. Mr. Blanchard says that
the railroads of the United Safes earned
in 1895 but 1.57 per cent upon their
capitalization. That although the cost OF
operating the American railways are
greater, our rates are much lower than
those on the continent, and only about
as high as in England. 1t re-
quires that they are unreasonably low,
and every railroad manager in the land
will agree with him. Is ii credible that
if these managers had the unreStrained
power to do so, they would not raise the
rates? The inability to pool in the past
has reduced the rates, not only on COM
petitive traffic, but upon all traffic. The
right in question would tend to raise
the rate on all traffic
Because it would place in the hands
Of railroad associations the power to dis
criminate unjustly against communities, |!
would enable them to give a minimum
service for a maximum charge. Would |
have a tendency to retard improvements |
in facilities, would increase time of |
short lines in both freight and passen- /
ger service, and remove the element of !
between carriers OF the |
greatest value to individuals and COM |
namely the best possible ser f,
vice.
Because, while It might remove some /
unjust determinations between individ- |
uals in the same communities, it would |
increase unjust discrimination between /
as it would be impossible |
TO include all business and all compet- !
ing communities in the same pool, and |
the incentive to cut rates or non-pool 1
business would be increased. |
Because it would create unjust dis |
on farm products at strict |
y local stations not included in the pool |
and have a tendency 10 force the busi- !
ress 80 points which the railroads de- |
sired to foster, regardless of the wishes |
Of the producer.
Because any benefit to the shippers !
to be derived from pooling other than |
to railroads, would be to the seaboard |
cities, to the detriment of interior cities. /
Because the railroads do not need ii /
10 protect their interests and can find /
1ther means Of protecting their revenue !
without placing the public at their /
mercy.
Because railroad earnings and prices /
y railroad securities show that they /
nave profted as greatly by the return
Of prosperity az have other lines OF
-rade. and most OF the troubles COM
olainei of by them have not been con-
fined 70 railroad investments alone, but
nave applied to an even greater extent
10 other lines Of trade.
Because it would injure the stock
-aisers OF Texas ard Oklahoma. the corn
producer of Iowa and Missouri, the
wheat raiser Of Kansas and Nebraska,
me wholesale merchants and manufac-
.urers Of ST. Louis and Chicago, Kansas
City. Denver and the west-the retail
merchant and consumer everywhere.
Because ii you'd be practically impos-
;fble TO secure the repeal OF the law.
,nce enacted, Iegalizing pools. Even
through the strong and efficient Iobby at
Washington, constant advocacy by rail-
,oad officials ana association officials.
everywhere possible, the maintenance OF
press bureau for the circulation OF lit
,rature advocating pools, and with prac-
ically no systematic work on behalf or 1
he shippers, the railroads have been
Unable 70 secure any change in the fifth
section in more than ten years With
n organized effort on the other side |
md with the influence OF the railroad
interests 10 maintain a pooling law,
yhen once enacted, IL would Be prac-
ically impossible 70 secure a change
cor these reasons and many others, /
IN opposed 20 any recommendation le-