New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-30
NO EXCUSE FOR SUICIDE.

In an interview published yesterday evening
Aldace T. Walker, chairman Of the Board OF
Directors OF the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe
Railway Company, reviewing the late Supreme
Court decision in the Trans Missouri case de-
scrbes the effect of 1t upon other departments Of
business industry and trade than the railroads,
at which 1t Is directly aimed, in a manner calcu-
lated to set a great many persons besides rail-
way managers thinking. Antitrust laws, he
says. are finding their place upon the statute
books Of every State, and under this interpreta-
ton Of the Federal law which will naturally
be adopted by the State courts. "all agreements
between insurance companies upon premium
rates are illegal; all agreements between COM
"peting manufacturers which seek to enable
"them to obtain fair price for their products;
"all agreements among newspapers as to prices
advertising rates, or salaries; all labor unions
(which endeavor to maintain wages at a living
rate: all concerted action among farmers de-
"sgned to secure reasonable prices for their
"crops: even agreements among lawyers and
physicians. livery stable keepers, artisans Of
"all kinds are illegal; the whole fabric Of meth
"ods under which business Is to-day conduct
led falls to the ground, and at least one-half OF
"the citizens OF the Republic are under the
shadow of the Penitentary" II Colonel Wal
ker's logic be not faulty-and his reasoning
seems plausible at least-he is clearly justified
in saying that this Is revolution with a ven
geance." as II ignores and overturns modern
methods and modern necessities, and sets us
back three hundred years.
Passing from criticism Of the decision. which,
however interesting from the point Of view Of
the dlalectician, can hardly have any practical
bearing in existing circumstances, he proceeds
to the inquiry what the railroads can do under
this decision. Three courses, In his judgment,
are open. First, to do nothing. This. he says.
would bring chaos and ruin not only upon the
roads but upon the entire business community.
and "precipitate commercial panic the like of
which this country has never experienced"
Second for the roads to decline to make further
changes In their rates and refer all questions Of
that character to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission This would be a relief TO the roads, but
lie doubts whether the Commission could do the
work required Moreover. IL the ratemaking
power was intrusted to the Commission, there
is no reason why 1t should not he assumed by
Congress- and this, he thinks, would lead to end
less confusion and an era OF decentralization
His third suggestion is that the railroads unite
in seeking a judiclOus amendment of the law,
under which they may enter into agreements
which shall be legal for the conduct of the trans
portation business The last is In bis opinion,
the best course to be adopted and the railroads
should have the assistance OF every intelligent
business man in undertaking 1t. We believe 1t
II safe to say that In any such effort Of the rail
roads TO procure a reasonable modification Of
the law they will have the cooperation of bust
ness men and the sympathy Of the people gen.
orally. We are not certain, indeed. that they