The National tribune., 1897-02-11

SCiA do ilnPAaI1iS0DiO 90 sho AS''' " s
party, in his suggestions as to reform
His remedy for railroad extortion is fol
the State to take the initiative in build.
ing a railroad to the seaboard at
Galveston. This shows that he has nc
comprehension of the subject. In the
first place, the remedy for evils COM
planned of is not in Government owner
ship of railroads, but in Government
regulation of them. The Government
has the right to impose tariff schedules
upon the roads. There can be no
doubt Of this. The Government has
the same powers, if not more, over the
railroads that city has over the street
tramways and public vehicles. What
we want is not to have the Government
burdened by the administration of
great transportation systems, but that it
shall exercise its undoubted powers to
compel those public servants to serve
the people properly, and at minimum
cost. Gov. Leedy says that a road to
Galveston can be built at from $4,000
to $4,000 mile, and that it is unjust
to the people to compel them to pay
revenue to one that is bonded at $780,
900 a mile. Certainly it is, but he is
attacking the problem from the wrong
end. If the Government will impose a
reasonable schedule upon the roads,
such as will pay fair revenue upon a
fair investment in them, this will
squeeze the water OUT Of the stocks, and
answer every purpose, e e Certainly the
people should not be compelled to pay a
revenue for $50, 600 a mile upon rail-
road which at fair business valuation
is worth only $4,000, If the Govern
ment will fix the rates 50 that they will
give a reasonable return on $25, 900 a
mile the water will be speedily squeezed
out of that roads stock by the operation
of ordinary business laws.
There is another thing about this
question of railroad regulation that we
have always been strenuous upon, but
which it is impossible to get Populists
to think about. 1t is that, in addition
to having a mandatory schedule of
rates, the local courts should have iuris-
diction in enforcing those rates. Every
passenger and every shipper should have
his remedy near at hand, as he has his
remedy for other wrongs. 1t is denial
of justice to him to compel him to take
his case to Washington, or some other
distant point.
There is another serious objection to
Gov. Leedy's Galveston scheme. The
people of Kansas do not want to be
compelled to make their market at Gal
weston. Only one-ffth Of our agri-
cultural products are sent abroad. The
other four-fifths are sold at home. The
biggest and best market is between the
Allegany Mountains and the Atlantic
Ocean. The people of Kansas natur-
ally want the cheapest and best access
to those markets, and care comparative
ly little for that of Galveston, even
though that puts them in communica-
ton with Europe. 1t will cost great
deal more to send theilr. products from
Galveston to Europe than it will from
New York. The REASON. is that at New
York shippers can always find vessels
eager to get return cargoes, while at
Galveston shippers will have to hunt up
vessels to carry their products over the
ocean. The disadvantages of Calves
ton will be at once seen, without further
explanation. 1t is what has proved
fatal to the hopes Of Baltimore, Phila-
delphia, Montreal, Quebec, Savannah,
Mobile, New Orleans, and many other
places which hoped to become great
grain-exporting ports.
Let Gov. Leedy take week off some
time and study up this question under
the guidance of some practical business
man, and he will learn some things that
will amaze him.
DON'T FORGET.
All THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE Ii