The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-06-18

pick problem presented there has nees
solved the question of moving a ton Of
freight a greater distance for less sum
of money than any other country. Our
passenger service, in speed, comfort. regu.
larity and safety has been the admiratio
of the world. Let Legislatures, the nress
and the public give fair support to this
great industry, helping to conserve instead
of to destroy and the railroads of Amer.
lea Will make such progress as will wiring
admiration and praise from even their un-
friendly critics
10 Prevent General DemoraIiz alton
Though the present outlook is far from
encouraging, and the recent decision Of
the Supreme Court declares that all at.
tempts at uniform action are illegal we
seek for no legislation that will increS. p
rates or add to the burden of the general
pubic The proposed pooling bill recently
introduced in the United States Senate
by Senator Foraker of Ohio means at
the best sort of breakwater to prevent
general decentralization. It-is the best
means thus far devised to legalize free
dom OF agreement between connecting
lines SO that oil shippers may secure Just.
reasonable and uniform rates. In the na-
tlonal Legislature of ten years: ago the ne
cesslty for uniform action regarding rail.
ways was recognized, and this measure il
only taking up the question where Con-
gress laid 1t down and carrying the legis-
lation a step further. To hold these prop
critics together and to give the people the
full benefit las | have shown of a dis :
bursement reaching nearly twelve hun.
dred million year, we must get nearer
uniform management. The work of the
railways must, in short. be carried on
with uniformity and method. This can
best be done by the several railway sys-
TENS working as they do. Under the law.
as proposed, when the rates are finally
agreed upon by the competing roads. and
passed by the Interstate Commerce Com
mission as reasonable and Just. power
should be given TO the roads to enforce
them. This is a reasonable and fair de-
mand, and one that Congress should at
once grant.
The proposition which has been suggest
ed by some theorists for charging the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
permitting it to initiate rates would be
fatal mistake, and a system based upon
such a n idea vicious in the extreme The
railways not only have the ability. but
the facility to make rates. 1t is expert
work, requiring judgment and thorough
knowledge of all local conditions. To
have. the rate making power removed to
Washington and absolutely fixed by a
commission, no matter how able or how
honest, would work incalcuiable injury.
1t would be far better for the Government
to purchase the railways and assume the
whole responsibility than for the Govern
ment practically to undertake the regula-
ton and management of the property of
private individuals. This is undoubtedly
the most mischievous proposition thus far
evoked by demagogues and anarchists for
the wiping out of the capital invested in
railway enterprises. 1t would simply be
uncomfortable. and lead to rate compl;ca-
tons heretofore unheard of. even in our
present imperfect system. The possibili-
ties of corruption would be tremendous;
the pulling and hauling at Washington
for favored rates for special communities
would bring the whole system down with
the weight Of is own folly and imprac-
ticability.
WouIi Benefit the Whole Country.
In the bill referred to. the pubic. the
shipper, the railway employe and the rail-
ways have all been fairly considered. If
it becomes law the results must be ben
eficial to the whole country. because our
railways penetrate all parts of the repub-
lie. Congress should, therefore, approach
it in spirit of fairness and justice. and
not with temper and political prejudice.
1t is an honest effort to adjust satisfac-
torily difficulties that have grown up by
reason of the magnitude of our transport
tation industry and the newness of our
common country.