The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-17
COMPETITION A FOE.
Freight Men Prefer Government Reg
ulation of Rates

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE first reg
ular meeting of the national assOcia-
ton of freight commissioners was held
here today for the general purpose of
affecting a permanent organization The
members of the ASSOCIATION represent
commercial bodies in their respective
cities and are charged with the duty of
securing equal justice for shippers in
their dealings with the transportation
companies 1t is not. it IS said. essen
TALLY antagOniStic to the transpOrta-
ton lines. but acts in the capacity Of
mediator between such lines and ship
pers. Another purpose of the OrganI-
ZatiOn is said to be the proper preSen-
tatiOn OF the shippers side of the Ques-
tfOns which may be at any time under
c0usideratiO by congress
we're: N B. Kelly of the Trades league
of Philadelphia; Chairman W ?.
Trickett of the Kansas City Trades bu-
reau; Secretary A J. Vanlandingham OF
the St. Louis Traffic bureau, l. A BOs-
well of the Quincy, III. Freight bu
reau. George A Schroeder of the Mil
waukee Freight bureau; f. w Max
well of the St Joseph No. CONNER
ciaI club and Jobbers' Transportation
bureau; z. P Wilson of the Cinciunati
anspOrtatiOn bureau: F. b Barber,
president Of the American Export assO-
citation OF New York; George A Ander-
son of the Pittsburg Chamber of Com
nerce: J. A Smith OF the Charleston,
s c, Freight bureau; J. a Farley OF
L Il L.
Brown OF the Pacific Coast Hardware
and Metal association
Addresses were delivered by GIessrs.
Kelly and TriCkett-
Mr. Kelly, in speaking in favor Of
pooling. said:
The subject we have under cousid-
GRAFTON has been approached, discussed
from every possible standpoint by
many of the most able men allied with
the affairs of transportation. The on
" Essw data that can place before you
Is TRcluded in a letter received some
time ago from one OF the abIeSt writer's
on this subject He states that the
number Of stockholders investing in the
Lehigh Valley railroad of Philadelphia
is 1851, Of which over 80 per cent are
women; those OF the Pennsylvania rail-
road are %, S,649, of which about 10 per
cent are women.
The ability of these two great cor
porations to earn a return for their
many owners, means q great thing
something which does not glow through
the number of cold quotations in the
daily stock markets 1t means peace OF
mind ard happiness in thousands Of
homes as its opposite means misery
and want
If but one-third of the railway mile
age of the country gives this due re-
turn to the people. there must be some
great underlying reason and this rea-
son, we believe, viii be found at the
roots of the upas tree of governmental
dictatiOn; the only remedy for which
strong public sentiment radiating
from the stock and bondhOIding class
es. outward demanding that freedom
of cooperative action which practical
officials of the carrying interests as
we'll as the large majority of the com
ruercfaI interests believe will bring
prosperity where it is most needed 1t
is = splendid advantage to be arrayed
upon the side of right This is the
manifest attitude of those in favor OF
the resolution which is now before you
In q conversation recently with a.
prominent official of the trunk lines of
the Joint Traffic association, he stated
that he personally would be willing
that the power of making rates for the
railroad companies be placed in the
hands of a fair minded commission. be
Ifevfng thai the net returns to his road
would be greater than if the rates
were made as they are today by the
railroads themselves.
1T is my belief that the carriers as
rule. have had no actual control over
the rates either individually or collect
lively. during the past few years; they
having been made for them by the
force of competition which IS a far
more DANGEROUS and renOrseIess force
than is likely TO inspire any cOmniss5O on
constituted by tia United States gov
erument to do justice between the par
rfzs We must all realize that no per
manent Material prosperity can ensUe
unless the transportation companies as
well as the merchants are remunera-
lively employed
" p Trickett Of Kansas CITY said.
The proposition to IegisIate IN favor
Of pooling embraces greater FOssibiIi-
ties than is usually conceded from the
fact that you place in the hands Of
the transportation interests an indOm-
table power not necessary in the pro-
lection Of their property and not cx-
tended to any other business interest
in this country where different local.
ties are enabled today and always
have been to maintain their commercial
Importance due TO the fact of reason
able competition between Interested
/ carriers Their ability to continue the
/ progress 50 far attained VIII be ham,
pered materially and in many instances
TneasurabIy destroyed Tier trade
+ will he restricted to q limited area. ex-
( cept that where aid in the extension
[ thereof will rebound to the pool inter
ests The constant aim of the rail-
4 roads viii be to charge all classes Of
/ freight to the highest extent possible
and furnish such facilities as will en-
able them to carry on the business 70
! their satisfaction rather than that of