The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-02
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1898
pass APOOLING BILL


,nterview with a reporter of the WASH
inston Post. IN which he went consider
ably over the probabilities Of legislation
at this session Of Congress and the next
IN case Mr.. Mckinley calls the new Con-
gross into extra session. In answer TO
The question will there be any important
legislation in the present session. he re-
piled;
.erbere ought to be. but there VIII not
he We ought TO do something Win inc
pooling bill The decisions OF the LhiIcu
States Supreme Court against me Trans
Missouri Association and the Joint frame
Association make any agreement between
the railroads impossible unless we enact
special legislation. and this We ought 10
40 AT the earliest possible moment. l IN
troducod. as YOU will remember Dill 70
legalize pooling under certain restrictions
hun this and kindred measures nave re-
mainod Enacted upon In committee pend
inc the decisions Of the supreme court
/ believe that the enactment OF a pooihs
bin would result in the establishment OIL
lust and reasonable rates TO the clipper
would remove an temptation To violate
the law making rebates Illegal would
give TO all shippers the advantages OF
stable rates. and above an would add TO
the prosperity Of railroads. and wnen lall-
roads are prosperous the millions OF pe0-
pie dependent upon the railroads VIII be
prosperous also. l know that III ONO
business men are "a unit for fan pool
ing bill. and If We have an extra session
] shan certainly ondeavor 20 secure leg
islatiOn in that direction.
1t IS a great pity the public at large
has adopted its prejudice against rail-
road pools There is no difference in kind
between the popular prejudice against
them and the fury with which workmen
attacked Improvements in machinery an
hundred years ago. Yet the improve
ments In machinery of the past century
have amcliorated the hard natural con-
ditions OF life 10 an incalculable extent
and for workmen Of an others, and lib
orty TO the railroads TO form pools would
as certainly operate for the public ad-
vantage instead OF for its injury.
The subject Is too complex and too
elaborate e. receive any but the most
cursory treatment in a newspaper article
nut some Of it, leading features may be
mentioned here.
Under the conditions that now exist,
Unless the railroads are restrained by
contracts amongst themselves ooApo-
uuon between thein must become 80 io''0
that the weaker ones are pouh' 10 go 10
The wall The INJURY inc Puple receives
from sue" eoho'"'" OF "u"r9 - Ho'
'hN ia 'N' i"'' '""' wiz" '''0 WAN '''0
peIiShe9 '"' ''o"s o"e win i'''"P 10
losses ia 'ne contest OUT VI '"' fuo''''
Ihere Is an eFH lhe'e undoubtedly an"
Il becomes the source oil many S"oee'"-
ing evils but The most de1eleFloos ci-
feet OF that unro5trained competition Is
the generalization oi rates mat i'lo"s'
Rates are always changing ana Shippers
never know, consequently what ;hey are
20 depend upon Nothing Is so disastrous
10 business ass that The public can far
better afford TO pay high rates than
shifting rates. WHAT rs absolutely ne
cessary 10 business is steadiness OF rates.
II belongs 20 the same department as
ste"aiiess I'D inc STANDARD Oh N"l"e '"-
ieS"'l"'o ''''l'''''" 'n'" 'i'''''s'' ''''
railways means unsteady rates. "n''e
pooling contracts amongst them means
hNedness ana s'ea"lneSs OF rates.
nor does pooling tchd 10 hish rates