Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-10-26
AN,TI-POOLING DECISION.

We doubt II the businessmen Of the
rountry have yet fully realized the effect
of the decision Of the United States SUI
preme Court rendered in the anti-poolng
rase.
The court holds that the operations OF
the various traffic associations are anita
gonistic 10 the Interstate Commerce law
and the Sherman antitrust law, and are
in restraint of trade.
Unless Congress, as soon as II assem-
bles. shall come to the relief of the great
competing railway lines, we may expect
such a rate-cutting war as was never be
fore seen in these United States. And fhe
result Of this probably would be that the
weak companies would be crushed by the
strong companies, and that there would
be great losses to investors.
Nor would the public long profit by such
a mad-cap business The average farmer
would not be bettered in the slightest de-
gree. since he cannot choose by what line
he will ship his produce, but must pa
tronze the road that runs near to his
home. Railroad centres might, and prob
ably would. be temporarily benefited
that u.s. they would get much lower rates;
but every trade centre that has had prac-
fical experience knows that cut-rates 6is-
turb rather than promote business.
The reason Of this is that so Tong as
''the war is on" customers hold off from
buying for no matter how low rates may
be, they expect them to so lower still.
Again. most of our southern ports have
been able 10 get "dinerentials," which
throw business to them they would not
otherwise obtain, and so our section
would be hurt in that way.
The members of the court who con-
CURED in the judgment rendered are:
Fuller Democrat, Brewer Republican,,
Harlan Republican,, Brown Repubican),
and Peckham Democrat. Those dissent
ing are Gray and Shiras Republicans),
and White OemocraO.
The decision handed down on Monday
is the same as that given in the trans
Missouri case, except that in the Joint
Traffic case the constitutionality of the
antitrust law was raised. That the con-
clusion OF the court is fully justified by
the law and argument we have no reason
TO doubt. We can praise the court for
the faithful discharge of its duty with
out ignoring the fact that without the
interposition Of Congress the result may
be TO turn the business Of the country
topsy-turvy for awhile at least.
That the traffic associations have ex-
ercised a vast power. and not always
wisely, may be conceded, but the ques-
ton now is, What are We going to do to
prevent harmful consequences of the
courts decision?
The New York World, which is a great
antitrust paper, quotes one of the coun-
sci of the government in this case IS
saying Congress should give PERMISSION
for railroads to form modified pools under
provisions laid down by the government,
aud they should be maintained under i'm
mediate government supervision.
No better plan than that occurs to us
20 keep the roads from cutting the threats
OF one another and precipitating almost
endless business troubles.
We are hopeful that some way out of
the Wilderness of doubt and difficulty Will |
be found. Meanwhile, the railroad COM
panies should be careful not TO bring |
trouble upon themselves. As for the |
people, while their first impulse is always |
TO favor active competition. we doubt not |
that the majority Of them may be brough, |
TO take a conservative view OF this ques- |
ton II those who are well informed will |
take the pains 20 show them that pooling /
A"u ra'e-making within reasonable |
oouhoS' are as much TO the interest Of he
pubic as to that Of the roads