The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-14

on az abroad and suffering ana want N
many family and community at home
zone Of the chief difficulties with the
Law as n stands today Il that the pun
ishment for private contracts and rebates
il entirely out Of proportion to the onehse.
The Imprisonment clause was put IN a.
an Amendment to the interstate com /
mercs Law. and believe the commission
and everyone who has watched IT. work I
lnEs will agree with me that II has been 1
= failure. more than = failure, that u I
has caused perhaps more demoraliIAuoh
than anything else. The public has NOT
believed In u. IL has been impossible 20
secure conviction. II has prevented the
railway Official who desired 70 De honest
from complaining Of his competitor whoh
he thought vas dishonest In tAct, II mas
been what every Law il that Ia not sup
ported by public sentiments failure
What. In fact. h the manner Of eonduet,
| Ing business today The railway ohclal
who desires 10 he honest and law-abidins
/ sees trafnc leave his line and fnds ths
| freight that he was carrying hauled 70
| the warehouse Of his rival. the earnings
| Of his line decreasing and complaints
I from the management Of loss OF earninsH'
/ and IN the distance he sees looming Up
the loss % his position. AZ the SAM
time. the shipper who desires 10 obeS
the law sees some rival selling mefchAh-
disc 10 his customers al prices ne eahhos
meet. and he knows very well that ne y
securing concessions from some railway
10 enable him 20 DO this. The railway
agent and the shipper who wish 20 obel
the law 81 down together and LOOK "
over What relief u there for them
They can complain OF their rivals, possi-
bly, convict them under the Interstate
commerce law and send them 20 the pen
itentlary. but such action would bring
down upon them the condemnation OF the
public and would ruin their business Tor
ns stated before. the public does not De-
| lleve Ia this severe feature Of the law,
and will not support anyone who enforces
a. The result ls these men. IN despair
are driven 20 do just what their opponsnts
are dolng-they become lawbreakefs
themselves 1 have drawn no fancy pic
ture. Il ls what l. occurring every day
around YOU
rs IL wise. is Il broad statesmanship
10 leave a business as large az that OF
he raiways-one Ia which onc-mth, a.
least. o. our population is engaged. on'
which Affects the comfort and happiness
Of nlne-tenths u the peoples u wise .
leave 70 outside % the law II j. SAL
that the most expensive occupation q
]
has 10 spend 70 much time and destro'
40 much 10 get so little II % worth Will
10 force the great railway interests
the country into the same position
who opposes this legislation First
certain people who desire the government
10 own and operate the railway Sec
oud. others who wish that the intefstai
railway commission should make
rates Third aud lastly. certain fall"a
managers who are opposed 70 any Al
ali legislation and who object 10 any cot
troll. and believe that they should be Tel
entirely alone.
As 10 the frst parties need not spen
much time upon them. Very Few peop
~ ln this country are ready % launch ~
government into the management o. -
j. 90 miles Of railway and the employmsi
% % million Of men II would IN the 81
2 be the destruction Of the republic. OF
10 wishes the Interstate commerce commi
7. sion 20 regulate everything. the oth
J wants them 20 regulate nothing
u rs u not better. H. 10 not wise. Tor "
,t take a medium course7 The question
~ making rates o. a most important AZ
p most delicate business. The qlcsu'
- whether the grain from Nebraska shi
" be exported 70 Europe via the Atlau'
ports or through the suit or BY way
p Canada. the question Of what taria u
- profitable 10 make land this usually q
= ponds entirely upon what freight the
Is TO carry backl. the protection Of din'
y. ent ports. the development o. diherr
classes OF business. all involve such u
mense Interests that the human mind IN
"a realized the task would shrink from n
!. ing IL 20 one set % men. no matter h'
=. wise or experienced they were. and
I. man who would desire this power Not
-. be rash beyond conception.
- "Piited against this view and dei'
= mined 20 prevent any legislation is
y. railway manager who believes that
-, should be- left 70 sail his own boat. Nc
.,- his own battle manage his line "a
nj pleases This plan was all very well
or years ago. but the people have decid
nj otherwise. and he who does not char
,t. and recognize the present situation IL
nd back number. Regulation BY the peo
Az has come 20 stay.
.ot An o. us who have any interes, In {
bv country. who desire its prosperity. are
a. terested IN the solution Of this Er
he question. II L. not time for the deu
iss gogue 20 howl about corporations. II
or not a time 20 talk about the vrongdoil
TO % railway managers. There are alwi
rs some in any business. who will not
20 right. and there always viii be. but
me | great mass % railway Managers to-ial
ne assure you. are as honestly seeking
las luton % this question as are you or |
the I member 81 the legislative body
lie iieve I voice the belief Of very Ia
ow majority Of them that the two pro-