The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-25

Remedy in Competition.
Competition is the remedy provided by
the interstate commerce law to prevent
Determinations. The object of the Trainer
of that law was to stimulate the normal
efforts of rival lines to draw business from
each other. The commission and the au-
thor of the law now frankly admit that.
Tne method has intensified the evils II
sought TO cure Railway competition diff
fcrs from that known in trade II a mer-
chant or manufacturer fights a rivalacon-
Germ, and has the longer purse as well as
business brains, he drives his adversary
into bankruptcy and out OF business. then
buys up his stock at ruinous prices. and
having a monopoly, makes up the losses
OF the contest by larger sales and in
creased prices. But the state fixes the
passenger fares. and under the common
law as TO reasonable rates puts a limit up-
on freight charges The semi-pubIic serv-
ice rendered by the railroad tustihes these
restrictions. When a railroad goes into
bankruptcy, the territory of which II Is
the sole outlet has interests so great that
me courts will not permit its sharing the
fate of Insolvency. The court runs Il re-
CARELESS of its owners and for the public
convenience. The big shippers are always
seeking exclusive favors. and they bar
gain with the weak line for all their ship
ments. This fills that lines capacity and
the other lines maintain rates which will
give some return TO The investors In the
property The advantages possessed bv
these favored shippers on the bankrupt
road enables them IN the close compAti-
ton of common markets to defeat and
absorb similar enterprises In other locaii-
ties and that product goes into a trust
Then the trust or combination controlling
this article of necessity fixes its own price
20 the producer and consumer and dist
tributes its freight among the roads at its
own rates. In short, II becomes the mas
ter of the railroad, as well as the public
II is the genius of our Institutions to fos-
ter and promote Individual efforts The
greatest and surest prosperity to the coun-
try lies in a multitude of Industries in
many places and not all concentrated In
few hands and at large terminal cities
The interest OF both the stakeholder and
the employees of the railroad is to have
many shippers instead of one or two, and
business at as many local points as posi-
BILE.
From Employees Standpoint.
FfrOm your standpoint. my friends,
distribution of patrons and places means
more trains. more cars more men In the
shops and yards. more activity at every
staton, and with better rates, larger earn
ings for the betterment of the road. the
increase OF its facilities and public serv
ice and the return TO its stock and bond
holders Of fair dividends and interest No
other way has yet been devised TO ac-
complish these results than pooling con-
tracts made under the supervision and
control of the interstate commerce COM
mission.
II have not time to discuss government
ownership / have studied the workings
OF this system In Europe. The service Is
such as would not be tolerated in. this
country after our experience. The rates
are double ours because the government
finds this an easy way TO raise revenues.
The employees are virtually in the mill
tary service and governed by iron rules
and discipline They are the manstay of
the government party in elections, and
their places are dependent .upon voting
as they are ordered Their, pay Is about
half that received for similar service in
the United States"