New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-25

1t IS time that the men who are dependent upon
the railroads for a living should look after their
GRAFTON Of the several companies where they are
employed. but they may be harmed or bene-
partisan. you have entered upon the right course
The moment labor a trade or charitable or a
religious organization becomes identified with the
one party or the other. ana can be used 10 pro-
mote the interests Of party managers ana parry
people who united In the same general cause
in politics only 40 far - TO inform legislators
alton Of their rights Of their business and OF con-
templated wrongs injuries to them. then they are
able 10 protect themselves.
Speaking OF State legislation in New-York for
control Of railroads, he said:
After a bitter struggle in our State OF New
York, which lasted some years, ara when thtedl,,
ened the commercial supremacy OF the state ana
city well the destruction OF the NeW-l oIH
Central Railroad as a dividends paying company
met by the authority Of Mr. vanderbilt tnese com
mercial bodies. We discussed these questions lor
months; we took volumes Of testimony. became i
convinced that Of the three methods or mse1,,iS
the queson-ownership by the state or the sauna
Government. universal consolidation. not ohy ol
connecting but also OF competing lines. and state
solution of the whole difficulty. 1t required the
united strength Of the commercial bodies ana Oh
the railroads to induce our Leslsatu.e SO 49,,
had the public fe ling become, to create kalIWay
Commission and give II these SUI i,e that he
II got I'm fun operation about me tltle ' p,,d
came president OF the New-York Central railroad
For the fourteen years OF my cont 1'I
with the Commission and its operations ana teit
that It would be strengthened ny haVhs gpo. ~
railway man from the WORKING iQrSe, anT SeIy go
an amendment TO that effect. Michael Kickatd'
ocomotye engineer was appS anew order Of the
Commission. Directly its orders nave cost tne
but indirectly the dement's 70 me PUBIC anu 10 n
company have been ncaculabe Every snlppei
postage stamp will carry hs c0mplnnt 10 IAioadS
and that It will be Immediately heard -, re ntvu
he at no expense for the Commission VIII UNDER
take 70 act in his behalf. The railway question
has disappeared from New-Nork poll1iScS1i, IN, IN
Jisanpeared from the Legislature. The people have
much confidence in the ION nnnr0va OF the
recommendations meet win the "pPio'"' VI INC
LEGISLATURES and Governors.
He smoke at length concerning pooling contracts
between railroads and said
7 believe that the right OF railway companies TO
form associations and to enter into pooling con-
tracts should be granted out only uoTr oe
believe in strengthening that COMMISSION. lncreas
ing its powers and adding TO us a,sGf Of me sub
iects with which it deals. The COMMISSION snouIu
stand next IN the confidence Of the people 20 the
srnrerne Court Of the United States Give them
absolute power any pooling contract ano tnen
this vexed question Is IIrSci and paced in the
Competition is the remedy provided by the Inter
Commerce Law to prevent determinations
The object Of the Trainer Of that law was 10 stmu
ite ' f nor ea"h other The Commission and the
MI Of the law now frankly admit that the
oh9S has VAN Sn has yea f ban GeSed
the desired results than pooling contracts mace
under the supervision and control OF me interstate
Su,r,erce Commission This supervision and con-
troi take away the dangers which were appre-
bonded from these combinations The Government
becomes A party TO the contracts The Govern
mont fudges Of their reasonableness before they
can be executed. The Government Keeps its eyes
and hands upon thoir workings. and modihes or
annuls them as the public interests require
I have not time to discuss Government owner
shin I have studied the workings or this system
In T,urope The service Is such IA would not De
tolerated in this country after our experience Inc
rates are double ours. because the Government
fnds this an easy way to raise revenues Inc EN-,
Moves are virtually in the military service ana
ppoyyarned bv iron rules and discipline They are
lie mainstay OF the government party In elec-
lions and their places are dependent upon Not,ng
o. thcv are ordered. Their pay * about nalt that
received for similar service In the tnited states.
a brief experience OF mine shows how Win US the
wboe operaton Of the roads would be al the mercy
~ notics and its accidents II the railroads were
nrrneh and run by the Government