Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1901-12-17
ORvALLIS GAZETTE
TUESDAY, DECEMBER II, 1901.
THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEM.

THE MOST DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
The president says of the rail
way: 'Its rates should be just
and open to all" That they
a:e not is the chief cause of COM
plant, the main provocative of
popular anti-railroad sentiment.
Instead of making just rates it is
more frequently the practice OF
the railway companies to tax
their traffic all it will bear. To
this end all competition is de.
stroyed either by mutual agree
ment between companies or by
one acquiring control of all com
peting lines. This is done by
leasing for a term, as for ninety
nine years or by forming a com
bination, as the Pennsylvania
Company and the Northern Sc
curities Company. These ac-
quire control of railway stocks,
and construct, buy, lease and
operate, all the means of trans
portation in large areas OF terri :.
tory. They not only control
interstate but no small part of
our foreign commerce, and hav-
ing destroyed and made competl-
ton impossible establish such
rates as they choose. Stock
holders operating mines, mills
and factories are given special
rates, rebates, drawbacks and
premiums which enable them to
reach and to control markets
from which smaller operators are
practically excluded. GA car
famine" rarely touches the stock.
holding shipper.
To control these things is an
exceedingly difficult matter
Such is human cupidity and sell
fshness that there is a continual
effort to avoid just restraint.
States have changed their con
stitutions, passed stringent law
and adopted many devices t.
compel these transportation com
panies to make just rates open t
all. So far the companies hav
been able, for the greater part, t
obstruct, evade and nullify thes
efforts to control them.
They are public servants an
must be under the direction an
supervision of the people so fal
and only SO far as may be neces
sary to compel them justly an
equitably to perform their publ
functions. The several STATE
and the federal government wi
put forth more intelligent an
earnest efforts than any yet mao
to this end. No wrong will
done to any of them, but sue
measures of regulation and cor
troll will be devised and enforce
as will protect the people ar
quiet public apprehension. 1t
folly to wait until yet great
distrust is aroused. Commo
prudence requires that the righ
and interests of the people
efectually safe-guarded. Instr
mentalities must be found, W!
be found to compel these corpo
ations to be just to all, and
render it impossible for any
them to batten on the necessiti
of the public.
When this is done the railwa,
should be permitted to work {
their own proper lines servir
all the people as public servan
should and earning 1egitima
dividends on the capital the
have invested.
This is, without doubt, Il
most perp1exing and dificu
problem before the present cor
gress. 1t is fortunate the repu'
lican party has it to solve. It
a guarantee that it will be solve
justly, courageously and sati
factorily. Nothing will be bo
rowed nor appropriated from Il
purposes of any other par
but the work will be doI
on purely republican lines ar
will eventuate as republica
policies always do, in doing "tf
greatest good to the greatest nun
ber." Congress is fully advise
of the public feeling on this SUI
ject and we are satisfied it wi
meet just public requirement
Meanwhile let no socialis
nor populist dream Of any sort
aid and comfort from republican
for we deal with all subjec
after Our own methods.