The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-19
Government Control of Railroads

Government Control of Railroads. /.
n AN INTERVIEW in the Phila-
delphia Press ex-Judge Logan,
l. general solicitor of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad, offers timely and
very liberal comment upon the amend
ments to the interstate commerce law
now pending in the senate. Those
amendments propose to clothe the in
terstate commerce commission with
power to enforce Il rate when after
full hearing it has been found to be
fair. Now the commission has power
to hear but not to enforce. The only
limitation upon the power proposed to
to review by the courts. In return for
this concession by the railroads. con-
gress is asked to allow pooling and
the formation OF traffic associations,
both to be subject to government SUI
pervision and control. Two other fea-
lures should be mentioned. One is the
penalizng of the shipper as we'll as
the railroad violating the law; and
the clothing Of the courts, upon petit
ton of the interstate commerce COM
mission, with power TO enforce the
published tariff Of rates-in other
words. to make sure that the rates Of
the railroads for transportation Of
freight or passengers are as fiat and
fair to all as are, for example, the ad-
vertsing rates of The Tribune.
Contrary to what might be expected,
judging from the attitude of some rail-
way officials, Judge Logan, speaking
for the great Pennsylvania system.
heartily favors these amendments and
expresses his confidence in the integ-
rity of governmental agencies. II be-
lieve," says he, that not only the ship
per but the carrier needs governmental
help. 1t seems to me the time has
come when the government should re-
assume the right of a moderate control
and supervision over the carriers oc-
cupying the governments highways,
and that this in its operation should
reach forward as we'll as backward
the carrier to have Il reasonable re-
turn for his Investment in the agencies
of carriage, and the shipper the as
surance OF Il prompt service and Il
reasonable rate, ana the public to be
protected by stability and uniformity
in all charges"
1t is a great deal to have such views
as these expressed by the representa-
tive of one of the largest of our Ameri-
can railway systems 1t marks long
forward step in the development of II
wholesome public opinion, We have
had public be damned" railroad man
ugements and railroads.&c. damned leg
islatures and between the two the pub
lie interest has very frequently gotten
lost in The shuffie. The Populistic idea
that railroads are public enemies and
therefore fit targets for all kinds of
abuse ana attack has happily passed
out of mind: but there has come in
place of it the notion that use of pull
10 secure discriminating charges vio-
federal law is iustifiable in the ndiy-
idual shipper, however Illegal it may
be FOR the carrier which succumbs to
it. For this reason, the placing of the
shipper on Il legal par with the car
rier in respect TO penalties for viola
tion of the interstate commerce law is
certainly an equitable feature OF the
proposed amendments, AS TO the legal
izing of pooling, objection to it loses
point when power is given 10 the in
terstate commerce commission and
courts TO enforce published rates. With
this power exercised, pooling and joint
traffic associations become harmless so
far as the public is concerned and re-
main simply conveniences in the econ
critics.