The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-05
HILL ON COMBINES
Interesting Speech the Presi-
dent of the Great Northern.
DEFENSE OF RAILROAD RATES
How to sift the Trusts and Separate
the Good From the Bad
I. G. c. Opposed.

Chicago. June 81. ]. Hill made a great
speech at the dinner of the Illinois Manu-
facturers' association last night \
Trusts, as aggT egations Of capital, were
warmly defended by Mr.. Hill. He point
ed out that large amounts of capital were
needed in a country where such enormous
undertakings are carried out, and said
that the capital could more readily be
furnished by corporate. ownership than in
any other. way. He did not defend. how
ever, enterprises formed for specializing
in securities. He argued against the
granting of great power to the interstate
commerce commission that. exercises
jurisdiction over traffic among the states.
He declared that rates depended upon
conditions existing between the railroads
and other carriers, and the character of
the products transported and that the
rate charge dthose whose products are
transported should depend upon these
conditions. He said that railroads did
not charge more than a fair and reason
able rate for carrying products, and that,
considering the vast sums involved in the
construction and operation of the roads.
they should be allowed the right to earn
an amount sufficient to meet their inter-
est and dividend obligations. On this
point he said 49,.
Could the interstate commerce commission
be given rate-making power it would have
the country and over all interests depending
upon commerce. 1t is to be feared that evils
would result from the granting and exercise
of such power, compared with which the ex-
listing or alleged existing evils are as nothing.
" The. Public Lands.
Mr.. Hill referred to the rapid disap-
pearance of the public lands and to the
attempts by irrigation to bring new land
| into the market, He said: ~~.
/ cannot urge too strongly on the part of
| every man who wishes his country we'll, and
who desires that all shall be prosperous, in
! order that he himself may be prosperous
| with theni the Importance and the growing
| necessity of taking care Of our public do
| main in such a way as to preserve 1t for
| generations now unborn. r. .'...
| The United States has many social ques-
| tions to settle in the near future, and moth
| ing in this connection will take the place of
| its ability to provide good homes for those
! who desire to sit under their own vine and
| fig tree :.~. -. 49,. ~.
Land without population is a wilderness
and population without land is a mob. =.
| 81: Railway Importance. 49,
Considering the question from broad ma
| tional standpoint the next interest in i'm
portance to agriculture is the railway in
terest of the country The entire railway
growth is within the memory of men living.
| While the railways have to answer for many
mistakes of Judgment, or of intent, on the
whole the result has been to create the most
effective, useful, and by far, the cheapest
system of land transportation in the world
r. II these results have been accomplished
under all the changing conditions OF financial
| prosperity and adversely In the past thirty
| years, have we not, a nation, reason tc
rejoice in what has been accomplished rather
than to seek to destroy or appropriate the
means which have brought about these re-
suits? '.,r.f =" - ~ .,- ~. -.
49, Government Ownership.
Government ownership means the contro
and operation Of railways by government on
| cials. A mere statement Of the proposition
arouses in the mind Of almost every thought
full man the fear that such power would enc
in the destruction of the government itself.
Aside from all economic questions and the
increased cost to the public, either In direc
advance of rates or indirect cost of increased
taxation it would mean the political appoint
ment OF an additional million OF pubic ON
Gals and the exercise of power sufhclen
to imperil if not to destroy, free government
in the United States, ...---..,--7.
Competitions in Rates.
Competition in railway rates is either &C
tive or inactive. All railway rates are the
subject Of conference between the lines inter
ested, followed by an agreement as to rates
and the conditions Of the business Of thu
country demands that this course must al
ways be followed. All rates are by law mad
public, and whatever rate is adopted by on
road must be adopted by the others, or the!
will lose their share of the traffic. In th
there is no active competition. When com
; petition Is active, tariffs are disregarded ant
private rates are made to large shippers ant
} rebates paid, amounting, as has been pub
lished, to enormous sums in the yearly ag
} gregate. To prevent, this active. competition
both the federal government and the severa
states have enacted laws which have beer
dead letter on the statute books until pub
. lie opinion has demanded that the variou:
commissions take some action under the law
The recent activity of the interstate com
merce commission has resulted, believe, tt
q large extent in correcting this abuse, and