The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-20
TaE RaILNOAD. AND ,HE STATE.

TIE RaILnGAD, AND HE STATE.
With regard to the discussion between
Tho stanton News and The Times. con-
corning the State and the railroads, we
submit a few remarks in closing:
This question is very much broader
great national question, and we believe
that al; local interference here and there
simply complexities It and makes it worse
Railrcading in this country is compare
lively new. A short tiIne ago. COMPARE
lively speaking, there were no railroads
Il short time ago the railroads OF the
country were all operated as independent
lines and there was the greatest sort OIL
confusion and inconvenience In changing
cars whenever a passenger came to a
new line of road. But by degrees All
this was changed. Railroads began first
of al; to make closer connections. aud
then as this relationship grew closer cars
were r,;n from one line to another. BY
degrees these lines were merged and
brought under one management; ana
more recently practically all the railroad
lines In the country have been grouped
into a few great systems. Instead OF cut
throat competition. the railroad mana
gers decided that they would work har-
moniously together. And SO we have
\. hat is called community of interest
among the great railroad lines and sys-
tens Of the country. This community
of interest is now recognized principle
in the operation of railroads and its in.
1iuence is extending every day
Not long ago there was q great contest
between some Of the great railroad mag
I,ates of the country. involving the opera
yon of the Union Pacific. the BullinS-
ton. the Great Northern and the North
cr,u Pacific railroads 1t was terrible
fight for the control OF the Northern Pa
cific, and at one time it looked as though
there were to be disastrous consequences.
II did bring on a panic in Wall Street
arid give the financial world a severe
shock. But by and by Mr.. Hill and Mi.
hartman and other men concerned canle
10 an agreement and organized what Is
known as the Northern Securities Com
pany, to hold the stocks OF the competing
lines, and SO with the control of the
stocks the harmonious operation of III
lines in hitherto antagonism was as
sured.
But as soon as the organization Of this
company was announced the Governor
Of Minnesota came out in an intervi,
protesting against the contamination;
and, having induced other Governors to
join him, they set out TO make fight
on the Northern Securities Company.
They claimed that this was q defiance of
The antitrust laws of Minnesota and
other States in the West. and Northwest
and that it was an illegal corporation. a
test case was made up ami submitted,
under privilege, to the Supreme Court
Of the United States. The court has tn,
question under consideration and 1T is
supposed that n decision will be handed
down in the early future. There is nue.
.-uesswork us to what the court may do,
but the main point with those who look
below the surface is that whatever the
decision Of the court, the fact remains
that Mr. Hartman and MIR. Hill have
settled their differences and propose to
operate these roads upon the communitS
OF interest principle. Suppose the North
ern Securities Company is declared to be
illegal: Mr. Hill and Mr.. Hartman still
have in hand the stocks of these roads,
and they can own them and hold them
Independently of the Northern Securities
Company or any other company.
What does all this mean? 1t means
simply that the railroads of the country
have stopped fighting and that they are
getting closer ard closer together every
Sear and that by and by there will be
complete community of interest We be-
lieve that when this comes to pass there
will be uniform rate as far as it IS
practicable tc. make a uniform rate, and
that there will be no occasion FOR in
mont We believe that the natural laws
Of trade will assert themselves If let
alone. The Interstate Commerce Com
mission has been a failure. The mem
hers of that commission say that the
failure is due 20 the fact that the com
missioncrs have not sufficient authority
in law. We believe that the failure
would have been the same in any event
We believe that the greater the powers
The greater had been the failure,
CAPTAIN N'cARtHY'S LAST SPEC H.