Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-08
LAWFUL AND UNLAWFUL coMBl
NATIONS.

Dir. Eyarett Hale, the venerable
author and lecturer made statement
8 day or two ago that is full OF sig
nifcance and awakens thought He
said Il can remember the time when
I used to change cars half dozen
times and ride across town from sta
ton to station in going by rail from
Albany to Niagara Falls. Now. | get
on the train at Boston, and ride right
through to Chicago and | thank God
that there is a railroad combination
that enables me to do it. Years ago
such thing as railroad combination
was discountcnanced.
DR.. Hale's observations should be
thoughtf,llly and conseryatively con-
sidered. The tendency Of railroad cor
porations is toward gaining all the ad-
vantages to themselves that is posi-
BILE in combinations and this has been
curbed by law so as to prevent IL
{. justice to the public. State legislation
has been deemed necessary as well
as the federal regulations relating TO
Interstate commerce, yet it is true as
suggested by Dr. Hale that certain
railroad combinations that facilitate
rapid transit should be regarded as
public benefactions. Under the pres
ent growth and development OF rail-
road enterprises, combinations are
necessary in order to effect beneficial
results. The business of the country
has expanded to such an extent that
public carriers were compelled to en-
& ter into arrangements that would en-
able them to use their great equip
ments to the best advantage, SO as to
meet the demands of an enlarged
commerce. Each of these forces have
stimulated the other. The develop
nlent of the resources of the country
has prompted railroad building and in
turn has increased railroad facilities
and built up and created new
fields of industry and production. The
building of continental lines of rail
way from ocean to ocean, aided and
fostered at the beginning by govern
iiiaiit grants, opened up new regions in
the far west that could not have been
developed within a few short years,
except by railroads. James ]. Hill
has recently made statement as to
what was achieved by the lines of his
Pacific road which was built without
subsidies and against competition. In
some instances the railroad company
Z
inaugurating industries to develop the
resources of the new country, and this
liberal policy has well repaid the out
lay made by the corporation. The
present great rush to the comparative
ly new state of Washington by home
seekers, would not have been possible
had not the railroads from the east
penetrated that region and made the
way clear and easy for emigrants.
1t is we'll to take all these things IN
to consideration in connection with
the railroads and their alleged com
binations.
A conservative view is a view Of all
sides with a disposition to ask no more
than justice for all parties. In fact
there should be no conflict between
the roads and the public, il the former
serve the public at fair rate OF com
pensation without discriminating il
favor of. or against any class of pat
rons. 1t has been demonstrated time
and again that legislation is an avail
able and efIicacious way of preventing
determinations and il the pres
ent laws fail in execution it is within
the power of the people to apply tht
+ remedy.
49, The observations OF DR.. Hale ant
the comments here offered are to i'm
ply that there should be proper con
sideration given to the enterprises
whatever they may be chat are law
{ ful). that result in public benefits. 4
combination that works public injury
is unlawful and immoral.
Combinations or conspiracies to ad-
vance prices and thus interfere witt
legitimate and wholesome competition
are certainly injurious to the public
and vicious in all their tendencies.