The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-26

Of all the statements made by Presi-
dent Hill in his testimony before the in
terstate commerce commission there is
not one which has the great significance
of the declaration of the witness that the
federal government should compel the
carriers to put reasonable rates in force
when necessary. Mr.. Hills language in
this matter is as follows: 1.-THE public is
entitled to a reasonable rate; that is the
law, and the common law, although l am
no lawyer, and the railroads from self
interest must grant it. If these
(reasonable) rates cannot be enforced,
the law should be fixed so that it can be
done"
This statement goes to the very pith Of
the prevailing controversy. If the men
and interests now engaged in fighting the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific
management We're, as they claim to be,
| animated only by desire to conserve
the public interest, their struggle would
not be to destroy the Northern Securities
company or to injure the Hill railroad
interests, or to preserve open competi-
ton among railroads. It would be direct
ed toward giving the federal commerce
commission the power to enforce reason
able and equitable charges by the car
riers
Congress has heretofore proceeded on
the fiction that competition will secure to
shippers the rights which they are en-
titled to, of reasonable and co-equal
charges. 1t has not so operated. Wheth-
er we accept as correct or not the repre-
sentation of Mr.. Hill that competition OPP
crates the other way, all experience
shows that unjust discrimination in favor
of big shippers like the packing concerns,
is or has been generally. prevalent
1t would matter very little indeed to
the shipping public what combinations
were organized among the several roads
if they had the assurance that the courts
would punish severely every infraction of
the law against unjust discrimination,
and would where rates that were not
reasonable were in existence, put in force
the rates which, on adequate inquiry,
were found to be such. With the power
ity to enforce reasonable rates and to
punish injustice in favor of any shipper,
| large or small, all that the hackers of
| the prevailing war on the Northern Sc
! curities concern profess to be anxious 10
| secure would be realized, SO far as hu-
man foresight could secure it's reaIiza-
| ten.
| 1t must come to this sooner or later.
| Competition is mere war. AS Mr. Hill
pointed out in his testimony, the carriers
cut each others hearts out in the wars
which they maintain among themselves
| from time to time, and then throw the
| burdens of such warfare on the shoulders
| Of the public they serve. Such evils as
this can be brought to a speedy ending
| when there is just and ample control ex-
ercised by public authority to enforce the
! twofold requirement of reasonable rates
| and no discrimination
1t is practically already determined that
Mr.. Mum and his associates have mis-
taken their remedy, even if they have
one. If they and those they represent are
willing to promote the public welfare
with reference to the common carriers
of the country they will just turn around
and cooperate with Mr. Hill and every
other intelligent railroad administrator
who believes as he does, and secure such
laws as will protect the people against
the rapacity of unconscionabIe railroad
management, and give them control over
the conduct of their own highways.