The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-03
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Of the commission itself and the soos., Il
truth is known, and Us gravity appreeiated sar
better for the country Il.
Mr. Prouty makes very important sbnvs4ee
in pointing out the changed methods 81 H. !. IL
roads The interstate commission had for 4. III
It's primary objects the prevention Of ussl,
discrimination in rates. Mr. Prouty can, ~
tention 70 the fact that Discrimination has o,l.
tically disappeared not 50 much because 81 MI
laws enacted against IL and the Commission ,.4as
ated to enforce the laws, as because Of de M.
tensivs consolidation Of railroads These Iii
solidations, II some instances amounting to lie
aopohes and in their complete combination fcryws
ing sort Of quasi-monopoly, have worked *,
tremendously that the policy now is 10 n..fu
tain e&toruonate rates not to make low rates y
secure traffic The results Of this policy M
seen IN the stock quotations Almost every n ]
railroad has increased enormously abnormags
IN fact, in Its stock valuation since this syst.s
has been in force In the case OF the Pkia'li
delphia and Reading road which has rnonoD{p
on the anthracite coal product. the cost Of aane
coal 70 the consumer has increased 81 per tvxl
the net earnings Of the road have incressin
about fifty millions per year and the stock II.
the read about 900 per cent All these gshi
come out OF the helpless consumer g
This is only an extreme instance Of the wofsS,
ings Of the extortiouate rate system. But Nls
Prouty does not acknowledge the futility Of aSi
present laws to deal with the situation Withheld.
proposing remedy He declares that the couHIr
have fully established the fact that the railrosad
being creations Of the public are liable to legsn
lative regulation; that 1t has been establisAsa,
through many decisions. that legislature acl
regulate rates, many States having already fan,,,
maximum charges on leading commodities hsnsrr
ported within their borders He favors the sil
poinment OF 4 Federal commission for the s,s
pervision Of complaints against the failfoadit
and the establishment Of a new Federal eoMe
70 be known as the court Of commerce, TO whts
the decisions OF the commission may be appesd.ge
Both OF these special institutions are justified hn
Mr. Prouty on the double ground that the ooui
already in operation are fully occupied ard ,El.'
these questions demand persons OF expert knoslk
edge to deal with theu-a knowledge that ~
regular law courts do not possess
Whether this suggestion is sound or not VIII
be determined, OF course If Il comes Up for pft
ucal consideration but the fact remains tat
something mist be done to curb the greed oftst
railroads. his county has been eonspicuou:y
generous with the big railway companies. Vslstt
able concessions have been made Euormoa'
privileges have been granted Every encoursst.
menJ that Federal government could reasonas%
give to these great agencies OF material growth st
National development has been given Il is nss
time that restrictive measures should be appitl,
The system OF robbery that has been going 4!
has fostered the spirit of public ownership sgsiHS
the taste and the judgment Of ths people, al
if other means is found 70 secure reasssS
able treatment from the railroads this sertimsit
will continue 10 grow. And If the railroads Ed
do become public property, they viii not be tass
in on the basis Of watered stock either II sd
be hoped, Of course, that effective measures nJ
be devised to make such an extreme course u
necessary. But these measures will have 10 Il
enforced. The spirit Of greed is on the IaR'
Concessions TO the public in thes. days are th@s
which the public eompels, not those that the eli
porations voluntarily yield