The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-04-04
Trusts and Railways.

THE story of the Standard Oil com
pany by Miss Ida Tarbell. nov
running in McClure's Magazine. il
the most scathing indictment of tn,
industrial trust that has yet appeared
IN print. 1t describes the merciless way
III which the smaller fry were crushed
OUT, OF existence by the octopus, anC
proves every charge alleged by affida.
WIS and extracts from official records
NO man worthy of the name of Chris
tian could be guilty of such infamous
practices, and John D. Rockefeller
must stand pilloried for all time as the
most Inscriptions oppressor of the
widow and the orphan who has yet
cum pered the earth. Guilty of one of
the sins that cry to heaven for ven
seance, he continues to pose as a god
~ philanthropist and a devout mem
Der of a Christian sect that is eternally
olsgraced by permitting him to retain
his membership in it.
1t was not the force of legitimate
business competition that gave the
standard Oil company its advantage.
but foul conspiracy entered into by
It's founder with the railways and pipe
line companies whereby the trust was
granted transportation rates so much
below those quoted to its rivals that
they could not compete in any open.
market. This outrageous infringement
upon the rights of the people by railway
companies, that can only be created
and continue to exist by license of the
people and the state, calls for the stern
est measures. Conf1scation by the state
would be none too severe a punishment
Freight and passenger rates should be
the same to all. They should be put on
the same basis as the postal service. 1t
costs the~S Standard Oil company Just as
much to mail letter as it does John
smith of Murray. and both should be
charged the same freight rate by public
corporations which exist on sufferance.
The private individual who engages
In business in competition on even
terms with his fellows has, of course.
the right to charge what he chooses
ana do what he pleaseS with his goods. |
such advantages as he may gain will
be due to his superior ability and care |
tul attention to business. But with a
railway company it is different. To be- !
gin with, the railway could not be built |
being granted by the state the |
power to take such lands as may be
necessary for its right of way; that is.
% exercise as far as necessary the su-
'reme right of eminent domain which
belongs to the sovereign people of the
and. The people part with portion of
heir liberty and their natural rights
o enable the railway to come into be-
ng, and the creature of their creation
las no legal or moral right to turn
Ipon and rend them. In spite of all
MS there is in practice, as we who live
n the west know only too well. no
quitable basis upon which TRANSPORTS
ion charges are fixed. The only sched-
lie the railways have is, "AH the traffic
7ill bear"
Government ownership of natural
lonopolies is far removed from social
SIN. There is no good reason why the Il
overnment could not conduct the !
business as well as it
manages the postal service Even If
ne government could not do it as eco
omicaily as the private corporations, {
would be better to pay a little more
nd give every citizen an even chance
IAN to continue system which rem ,
ers possible the existence of such a {
1rse as the Standard Oil company has s
roved to be. {