The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-09
9aiirr-es.l9s| 80 EaaIc
M. M. MURDOCH, Editor. .
GOING AFTER THE REsATER.

GOING AFTER THE REBATEk
If there is greater question than imposts in this
country it that transportation charges The west
has long struggled with the problem, and with sue
cess Now the east is getting hold of the subject and
with powerful protest the government at Wash
ington stirred investigation and through
MI Knox the administration does hesitate to make
certain strong declarations.
But Attorney General in dealing with the rebate
as the has only scratched the surface OF
this complex question The rebate is not the only evil
feature everybody in the understands Discrlm
iration is not only against individuals; it is
used fagrany against whole communities of individuals
The government go into this question will
find that its investigations and consequent corrections
extend for half century more and will OF neces-
sity, reach into every branch Of raroading.
1t is to be no easy or speedy solution all events. It
something that the east has awakened Its protest
will bear fruit even if long delayed.
AS an instance the new-found intensity of eastern
papers the following the Cleveland Leader is
liz point The Leader is just intense western
paper has been. 1t says:
The Interstate Commerce Commission is still urging
congress its powers and pointing to the motor
ious existence fragrant abuses the business of the
common carriers the evidence that its
present authority is inadequate to the needs of the coun
try The railroads object of to increase in
the power the commission and maintain that the
chinery now provided the correction of which
may be found transportation business of the
try, is ample.
II may be that the Interstate Commerce Commission
is not right body be entrusted with the larger
authority which it asks but there is room for doubt
railways need thorough regulation and their
patrons protection against injustice Discrimina
ton extoron both in the transportation
merchandise and both evils of the first magnitude
may be growing but the second is
becoming more common and formidable.
certain that the general raising Of wages by
the great railroads United States be made the
pretext for advance in fregh rates which will far
than Offset the increased pay rolls. The salaries
and wages paid by railways only factor in the
operation and if increase of 10 per cent
in the distributed to employees is to be made the
advance Of 10 Is per cent in charges to
shippers the railways will profit immensely by their
seeming liberaty. The public will pay the bills with
good deal left for dividends.
But discrimination between shippers remains the
chief crime of the carriers. It has to be
sidered carefully be realized in its full wickedness.
Let any young striving to build up business have
his choice between being smothered commercially, by
derental freight conceded secretly his rivals
being robbed of his watch and money his pockets
dark night, by highwaymen, and he would
hesitate take the latter evil the less of the
victim of lawbreakng ought to be fairly good judge of
the degree Of evil lin it.
When it is kept in mind that railways exist because
they endowed with the right of eminent domain a
right of the state in all lands clear that their refusal
to give all equal terms customers and make the
for everybody, is equivalent to using the
power of the to crush merchants and
producers and enrich Others 1t is kind of oppression
in despotisms where tyrants part of their
subjects the wealth of Others in favor at
court
This evil of railroad injustice will not down. 1t can
not be CLOSED put aside permanently Human
nature protests and the carrying corporations
will have TO to better of conductingsher
business else it taken from them more or less
completely, by the governemnt.