The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-10
RAILROAD NEWS.
Effort to Settle Grain Rate
War Fails.
Long and Bitter Fight Is Now
Expected.
LOW RATE INJURIOUS.
Railway Age Says Present Con-
diti0ns Hurt Country.
Northwestern Insists Upon Its
Low Rate via Omaha.
OW RATE INJURIOUS.

Chicago. Ill. Feb. 10.-The efforts
which the executive officials have made
to end the western grain rate war have
proved unavailing. After wrestling
with the problem yesterday the COM
mittee appointed to try to effect a, set
Element abandoned the attempt, and it
is confidently expected that the most
disastrous rate war of years will fol-
low. Failure to end the war was due
to the Northwestern's refusal to recede
from the position it had taken and
declaration on its part that it would
persist to the end in preserving an adj
5ustment of rates through Omaha
which would enable the company to
haul grain originating on it's lines west
of Omaha through to Chicago instead
of dumping it into Omaha, there to be
competed for by all lines.
In commenting on the existing con-
ditions, the Railway Age. published at
Chicago. sets forth some reasons why
the grain rate war is a bad thing for
the people who get the benefit of the
rate. Most people, however, Will take
the cut-rates when they come along.
and not worry much about possible in
direct injury. The Railway Age says:
Not a few writer's in the daily press
are rejoicing over the condition in grain
rates which has been precipitated by
the action Of the Great Western railway
in connection with its Omaha business.
They seem to have an idea that any
thing which tends to reduce the amount
paid by the public for transportation of
any commodity constitutes a benefit to
the public In like degree. The question
of whether such rates result in profit or
loss to the railroads is considered as of
no Importance to any one but the rail-
roads, and if the railroads are foolish
enough to do business at less than cost
II Is no concern of theirs. No greater
mistake was ever made either by or on
behalf of the public. In the final analy-
sis of all railroad operation, the cost
OF transportation falls upon the pubic,
and if one portion of the body polite
is served at less than cost, the other is
obliged to make it up. Beyond and more
important than this is the matter of
efficiency or quality or service. 1t is
automatic that, in the absence Of reve-
nue. improvements cease. Instead,
therefore, of such a rate war as is now
being Waged on grain being public
benefit, 1t is a positive detriment.
THE basic principle of the act to
regulate commerce is non-discrimina-
ton as between persons and places
The normal rates established practical
IL all over the United States are the
expression Of an adjustment arrived at
through years of study and experiment,
and constitute a fair appOTtionment
of the burden of Transports ton
throughout the country. To upset his
adjustment at the instance or choice
Of any individual should constitute an
offense " hitch, unless justified in court,
should be severely penalized. Sooner
or later it will come to be understood
that the term reasonable rate means
a rate that affords a reasonable service
for a reasonable remuneration. To give
the people anything in the way Of
service less than the best is unreason-
able; to charge them an excessive price
for it is also unreasonable. while to
compel them to accept less than cost
is equally Sc. 1t is against all these
forms of unreasonab Ieness that the
law should be directed. to the end that