Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-05-24
6 GOVERN: q E / MEM CONTROL.
President Elliott, Of the Northern
Pacific, Says Arbitrary Rates
81 b, 4 Would Be Unwise. y 20

s4.:@ Would Be Unwise. q
Washington, May 2O.-Howard FL
lott, of St. Paul, president of the
Northern Pacific railway, and for
merly operating chief. Of the Burling-
ton system, said in part to-day in an
address before the senate committee
on interstate commences: =.
IT have been engaged In the railway BUSH
ness for nearly Is years in the Mississippi
and Missouri valleys and my remarks
VIII reflect the views formed during this
business experience by one who has always
tried to look at the whole subject Of the
government and the railways in reason
| able manner, not only as a railroad officer
ana employe and as a railroad owner In q
small way, but also as a citizen interested
In the general development OF the west
Ihefe are. of course, differences Of
OPINION about the relation Of rates as there
Will always be under any system. Railroad
business is conducted by human beings 1t
Is not conducted therefore with absolute
perfection In every detail. For the errors
made In the conduct of the enormous rail-
road business Of this country, the plan OF
control and management should not be con-
demned and dislocated any more than that
the general schemey OF our government
should be condemned because there are
frauds In the administration Of the land
and post Office departments and inetiicien-
'cies IN the administration OF the govern
ment in places.
"One hears much comment upon the fact
mat great fortunes have been made out Of
the railroad business and those who COM
ment name q small number of individuals
VINO through superior ability. energy, fore
sight and hard work have built up large
fortunes t TO
tunes have been made in the railroad busi-
ness. Not more so, however, than in the
| iron. coal, lumber and manufacturing lines
| OF commercial activity, il as much. These
fortunes are the capital prizes in the lot
terry OF life that arc open to every am
bltlous American But Of the great army
OF railroad owners, officers and employees.
Il very small proportion obtain more than
enough for their daily living, whatever
their position in society may be, and some
saving for old age and their children.
! There is an erroneous idea that rail-
road rates are fixed arbitrarily, and that q
few so-called railroad magnaies' fix and
control all Of the rates In the United States
and that their chief idea is to fix the n at
a high level Nothing can be farther from
me truth A railroad rate is the result OF
large number OF commercial and geo.
gfaphlc conditions and forces, working,
one upon the other; consultation betwe en-
shippers and railroads, between officers
a study or all the conditions surrounding
the problem. of the density OF volume OF
business, OF grades. engines, car supply.
and cost, and this process is going on
every day among thousands OF railroad cffi-
| GERS and shippers. -.
The present law grants ample power to
regulate, to say what is unfair and unjust,
| and if it We're enforced fairly and II the
power now in the hands of the interstate
commerce commission were used, much Of
the alleged popular demand for giving the
a fl1nJ to-
pear. 1t is question whether we are not
going even too far in the direction of regu-
| 4atln& for the best expansion of trade.
what are the remedies for the abuses
popularity charged to the railroads? In>my
Judgment they will correct themselves
through the good sense Of the American
friction of business. In addition to this the
interstate commerce law with it's amend
ments. provides ample machinery for COR
between Individuals If that law is ef-
fectively enforced it will drive out the few
remaining cases Of discrimination as to
railroad management, on the governmental
machinery and on the public generally
would be good if the principles of the inter-
state commerce law were applied to the
business. -.
THAT is to say, I would stop the making
OF preferential arrangements for the trans
portation Of passengers free CT at reduced
rates, because they occupy positions OF
| more or less power, responsibility or trust.
AS is Well known it is customary for OFF,
GERS OF the Observation-Disclosures cOun-
ty, state and federal-to ask for and to re-
ceive more or less transportation; and some
also for their families and friends. The
revenue involved in this practice is rela-
lively insignificant because the great bulk
Of this travel would not take place if a
free pass or reduced rate ticket were not
Most passes are given to the officers Of
the various governments as compliment
and not with the idea that any direct bene-
Mt is to be receiyed-possibly with the hope
IN some cases, that any unfair action with
In the power Of the receiver of the pass will
be postponed or prevented. In the long
run, however. the railroad owner, the gov
| would be in a better relation each to the
! other if this discrimination as to passen-
ger transportation were eliminated. Such
general public feel that the railroad was
not interfering improperly with politics,
and that it did not have something within
others in authority, that others did not
have.
THE attempt by the federal government
by the railroads of the United States will
be unfortunate for the country as whole.
1t Is un-American because it tends to SUBJ
3ect a large part of our citizens to an Geo.
nOmic restriction that does not apply to
those engaged in other classes of CONNER
cial. industrial and agricultural business
1t is unjust because such Il plan would ap-
ply to the large number of American people
engaged in the railroad business, q rule
not applicable to others.
1T is unnecessary because the develop
ment of the railroad business in this cour-
try has been such that we have the most
effective service as whole the lowest
rates, the highest wages and the most
progressive management of any country in
the world.
1T is .unwise because It would tend to q
complete and arbitrary Capitalization. Of
power IN the making Of rates for the entire
country.
''The course the commission would u,ti.
mately be forced into, and that every state
| commission is gradually being driven into.
would be to adopt mileage basis of rates.
The effect of such a basis on a country the
size Of the United States, with it's past his
palling to. one interested in the growth Of
| the United States. If in the beginning OF the
railroad and business development of the
/ country, rates had been fixed arbitrarily
on the basis of mileage. the states west
| Of the Mississippi river would still be thin
| " populated, with few railroads and little
business Of any kind. Inland critics with
| out access to water transportation would
not nave been built up and the, whole
| growth or the railroad and commercial sys-
tenn would have been different.
.'On mileage basis Of rates, the business
OF the commercial centcrs Of the states
west Of the Mississippi would be DESTROYED,
Cities on the oceans and great lakes would
have advantages, but the inland cities and
agricultural districts would dry up
Far better the few existing difficulties
than to turn to the rigid governmental plan
| of fixing railroad rates"
BITS ABOUT ANIMALS.
l J. RYNQ.