davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25
CLEWS' LETTER IF
 WEEK ON STREET Quite Time That Cautionary Signals Were in Evidence TROUBLE IS INVERTED Prompt Action Prevented Bank Fail ures Being Felt-Securities Pushed to High Prices Cause
 Some Doubt.

New York, December 24-( Special )-It is quite time that cautionary signals were again in evidence. Recent bank difficult ties in Chicago are an intimation of what might be repeated elsewhere Serious trouble was only prevented in that in- stance by heroic action, the necessity for which showed the seriousness of the case The recently suspended Chicago institn- tions I fear are not the only ones which have been lending more freely to the large capitalists who dominate them than or dinary business prudence would permit. and unless something occurs to check this sort of extension of credits more trou- ble is likely to follow.
 Another source of doubt is the ex- trsmely high prices to which many secur- ities are being pushed. Bold speculators with unlimited capital behind them have been successful in forcing their favortes to unreasonably high levels. By means of adroit manipulation they have induced
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25
For the Round Trip
FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.

on presentation and surrender of cer- tiheates signed hy Superintendent or Principal of school or college to points off our line and in territory of South eastern Passenger Association or Central Passenger Association. Dates on sale December l6 to 2i, l9o5 Final limit Jam nary s. 19o6
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25

People Savings Bank and Trust oom- pany as to my honesty for my contracts
 Fully three fourths of my patients have been treated by some ons else before call lrV on me to be cured Why not come as soon as afflicted? You will save msney. distressing pain and valuabls time: be- sides there is satisfaction in knowing that the very best treatment Is being give, you by an honest. competent phy- vician I have treated private troubles ss a speciality in the city of Birmingham Ala. since August g. iss7. I cure all man. ner of private diseases. l cure many pa- tients by mail treatment W ite for prices and terms
 do not uss large advertisements and false statements to attract patients which merit has failed to secure. If you fall te bc cured by such methods. give mo cal and get well.
 My offices are the most private and quiet in the city. tenth story of the new First Ns,;onai Bank building corner of Second avenue and Twentieth street Rooms 1o0s and 1007. Take one of the fine si-vators n tenth floor.
 office hours: s:s1 a n te e:o - Sunday, 10 a. m to U -.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25

Merit is the foundation of success. GOLDEN CREAM whisky has the merit.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25
Schooner is Stranded.

Cape Henry, Va. December 24.-The schooner E. H. Moore, bound from Nor folk to Wearneck, Gloucester county. Va, with cargo of tile and shingles, stranded this morning one mile south of Little Island life station, the men at tached to which saved the crew. The vessel will be a total loss.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25
Smashcs Window, Seizes Jewclry.

New York December 24-Fo"~ thous- and dollars worth of antique jewelry, in cluding diamonds. emeralds. rubies. to- pages and pearls, were stolen early today from the show window of firm of deal CTS in antauities at 252 Firth avenue. The thief smashed the window and seized a jewel box in which the missing jewels were exhibited
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25
When it's bad it's very bad But when it's good it's Am brosia."
The acme of indulgent cempanienshlp is GOLDEN CREAM whisky. Sold in all first class bars, cafes and drug stores.
TO MERCHANTS.

Effective Wednesday, Nov. 18th, 1O:25 a. n. Bessemer freight train will go to Bes- sener via South Bessemer liue and return via Nor th Bessemer line.
 Birmingham Railway, Light
 & Power Co
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25

There's nothing more ap- propriate for a Christmas gift than a membership in the Y. M. c. A.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25
Christmas

 in andru in its
  grow old?
  of dread
  where the 
  It 
  sleep
 
   children with childish told Christ and Is from
  With the struggling to master himself midst the crcng gloom self within, 
  
     Calm while  of 
  thought within tears  a a rath and the These have called ears wayw children return from the Back to hought O Heave .eachh And. brings Is le an f Mann of endl in the seasons romd fonts faih-coniton- our errors lead on to ascension mount
   And wa of on I hu the hearke Shunv tis Q  the God e For each, O the worlds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-25
DIR. Y. E. HOLLOWAY
 SPECIALIST
 PRIVATE DISEASES,


 you a perma- nent cure Of rivate troubles and that you may know my guarantee is re- fable l refer you with per- mission, to the First National aank, Alabama \ a tional bank, steiner Brcth- rs. bankera J Yerson Coun- " 8 av n ' . bank and the
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12

to pay the established rates. All the
large shippers of freight had their high
salaried traffic directors as well as the
railroads and the rates which such ship
pers paid were not determined by the
schedule, but bargaining between the high
salaried traffic directors Of the shippers
and the high-salaried traffic directors of
the company
That it does not require high priced,
exact knowledge to make a schedule of
square rule rates is conclusively proven
by the fact that fourteen years ago the
railway commission of Iowa, consisting of
unskilled men, each drawing a salary of
about 5000 per annum, in a few months
time, mostly In hearing the protests of the
railway company. made a square rule
schedule of rates for Iowa; and In the
same year the commissioners of Illinois,
composed also of unskilled men, made a
square rule schedule of state rates for
Illinois, both of which schedules have been
used during those years and practically
without change.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12

many millions without consulting eminent
constitutional lawyers.
Mr.. Corbin's accidental death while the
free port bills were pending in congress
frustrated the enterprise, which l feel sure
win be revived at no distant day by the
capitalists who obtained control of the
Long Island railroad and acquired title to
his Fort Pond Bay interests.
Transportation" says the Massachu-
settles statesman, us one branch of COM
merce as buying and selling OF products is
another Both may be regulated by the
national government but neither carried on
by it,"
As a matter Of fact railroads have been
constructed, owned and operated by the
several states and the United States gov
ornment; and this relates not only to
railroads within the United States, but
also without. The United States at present
owns and operates the Panama railroad and
proposes to own and operate an inter-
oceanic canal II congress can delegate
the power 10 operate the Panama railroad
and fix the charges thereon and TO con-
struct and operate the Panama canal and
fix charges thereon to the isthmian
canal commission, it can certainly dele
gate the rate making power TO the Inter-
state Commerce commission.
A much less eminent but more preten-
tious champion Of the let-alone policy who
has projected himself into the arena as a
disinterested guide, philosopher and friend,
is Hugo r. Myer assistant professor OF
political economy Of the University Of Chi
cago, who involuntariy, as It were, invited
himself before the interstate commerce
committee OF the senate TO enlighten that
body with regard to its duties in the pres
ent emergency, and has supplemented his
entirely disinterested efforts 20 stem the
tide Of popular sentiment In favor Of ma
tional railway supervision and regulation
by a book which is being widely circulated
regardless OF expense by the literary bu-
reau Of the railroads.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12

Passing from railroad presidents TO
railroad attorneys Mr. Walker d. Hines,
general attorney of the Louisville
d Nashville railroad, declares that
the Roosevelt regulation plan gives
the commission the general nate
making power just as fully, for practical
purposes, and just as free from judicial
review as 1t is possible to imagine In
point of fact, the only thing more radical
than this bill that could be enacted would
be to provide for government ownership of
the railroads. Mr. Hines feels sure that
the owners of the railroads would, so far
as their pecuniary interests in the railroads
is concerned, welcome government owner
ship with the resulting substitution of
government securities in return for their
present railroad holdings at a fair valu-
alton, in place of continuing TO hold their
property, subject to the regulation of the
interstate commerce commission taking ef-
feet and prior to any judicial review.
1 feel sure no rational advocate of rail-
road regulation will disagree with Mr..
Hines. With the speculative features elm
mated from the capitalization, con-
struction and operation of the rail-
roads, with government supervision that
would stop profit sharing with
side partners through rebates, private car
lines and sleeping car lines, there would
be no incentive for the captains of industry
to continue in the railroad business. They
would doubtless cheerfully exchange their
securities for government bonds and en-
ploy their capital and genius in enter
prises that offer opportunity for unrestricted
high finance.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12

expert knowledge of railway management
and railway operation i'm Germany was de-
rived not from personal observation or in
quiry abroad. but from books and stats
tics. In other words, Prof. Myer did not
come in contact with the shippers and pro-
ducers of Germany or the railroad EN-
ployes, nor does he take into account the
fact that all the European railroads. bar
ring Russia, would be counted as short
haul lines in the United States, while his
comparison OF European short-haul ton
mage rates is made with the long-hau tom
mage rates in America, whereas they should
have been compared with the short-haul
rates of America, which are two and three
times as high west of the Mississippi, at
least as those Of Germany, France, Bel
GUM, Switzerland or Austria.
Professor Myer also seemed to be oblvi-
Gus Of the fact that government owned
railroads Of Europe carry free the malls
and postal packages, the munitions Of war,
the troops, the army and navy supplies and
civil officers travelling on government bust
ness, whereas in the United States more
than $4O,OOOOOO are paid to the railroads
for carrying the mails and 500 10000 at
least, paid by the people for express ser
vice, which in Europe is carried as part
Of the mail service at a nominal price,
and besides this the United States pays
many millions for the transportation OF
troops, army, navy and Indian supplies,
and transportation Of federal employees ana
officials.
But there are none so blind as those who
will not see and Professor Myer appears to
be afflicted with the same color-blindness
that distressingly beclOuds the visions OF
so many favored shippers railway lawyers,
subsidized editors and even men Of the
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12
Confusing the Issue,

Mr.. Olney's contention is that railroads
operated by private corporations may make
differentials between the different ports
so as to equalize carriers charges that will
enable the producers in the interior to
ship their products to the best port by the
shortest and cheapest route, while con-
gressional rate making would eventually
result in the adoption Of a mileage basis and
some Of the ports on the Atlantic sea
board would be injuriously affected.
This is simply confusing the issue in order
to justify railroad discrimination through
arbitrary differentials. Mr. Olney's con-
tention is tantamount to the assertion
that the railroads might circumvent the
constitutional provision against discrimin-
ating between ports so long as they are
not controlled by congress, but the moment
they are so controlled the equality between
the ports must be maintained.
Perhaps Mr.. Olney is not aware Of the
fact that bills establishing a free port at
Fort Pond Bay, J.. l., were introduced I'm
1894 in the Senate by Senator Chandler
(senate bill No. 1880 and again by Senator
Fry in 1895 and 1895 (senate bill No. SGD,
and also in the house by Representative
A. c. Mccormick. Chouse bill No. $3.50.
These bills were designed to establish an
international clearing house at Fort Pond
Bay in which goods shipped from one
country TO another mot in the United
States) could be landed and reshipped 70
foreign countries without the payment OF
the customs duties or inspection by Gus
toms officials.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12
states Make Rates Now.

Precisely. Railroad rate making by the
several states has been going on with the
sanction of the state and federal courts for
more than twenty-five years, and no court
has yet pronounced 1t unconstitutional
Even in the famous Nebraska maximum
rate case the supreme court of the United
States affirmed the right to establish maxi
mum rates by law, and simply declared the
rate established by the Nebraska legisla-
ture of 1893 unreasonable under the condi-
lions then existing, viz, tremendous
shrinkage in the volume of traffic by rea
son of general business depression and sue
cessive drouths.
Mr.. olney's most subtle argument against
national railway regulation is that 1t would
be in violation of Article 1 of the United
States constitution, which reads as fol-
lows:
mo preference shall be given by anv
regulation of commerce or revenue to the
the ports OF one state over those of an
other"
This provision is tortured by Mr.. Olney
into prohibition OF preferential rates
Tor transportation by railway between any
OF the ports of the United States In other
words, prohibition of lower railroad rates
from interior points to any of the ports
on the Atlantic sea board or the Mexican
gulf, regardless of distance.
In this Interpretation of the intent and
meaning of Article 1 Of the constitution
Mr.. Olney comes into violent collision with
James Madison, one Of the trainers and
historian Of the constitution, who declared
that the main purpose of this clause was
TO abolish certain intolerable determinations
In the nature Of regulations imposed by
the states upon the domestic and foreign
commerce of the country
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12
An Example in Point.

Here is an example of only one schedule
of rates made by state commissioner, COW
ering two great states, having more juno
tons and competitive points than any other
equal area in the world, which has been
satisfactory and without change for more
than fourteen consecutive years, while on
the other hand the interstate schedules
made by traffic experts, under the stress Of
competition and the desire on the part of
each to gain some advantage over the
other which affected the interstate traffic
Of the same two states, have been changed
during the same time by filing with the
Interstate Commerce commission prob
ably not less than 5000 or 10000 schedules
The superiority of the commissioners
schedules is not alone in the matter of
stability. The schedules made by the COM
missioners are in such form that man
Of ordinary understanding, by inspection
OF the schedules, can determine for himself
any rate he may desire. On the other
hand, the interstate schedules made by
the traffic officers are in such form and
fashion that no ordinary man can by in
spection ascertain any rate. Based on the
experience of Iowa and Illinois It would
seem proven that the making of a
schedule Of rates is a task which the COM
mission can thoroughly accomplish. This
is the testimony of one of the most ex-
perienced railway managers in the great
west
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12
Not n ReactIonary Movement.

Mr.. Parry has given 1t out that this is a
reactionary movement toward populism
and free silverF" Now, so far as / am con-
cerned, / have never been charged as
being partial to free silver, but 1 want to
remind you that there is something worse
than popullsm and that It is railroad rule
(Applause) We of Nebraska have wres-
tied with IL for twenty-five or thirty years
Back in the seventies we had Jay Gould
and Sidney Dillon, then president of the
Union Pacific. come to the state capital to
dominate republican state convention. a
large majority of whose delegates was
against them when it convened, but after
four days of siege they had to capitulate
TO the magnetic influence of DOODLE I
would rather submit to anything and am
willing even to be called a populist and
advocate of free silver than to submit TO
the tyrannical and demoralizlng domination
Of railroads. (ApplauseD
A Noice-Can / ask a question?
Mr.. Rosewater-Yes.
The Voice-Is not government of rail-
roads far preferable to the government
being controlled by the railroads?
Mr.. Rosewater-Yes. We are presumed
10 have a government for the people, by
the people, but popular self-government is
a farce so long as the government ma
chinery is controlled by the corporations.
II is simply a providential incident that
the White House is occupied by man
who is an American through and through.
lie Is OF the people and for the people, and
we have 1t in our power. so long as we
have him In the White House. to resist
the pressure brought by giant corpora
tons
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12

complaint nor has there been for long time
any complaint with regard to rates that are
excessive. What agitation has been had
on that subject is facetious and fictitious
absolutely. 1t has been promoted by in
terested parties. and 1t is very easy TO
see who those interested parties are, aside
from the commission.
Take the case of a middle MAINLAND all
shippers are mddle-men-who has what
he claims is an over-charge. He makes his
claim against the railroad company; at the
same time he sells his goods, adds the
amount of his freight bill upon the selling
price Of his goods; that combined amount
is passed on to the wholesale merchant,
and then 1t is passed on with his profit
added) to the retailer, and from the re-
taller with his profits added, it is passed
on to the final consumer. The fellow who
eats the loaf OF bread made from the flour
manufactured from the wheat is the fellow
who pays the unjust charge that has been
made for the carriage Of wheat from South
Dakota to Pillsburys mill at Minneapolis
but who ever heard Of one of these middle
men, when he RECEIVERS the amount OF his
overcharge, returning one dollar of II to
the fellow to whom he sold the -four OF to
the man who ate the bread made from
the four?"
This is precisely where the shoe pinches
II the railroads have their way the COM
mission will not be empowered to enforce
its orders where it finds rate excessive
but it's decision must be reviewed first
by the courts and it may take from. two
to five years before the courts render fina
decision. In the meantime, what becomes
Of the fellow who ate the bread made. from
-four that paid the excessive rate charged
to the middlemen, the wholesale and retail
merchants who added the excessive freight
rate to the cost Of the -four? If the plan
proposed by President Roosevelt, that ar
excessive charge shall be reduced by the
commission and the new rate shall immedi'
ately go into effect, is adopted the middle
men will not be compelled to pay the ex
cessive charge and the man who eats the
bread will have the benefit Of the reduction
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12
ReruIntion NothInR Nov.

The Fort Pond Bay free port was de-
signed 20 also become the terminus Of
the shortest steamship line between the
United States and England and would have
given New York an extraordinary advan-
taEe over other ports on the Atlantic sea-
board. The project was financed by the
late Austin Corbin, a very able American
hnancier. and IL stands TO reason that
Mr. COrbin would not have ventured upon
an enterprise that involved an outlay Of
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12
Too Much Pressure for Rebates.

Discussing the question of rebates, Mr..
Hines says: His BILL by authoriz-
ing the commission to prescribe specific
rates, which cannot be departed from
without application to the commission, is
going to encourage secret rebates. because
when commercial conditions necessitate
speedy reduction in specific rates estab-
lished by the commission, 1t will be Inn
possible to get the necessary instruction
and action by the commission in time TO
meet the exigencies of the occasion, and
this condition will constitute an almost
overwhelming temptation to the railroads
to violate the mandate of the law, that
the rate fixed by the commission must be
observed until changed by the commission
and to make secret reductions :rom such
rate for the purpose Of meeting the i'm
mediate necessities of commerce."
Mr.. Hines is evidently familiar with the
natural propensites of the average
railroad traffic manager. He knows
that he cannot withstand the tempta-
ton TO give rebates to friendly In
dams of the commercial clubs, just as
matter Of habit. Why the railroads should
object to a law that will enable them to
excuse rebates on the ground OF inability
to resist temptation is inexplicable; and,
concluding his analytical pamphlet Mr..
Hines declares the present bill simply
meant to throw aside the reasonable, well
defined system which now exists, and
which is not shown to be insufficient, and
to substitute for it a series of the most
remarkable Innovations many and perhaps
all Of which will call for judicial construc-
ton and to put the whole question OF
regulating interstate commerce into uncer-
tainty for another series Of years, pending
final judicial determination of the status
OF the new legislation.
Such a state Of uncertainty was, OF
course, to have been expected. 1t was fore
ordained, but inasmuch as the railroads
have their lawyers by the year, the
amounts set aside for their legal depart
ment viii not have to be materially in
creased.
Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-12
Roosevets Railway POICy-Address Of Edward
W ::===== Rosewater at Chicago Rate Conference

H=zsE=9 it afforded me an opportunity
to meet the pioneers in the movement foe
the government regulation and control of
railways. CApplause).
l rejoice at the positive stand that has
been taken by this convention to uphold the
hands OF President Roosevelt. Two weeks
ago had conference with the president
on this very subject, and he expressed
very great anxiety that this convention do
Alright. He expressed himself as thoroughly
convinced that the course he had outlined
for himself was In the interest of the
American people and he proposed to stand
on that line until the object for which we
are all battling has been achieved. (Ap-
plause).
II Is a common adage that those whom
the gods wish TO destroy they first make
mad. and It does seem to me that the rail-
way corporations in undertaking to pack
this convention in order 10 break It up,
have made the most colossal blunder they
have ever made In the great contest that
has been going on for the past thirty years.
(Applause).
l have been through this conflict since It's
inception, and have never seen them COM
nit a greater blunder. This convention has
successfully parted the blows and bluffs
Of the Parry organization Qaughter) and
II is capable Of carrying out it's intention,
no matter what the consequences may be.
Individually or collectively, we may draw
upon ourselves the III will and enmity of
the railroad corporations, but l feel sure
the time will come eventually when the
railroads will realize that they have been
their own greatest enemies in opposing
this movement.