Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-01
Our LETTER BOX.

/ letter from one Walter Breen in The Bee
/ criticising my statement as to the contrast
between railroads in this country and in
! Euro.e.
have no acquaintance with this CORES
| pendent and do not know his business, or
| what opportunities he may have had to
| compare by observation the different rail-
roads OF the world. He may or may not
have Travelled In foreign lands. but II he
has and has seen with no better discrimina-
ton than he reads, his evidence Is of
little worth l commend to him more
thorough course in English before he at
tempts to criticise
He says make an important gross mis-
| statement" in the assertion that state
owned railways in Europe pay no taxes
l made no such statement, for in some, but
extremely few foreign lands, the govern
ment does pay local or municipal taxes and
in all others II does not.
The sum mentioned by this correspondent
as having been paid into the national treas
ury In Prussia does not go, TO the extent
! of q single copper to pay local or NUM-
cipal taxes. The amount thus paid shows
the profit I'm the operation Of the roads
| and this is reached by reason of the high
rates charged and the small wages paid;
for while German rates are the lowest in
Europe. they are considerably higher than
"a to $3.50 per hundred mile service, on an
average throughout the United States. in
Germany they get but $3.50, and all other
railroad expense, constructive and opera
tive, Is in about the same proportion. With
the highest wages paid anywhere, American
| railways afford the best service and give
the lowest rates.
My comment upon foreign roads was that
they gave poor service for both passengers
and freight and that first class accommoda-
lions did not equal ours in any respect and
were charged for at much higher rates.
The American who travels abroad is in a
constant state of evaporation at the treat
ment of himself, the utter disregard for his
comfort, the lack of care for his baggage
and the discourtesy Of railroad attendants;
especially from the public officials OF gov
ernment-owned railroads the hands of
every OF them outstretched for the
tip bride that is the additional charge
for every courtesy or comfort Imagine
} offering a gratuity TO a railroad conductor
in this country for the privilege of getting
} a seat already paid for, and another to
an American station master for seeing that
ones trunk is placed upon the train without
; check or receipt. 1 have just received a
I letter from an intelligent gentlemen. well
known in Omaha and an extensive and ex-
perienced traveller, in which he says:
; Looking after baggage and finding de-
finite seats in the railroad trains is max
ing me prematurely gray"
! The balderdash in Mr.. Breen's communi-
I cation about the nonpayment OF taxes needs
no comment other than to say that the
facts will be conclusively proven in the
causes now pending in the courts that the
: railroads OF Nebraska, which In fat and
lean years have always promptly paid their
y sessed with even the least semblance OF
n fairness, are now assessed far. very far, be-
Q yond their value as compared with all other
S taxable property in the state. They have
= neither been concealers and coverers of tax.
able property nor shirkers OF payment, but
have poured into municipal, county and
: state treasures sums that stagger belief
h and II is their contribution. annually made
e far beyond their fair proportion, that hai
7, prevented bankruptcy and reputation by
l. the state.
d The point made in my former interview
l. which your correspondent in his haste &c
e rush into print seems to have overlooked. Il
t my suggestion that II the United States
h should own the railroads not a single dollar
# would be paid, nor could It be paid foi
n city, county and state purposes. and the en-
is tire burden of local government would fall
r upon other property. 1 do not believe tn,
& taxpayers of Nebraska are ready for that
II The question of the means of acquiring
st this railroad property, all of which is pri
l. vately owned by hundreds OF thousands o
Ls stockholders all over the land, does no
T. seem to trouble the minds of these vision
aries. Under the constitution OF the Unite
a States private property cannot be taken 70
n public without full compensation. I
n would cost from $1,000 100000 to 5000 OOO %
| for the federal pOVarnunent IN taI oya
% these railroads This vast sum is man
80 times greater than the cost of a giganti
n war and fve-fold the cost OF the conflict be
q tween Japan and Russia. which is strainin
IN the credit Of both countries.
I presume our populist friends see n
%, difficulty in the matter, for to their mind
10 the setting, the engravers and presses I
N work to issue government promises to pa
- is rather a desirable method. But pay
IA day comes TO nations as to individuals an
a. this tremendous burden, cast upon the ia
~ payers of the country, will have no con
~ pensation In reduced rates for the No
- torious fact is that when the governmer
= runs a business II is ever at great cos
The public printing office at Washingto
Is a fair instance, for It costs the govern
ment at least 80 per cent more to do II
printing than II could be done by privat
~ parties under contract
:. Neither does the prospect OF such a
IT, enormous increase of holders OF civ
es political place disturb the populist equan
nifty, nor does he trouble his alleged mir
over the question Of the constitution
es right OF the federal government TO col
at duct railroads in sovereign states, whiC
We is az least debatable and calculated
an worry a legal mind.
Ter There can be no recovery against n
NJ United States for death. personal injul
ie- TO employees OF passengers. killing or main
he ing OF stock, setting out OF destructil
ne fires loss OF baggage or freight damal
lar to land or crops from overflow caused /
az embankments and bridges and the hume
1st Gus other causes for which demands Al
pr made upon railroads every hour and Il
m payment OF which, either by adjustme
with claimists or as the result OF suit
led entails almost the largest single outls
be they are compelled TO meet and guns in
ali many millions of money annually. ;
is court would have jurisdiction of SUI
ION suits against the United States, and tho
lot who suffer would have to appeal 20 co
Use gress for a specific appropriation for
money can be drawn from the treasu
,rt without IL. and congress has persistent
our refused TO appropriate money for claims
or 1 similar character. / recall with soF