The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-03
OLNEY REPLIES TO BRYAN
Former Secretary of State Opposes
Proposed Railroad Rate Legislation
Government Ownership is the Goal
Toward Which Events are Leading.
Significance of the Inquiry.

New York. September 2S.-The re-
ply of the conservative wing of the
Democratic party to w. J.. Bryan's re-
cent open letter to the President on
railroad rate legislation is contained
in an article by Richard Olney. in the
October number of the North Ameri-
can Review. published today. In what
is practically his first public utter
ance in two years. President Cleve-
lands former secretary Of state pre-
sents his final judgment against the
proposed legislation. in the form of a
brief. covering not only the law. but
the public policy involved in the agi-
tation.
In discussing the effects of the gov
eminent regulation upon the railroads
MI. Olney says:
The situation to be anticipated
then. is that railroads-private prop
critics and representing private invest
ments. aggregating billions of dollars,
will find themselves controlled in the
vital matter of their charges. not by
their private owners but by two pub
lie boardS-one representative of local
interests. and the other Of national
interests. and both an~tagonistic to the
interests of the private owners con-
cerned. The two boards will aim at
the lowest possible rates. each in be-
half Of the particular business under
it's charge: and will therefore be in
constant rivalry with each other in the
endeavor to extort from the carrier
the best service at the smallest cost.
Under these conditions. anything like
skillful, just, reasonable or stable a
making becomes impossible. A situa-
ton is created in~tOlerable alike to the
carriers and to the public. and the
sure outcome--unless the whole
scheme Of government rate-making
be abandoned-is government owner
ship.
Government ownership of all rail-
roads is obviously the goal toward
which some of the government rate
makers are striving. while others. if
not welcoming it. and not working for
it. profess not to fear it. n claim that
it would at all events be an improve
ment upon the present status. But
when government ownership OF the
railroads of the country is seriously
considered. u dual political system
is at once seen to present problems OF
the gravest character. The few n
comparatively u~nimportant railroads
that are wholly intra-state may be
properly ignored. Every railroad of
consequence is engaged in both xmas
of transportation-in transportation
that begins and ends in a single state.
and IN transportation mat pdSSSS NC
yond state lines. Hence. if govern
nent ownership of railroads be re-
garded as the inevitable sequence of
government rate-making-the first
question is. which government is II
that is to own the railroads. the state
or the United States?'
THE significance and Importance Of
the inquiry continues Mr.. Olney. are
apparent. If we remember that the
railroad is only one species of high
way. and that what is true of railroads
must be true of ordinary highways.
The jurisdiction of the national gov
eminent must be h same in both
cases. If it is competent for the ma
tional government under the COM
merce clause to own and operate all
the great railroads of the country. it
must be also comDetent for 1t TO W
or control and operate all the greaN
highways of the country"
Of this deduction Mr.. Olnev says
thai it would be revolutionary in rae
tice. and contradictory Of views Gus
tomarilv held.