Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-11-30
GOOSEVtLTS ISSUE
AND RAILROAD WAGES
BY j. NJ Mason.

NO. ].
Certain men. protesting TO represent rail-
road employees. recently appeared before the
president to suggest that railroad regula-
ton might reduce wages. Very few per-
sons are such fools as not to know that
wages would be higher except for the Ct
forts to pay unlimited dividends on unllm-
tied water. Nothing could better illustrate
corrupt influence than this attempt, by pro-
fessed friends OF railroad labor. TO defeat
legislation which would benefit every en-
ploye except attorneys, lobbyists, writer's
and newspaper owners who are hired to
mislead voters. OF course these attorneys.
etc. will lose employment when rates are
liked with reference to the revenue required
for operating expenses, plus interest on
capital furnished.
The good book says, Thou Shalt not reap
where thou hast not sown," and we pre-
sumo no one thinks that the public ought to
be MIXED to pay interest on capital which
was not furnished. We presume no one
thinks that the public is under any moral
much less legal obligation TO pay interest
on such part Of the cost OF roads as was
paid with money furnished by the public
itself For example. this county do
mated $1,000 AID certain individuals con-
tributed $1,000, TO build a bridge. II is ev-
ident that tolls on this bridge should be
fixed with reference to paying these indi.
viduals interest on the 1900 which they
furnished, but is II not monstrous to sug-
gest that tolls should be fixed with refer
ence to paying them interest on the $4,000
which they did not furnish? Be II remem-
bered. that congress and different states do
mated more than 100000 acres to build
railroads. and this was in addition TO the
stock, bonds and money contributed by
congress, states, counties and cities
II was pointed out In the Era Magazine
for June that railroad bonds and stocks
represent 5000, 10000 of fictitious capltali-
cation. Practically all Of this railroad
water lie owned by a comparatively few
dangerously rich men in eastern financial
centers, and these eastern water holders
are the only persons interested to prevent
honest legislation. They prevent honest
legislation by inducing senators and menu
bers of the house to betray constituents.
The satellites of these eastern water
holders oppose Roosevelt because a square
deal necessarily means wringing out water
They are unwilling that any honest tri-
bunal should determine what rates shall
be considered reasonable rates These water
holders wei know that a railroad charge
is unrea sunable, II fixed with reference to
paying Interest on capital that was not
furnished, and they well know that, when
ever any tribunal comes to determine the
rate which is reasonable. such tribunal
must apply the principle that public serv-
ice corporation cannot. legally, reap where
it has not sown.
In other words, the tribunal must nromul-
gate certain principles of law which are so
plain and so obviously correct and so we'll
settled by judicial decision that no railroad
attorney will have the audacity to contru-
vert them. The tribunal must announce
that a railroad cannot legally take from
the public a larger revenue than is re-
quired to pay interest on capital furnished
plus operating expenses. and that any
schedule OF rates is illegal unless 20 con-
structed that each item of service viii con-
tribute its just proportion to the amount
which is to be raised.
1t seems an open secret that Wall street
accepts Roosevelt's proposition provided il
be so amended that 1t will not permit OBJ
portunity TO bring before the supreme court
this crucial question, to-witi Is a railroad
charge reasonable when II is so high that
/ the company is able to pay large interest
on $4,000 per mile Of pure water?' This is
the crucial question which Roosevelt, and
every other unsubsidized man, wishes to
confront the country with. Railroad influ-
ence is now concentrated to induce Roose-
/ welt and papers protesting to support him
! to boycott this question.
Wall street well knows that IL Roosevelt
develops courage to force a hearing for
: this question he will Immediately become
so popular with all unsubsidized thinking
men, as well as with the rank aud file
/ than any western or southern senator OPP
posing him will be unseated at the next
| election.