The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-02
The Pioneers Apology.

The Pioneer S Apology.
The Pioneer Press, replying to i h e
Journals proof that it had
changed front on the railroad rate
question, says: "From the assumed
difference between these two opinions
-four years apart-it It h e our
ais naturally infers that the Pioneer
Press has changed its mind. = And
adds that it ought not to be consld-
cred discreditable or remarkable II
it had:
The Journal did consider it re-
markable that the Pioneer Press, which
was so hot for increased powers for the
interstate commerce commission four
years ago, should be so dead against the
proposition now. Then the Pioneer saw
no way out Of the dilemma created by
the merger than by increasing the pow
ers of the interstate commission to the
point where it could effectively handle
the rate problem. 1t refused to accept
Mr.. Hill s assurance that no harm was
intended to the people, saying on Nov.
25, 1901:
"The people cannot afford to leave
the protection of their rights to the
favorable disposition of any one mortal
man, or even to the permanent consid-
erations Of self interest, which are
| pointed out by Mr.. Hill. They will de-
| mand that the interstate commerce com
mission be invested with the power to
reduce rates which they regard as un.
reasonable to the reasonable basis
which the law now prescribes, but with
out any adequate method for giving it
practical effect. -
| On another date it said the meresfact
that the merger had the power to- die
tate rates was enough. 1t cut no fig
ure that the merger managers denied
any disposition to do this, and declared
that the people must be assured of q
government control Of the merger roads
broad and effective enough to pro
tect them from any possible abuses. .o1
J, this .monopolistic power.'' I
The president and the people saw: tht
point so clearly stated by the Pionee
Press, and began to move for just esucl
an effective control. What must. b.
their establishment to find that the Pho
neer Press has moved on to another 30
sition and is now totally opposed t.
government regulation. It's contention
now is that the railroads have not ad
. vanced rates and the fear that the,
will ever do so is delusion. Therefor
:, nothing in the way Of additional powe
to the Interstate commerce commission
: is needed s
= The Pioneer s excuse is that :foll
years ago it had a very vague idea
what kind of legislation was needle
, to prevent the monopolistic railroa
+ combinations from extorting what rate
they chose On the contrary, the Pic
neer then had very clear idea Of wha
+, was needed and expressed it's idea i
q terms which left no room for doubt O
+ the subject. 1t was in favor of sue
+ an enlargement Of the powers of tn
o interstate commerce commission &
n would insure that the rights Of the PEI
, pie would not be left to the good il
tentions of single mortal man nc
: even to the self-interest Of a group c
ID men, who might not find any profit fc
the time being in raising rates. Nov
the Pioneer says, rates have not bee
v raised; in fact, have been lowered
t therefore the fear that they will eve
u be raised is delusion. Yet Professc
i Ripley has shown that the average lev,
/ OF rates in the past six years has rise
G 5 per cent. This has taken place j
e the homeopathic freights, which, {
e course, shows, if it shows anythin
t that the less competition there is b.
t tween railroads the more the rates ma
Z be raised. Four years ago the Pionee
:. thought it intolerable that any man,
e set of men, should have even the powt
n to dictate rates. It believed in trus
0 ing neither to the good intentions NJ
n the. self-interest of the railroad ma
IS ayers. It demanded law. Now tn;
n the people have joined in the deman
IS for law, which the Pioneer taught the
J. was the only true and just solutio
s. they find that the Pioneer has go1
i. back to the comfortable theory tn;
S the railroad managers are good al
e kind and they can be. trusted implicitly
d What has caused this change of front
81 $500 ----------- " ys
81 The car directs Count White to car
out his "inf1exible will" Mr.. White is
: danger of stopping a half brick if he a
: tempts this.
l.