Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-14
PAUL MORTON AND
THE RAILROADS.
Local Men Discuss the All. Alb.
sorbng Topic and Express
Their Views.
AGREE REBATES SHOULD CO.
But Emphaticuly Say That Pooling
Or Government Ownership Will
Only Make Matters Worse

The all absorbing topic in the local
railroad olilces-and, FOR that matter,
throughout the country.-ls President
Rooseyclts attitude on the rate ques-
ton and interstate commerce and Paul
Morton's apostacy from the railroad
ranks and the heresles alleged 10 have
been uttered by hin.
Paul Morton seriously discussing gov
eminent ownership Is spectacle to
make the humblest wiper that ever
handled piece OF waste weep. Upon
one subject, however, all agree with the
old-time Santa Fe man. now a mem
Der OF the cabinet, rebates are unjust
and should be abolished In fairness to
all shippers and railroads
POOLING INTERESTS.
When IL comes TO pooling the various
roads the solons Of Railroad Row laugh
the proposition to scorn. 1T Is impos-
slble, they shout, FOR II would be In
the power Of a little bunch OF shippers
to smash that pool higher than kite
at any old time because you cannot
dictate TO shipper which way his
freight shall be routed The shippers
would only have to throw all their con-
slgnments on one system and the cir
Gus would commence. This road would
Kick at hauling SO much stuff and hav-
Ing to divide up with the others, but
even before the pool We're organized
there would be trouble over the partl-
ton Of the prospective spells, as each
Of the big lines thinks It can take care
OF It's traftic ana should be given the
lions share while the weak lines would
have TO do more business To allow them
to get the pro rata IN the division OF
the earnings"
AS BAD AS REBATES,
The general sentiment among the
general agents and the travelling men
is that Il pooling of interests and a di-
vision of earnings and business would
be as bad as rebates almost, with the
additional horror thrown in OF a gem
eral dismissal OF freight hustlers
throughout the country. As one put It
to the News this morning; 1T would
be another case Of the Wire Nail Trust
Before this big corporation pooled all
the factories there were eight or ten
drummers working this territory; there
was lots Of competition and things were
lively. Where are those drummers now?
Working on farm guess, while here
I'm Salt Lake and Utah, II merchant
wants keg OF nails he knows where
to go. He takes his wagon down to
the warehouse alongside Of the track,
gets his key, ard a S75 clerk checks It
out. That's all there is 20 Il. That's
81 haf Ra
roads were pooled. They would have
a $50 clerk checking up the business
and figuring out the percentages, while
the hundreds Of freight solicitors and
general agencies throughout the coun-
try would pass down to history. They
tried this pooling business In Denver
some time ago, What was the result?
They were hauling freight into Denver
at % cents; losing money at that for
each line had to Keep up It's end OF the
agreement and to get the business cut
the rate. They were all cutting the
rate and such mess you never saw"
GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
The proposition Of Paul Morton re-
garding government ownership also
brings up a regular comic opera plot
with shakeup every general election
Politicians would be out after the Jobs
regardless OF their fitness The boss
OF the machine would expect to be APP
pointed general manager while every
grating ward heeler would want to
operate a ticket punch and get his
rake-oif, Chaos would prevail In two
months and the American railroad
which stands top Of column next to
pure reading matter I'm the world to-
day would become a hiss and a by
word throughout civilization.
TIME RIPE FOR A MOVE.
While none cares to be quoted To-
caly there is not a railroad official
but believes that the time is ripe for
some equitable legislation governing
railroads and tariff sheets-just what,
none is prepared to say. In the mean
time the question Is being asked.
why did Paul Morton quit a $4,000
Job on the Santa Fe to take an $4,000
position on the cabinet?" One cynic
closed the debate by guessing that
Mrs. Morton had social ambitions,
Because man will do anything for
his wife, you know" said the hand
some young railroad man recently
married.