The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-05-01
Rail Rates: DeIibeTation.

ing, and each way has its advocates,
and every advocate has his follow
ers. There is the Russian, Little
Fatherly, incurable-hospital method,
which, regarding the people as dis
eased children who must be restrain
ed from all for which their appetites
crave: only allows them such exercise
and diet as may be least inconvenient
to the physician in charge. On the
other hand, there is the innkeeper, or
Bryanite way, which would allow all
corners to select from the bill of fare
whatsoever appeals to their palates.
without regard to its fitness or to
their financial and physical condition.
The fatherly way is the device of
despots; it appeals strongly to the
tyranny that is a part of human ma
tssre: 1t is always commended by
those who rule. and it has some
points in its favor; but the experience
OF the race is against it and it has
never ended save in debauchery,
bloodshed, and ruin. The innkeeper
method is quite as bad; it feeds terra
pin stew TO convalescents from ty-
phoid; it amputates for rheumatism,
when careful diagnosis would have
shown that hot baths, a restricted
diet, and little physic would have
cured; and it encourages the waste
Of substance by tempting to lavish
ness and overindulgence, when mod
esty and temperance are needed.
Lawmaking in the United States,
at present, is not quite in either
category; the demands OF the people,
as voiced by their Representatives,
must be submitted to the inspection
and review OF the Senate, the only
truly deliberative body now left to
us; and there is the further check on
impetuosity of the Presidential veto.
The question Of railway rates has
been hot in our mouths for some
time; not man of lis all but is able
TO dispose Of it within the compass
Of column and half; not an orator
who cannot tell us more than he
knows In thirty minutes 1t is the
apparent simplicity of the subject
that deceives us: Settle the matter
our way say the railroads, land the
widows and orphans whose funds are
invested in cur stocks and bonds will
be protected" Give us Government
control with minimum Of rates.
say the shippers and pot-house poll
ticians, and the people will get fairer
tariffs. while the water that is squeez-
ed out of the stocks will go TO the ir-
rigation of the farms"
The cry went up from Dan to
Beersheba that something must be
done 10 equalize the rates Of the rail-
ways, to prevent rebates and unjust
determinations. and, presto! there
was a food Of bills introduced in
Congress, any one of which was sure
10 bring the millennium. Here was
chance for craftsmanship. Here was
the opportunity TO lead a real move
ment OF the peoplei Here a popular
wave that would carry far him who
rode its crest. Our statesmen-andp pol
iticians-fought 10 grasp this oppor-
tunity by the foreloek; they fell over
themselves in their eagerness TO
lead; not man-jack but buttoned his
frock-coat tightly over his railroad
passes and frothed at the mouth. But
the opportunity was too big for any
man TO appropriate; it was seized
by party, and forthwith a bill was
dragooned through the House When
the bill got TO the Senate there was,
and still is, the customary and needed
deliberation and delay. And, 10. the
cry goes up, THE Senate is sold out
10 corporate influence and the Sena-
tors are merely railway attorneys in
disguise"
Wisdom is@iustified of her children,
and the hot haste of the demagogue
is not the only rant to the market
of truth and equity The impetuosity
of the people needs the clog of DELHI
Grafton TO prevent them from oyerrun-
ming the mark. and this deliberation
the Senate committee, now in session,
is giving
That there are serious causes for
dissatisfaction with the present con-
ditions of transportation none will
deny; that the creatures of our own
making, the trusts and the carriers,
are somewhat insolent TO their crea-
tor, the public. will be admitted; but
it does not follow that we are obliged
to commit political kara-kiri, or TO
run amuck in legislation to correct
all this.
With our present system we must
avoid Governmental ownership, fo-
while there may be no harm in such
ownership under certain conditions,
there would be much danger TO us
of bureaucratic tyranny and public
bankruptcy. At the same time, we
must steer clear of allowing TOO wide