The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-24
NlR. PLANs
Urges Railways to Anticipate Railway
Reform Legislation


Urges Railways to Anticipate Railway
Reform Legislation
Railroad companies cannot afford
to be parties to alliances with private
car companies which result in unjust
Determinations against shippers of
fruit, produce and other freight and
which are used to stife competition.
1t behooves the railroads without loss
of time to divorce themselves from
such alliances. which not only a suf-
fering witness but an outraged public
would rightly denominate unholy."
With this declaration J. w. Midgley
in a ircular letter sen out to the
presidents and officials of the various
railroads throughout the country
sounds the eynOte of his plea for the
been complained of before h inter
state m commission growing
out of the private car and private ter
minal track.
Mr.. Midgley. who for the last three
years has been carrying on an inquiry
into the growth, development n
operation of the private cars with the
view of securing a reform in them,
commerce commission inquiry upon
the subject and also conferred with
President Roosevelt concerning it, is
now resuming his campaign.
In the circular letter sent out by Mr..
Midgley 1t is commended that the time
Is -opportune to subject the private
cars to per diem rules, and sugges-
tiOns are made with reference to the
rates which should govern them. A
conference the railroads to
consider means of changing the pres
ent allowances for private cars par
t~icularly for refrigerators, 80 that the
private cars be put on a basis which
will be both reasonable and defensi-
ble," is urged in the communication.
All that is required to bring about
the reform would be to cast off the
yoke that too long has been calling
to every right thinking man and in
augurate conditions such as have been
persistently advocated and in that way
10 more than can otherwise be done
TO anticipate and probably avert legis-
lat1On, which cannot, if provoked, fail
to be disastrous to railroad COM
p%anies." says Mr.. Midgley in his com
munication.
Il am sanguine that a reform could
be commentaries, by t-ransconti-
mental lines; second, by those lines ex-
tending from the Missouri river to st.
Louis and Chicago, or, third, by con-
trolling roads east of the Mississippi,
which operate in Central Traffic and
t1al to obtain the assent of every line
in each group. Present practices are
Illegal, and it ought not to be neces-
sary to await action of all competitors
in order to stop that which has been
declared
TT must be evident that the public
will not allow this matter to rest until
the charges for refrigeration are in
cluded and made a part of the freight
tariffs, which is not the case at pres
ent, and the sooner that result is
reached the better it will be for all
/ parties. Railroad companies ought to
compel the just regulation of charges
for refrigeration when private cars are
furnished, which are now complained
of being excessive. This can best be
accomplished by railroad companies
/ nh1ifaToffn0 fhn nhnn~fnTc r7fcff1 0ffan
now made between private cars when
engaged in interstate m and
their own eQuipment=thereby insur-
ing equality of treatment to all ship
pers under like condition."
The Order of events connected with
the agitation for private car reform is
outlined by Mr.. Midgley and in this
connection he sets forth that begin
ming with the third annual report,
dated December 1, 1889, the inter-
state commission set forth
the evils growing u of the employ
ment by common carriers of cars own
ed by private companies and recon-
mended remedial legislation. The
hearing Of the commission at Chicago
October 10. 1904, n the press re-
ports following it are declared to have
caused the awakening of the people to
"a realization of practices in this age
of and freedom, which were
worthy of the days Of feudalism."
mark the radical change which
has occurred since the hearing" de
clares Mr.. Midgley. when President
Roosevelt says, Private car abuses
must be stopped such language can
ave only one meaning-namely, that
they are manifestly illegal. The cry
of Stop theft ann be raised
against one who is quietly pursuing
his honest vocation. It is not neces-
sary to await an order of the interstate
commerce commission or a decree of
court before taking action. That
ought to be done ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
is. wherein the transportation Of per
ishable freight and of cattle prepon-
derates.
"A rate of SO cents a car per day
for all refrigerators. whether private
or railroad ownership, and of 80 cent
a car per day for private stock cars
could safely be in-augurated."