Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-02-23
THE RAILWAY ISSUES NEW
PHASE.

%
The election Of Henry II. Rogers
and Henry C. Frick To the board Of
directors OF the Atchison, Topeka n
Santa F'e railway. and the report that
the senate will not consider the house
railway rate regulation bill in this
term, constitutes coincidence which
will have startling Significance for
the public. when they begin 10 grasp
its meaning. This shows that Il. H.
Hartman and the Standard oil in
terests have gained enough OF the
stock OF that road to give them vast
influence in lbs control. 1t means
that Hartman, and not Morgan or
Hill is the commanding figure In the
railway world today. Another union
mas been effected which Will throw
many thousands OF miles of addition
al railway under single head. The
country's total length of main track
today is 2l2,000 miles. OF this ag-
gregate something like 10000 miles
are under The Standard oil control
as consequence of the Affiliations
which have eliminated in the en-
trance of tnat cyclopean corporation
into the directory OF the Santa Fe
road.
This circumstance gives new and
decidedly important interest to the
report that the senate will not con
slider the house railway rate regula-
tion bill In this session. 1t is true,
there did not at any time appear to
be much prospect of action by the
senate on this subject before March
4. The senate has some excuse for
ignoring that question now. because
of the Swayne Impeachment trial and
the general backwardness OF the ap-
preparation bills in that chamber. Yet
this latest and biggest Of railway
consultations comes at juncture
which will give portentous signi'
ficance to the senate's attitude on
this issue. The Esch- Townsend bill
passed the house by a vote which was
30 near unanimity, there being only
seventeen members in the negative
that many persons at first imagined
the senate would be forced by public
opinion to AT least make show of
considering the bill. Senator Cullom
said few days before the measure
passed the house that there was some
chance that IL would pass the upper
chamber also. II is plain to every
body now. however. that the bill wi
not see the light In the senate in
this term.
Which does the country prefer, 10
have the railway rates for the United
States fixed by seven men in Wall
street or by seven men in Washing
ton? To this complexion this issue
comes at last. The various leagues
which are in course of formation, OF
which the present union OF the Har-
riman. Rockefeller Vanderbilt Gould
systems is manifestation. tends TO
place the control of the country's rail.
way mileage in the hands of seven
mon. or fewer than seven, This
will take the point out of the objec.
ton made by some OF the railway
magnates to the placing of rate reg
ulation In the hands of the seven
members of the expanded interstate
colHuleTce COHllnlSSlOH' IL Tdte llAlne
Is TO be made by small junta, the
general public will be apt to favor
the placing of 1t in the hands of a
body which Is always in view, which
Is appointed by the President, with
the senate's consent, and which can
be removed by the President for de
rilection OF duty, especially as the
acts Of this commission are subject
to the review of federal court be-
fore which the railway interests will
have a chance. This Is the largest is
sne which is now before the country
and 1t will have to be dealt with by
congress. The branch which stands
nearest the people has already acted
upon It. The whole matter. with the
house more strongly backed by pub
lie sentiment even than II is now
will come in the new congress, either
In An extra session called for thai
purpose or in the stated session which
meets in December next, and then
the senate will be forced To respect
the popular l.-Glohe-Democrat.
-----------------------