The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1905-01-20

A. snnouucement Of meetings from
~,i,;ch no reverue is derived, will be published
free.
SOME RAILROAD SENTIMENT
Since the report of the interstate
commerce com mission was laid be-
fore the president and subsequently
before congress, many OF the presl-
dents OF the leading railroads of the
country have appeared in PRINT.
They seem disposed to talk, and 1t
must be admitted that there is prac'
teal unanimity of opinion among
them. One of the latest to enter
thu list is President Harris of the
Burlington system. He says THAT
railroad rates are not made by COL
1eee professors and cannot be meas
ured off with 4 rule" he also says
that be does not believe in pooling,
and, foresoot, for the reason that
1.-THE people will not stand for it.
1t is true that each shipper does
want to get the lowest rate he can
and will insist upon the lowest,
but that is no reason Why any rail-
rad should indulge in fsvoritism
especially in favoritism to tho larger
shippers and those who can best
afford to pay tho scheduled rates.
The most interesting part of Pres
ident Harris interview. however, is
discovered in what he says as to his
reasons for opposing pooling
scheme, and, by and by, here is the
milk in tho railroad cocoanut:
what have you heard all tho time
since you have been a man about
the railroads. Hash t it bsen cheap
nesss It is always about lower
rates. No ono ever hears any COM
plaint to the authorities about do
ing away with some of the greatest
dangers of human life. You read
of = trolley car being demolished by
q railroad train and you are horrl-
fed at tho number of people killed.
You blame the enigneer and tho
moterman for getting caught in the
trap which was set for them into
which in tho course OF time he
must inevitably fall. l say that the
lack of legislation which would have
prevented tho disaster was tho
primo cause"
II President Harris had been cor
rectly quoted, and there 10 no reason
for doubt, no has unconsciously BE-
trayed ono of tho greatest secrets
in railroad management and which
lie that the railroads will absolutely
refuse to do anything for the relief
of tho public and to mitigate danger
unless actually compelled to do it
by legislation. This is tho history
of the railroads of the country. He
complains of dangerous grade Cross
ings, but has any railroad ever been
knownto spend a dollar to raise it's
tracks except when compelled to do
it by law' Has any railroad been
known RI introduce the block system
or air brakes and modern couplers,
except through strong pressure from
the public or legislation compelling
it to do so. The people nave been
demanding these things for long,
and the only answer the railroads
would give was that they would be
introduced just as soon as the roads
could afford it.
These defects in railroad manage
ment have been complained OF by
the public time and again, but with
out any special measure OF success
until the creation of the Interstate
commerce commission, whose duty
it was to see that these improve
ments were used. Too long has the
laissez faire policy predomlnateo
among the lawmakers of the land'
and too long have they been under
its nmeting influence, until many
have come to believe that nothing
con,d he done to ameliorate the con-
i1it1on complained Of on the part Of
the public.
President J. j. Hill declared eha5
he wished to "emphasize this par
ticular point in regard to railroad