Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-04-05
Entered at the Newport News. Va
PoBtohlce ~ second-class matter
WEDNESDAY, ArRll. s. ,aO5.
PITY THE POOR RAILRo6bs..

II snow seems that we have been
wasting our pity in connection with the
freight rate problem. for we arc scri-
0usly Informed by tho Railway Ago
mat II is rather tho transportation
companies which necd protection
against the shippers than the other
way. The latter continually strive TO
beat.thc former through n variety O. H..
seniouS cXpedlents-and generals
succeed. Tho Interstate Commerce
law ordains fine Of $4,000 for each
case OF false billing, weighing. classi
hcation, and so or. but to this the ship,
ptrs In general pay no attention. Dur
ing q single month in the territory coy.
cred by the Western lines over fifty
thousand such attempts at FRAUD were
detected Twas estimated that he
loss for The year 1904 to the rrIlways
III the same territory frcm the same
practices Amounted 10 over $1,000, 900
The railways keep zip expensive bu.
rcnus to dctecl such frauds, but are
AFRAID to+'io anything after they arc
Z discovered for fear OF losing their Gus
toners. The Age says that The rccord;
tol the Western Weighing and inspcc.
ton bureau and The Joint rate insprc
lon bureau would reveal ile. character
ahi tXltNt,of these practices. ana rec.
ninmen'ls the Interstate Commerce
Commission to hook into them.
Or course, VIC are no, in lg,ssdsson
TO 'il,erian arbitrary opinion as To he
llcflls al The case. The shippers seem
10 be unanimously OF the opinion thal
DC railways are to blame, while The
rnilways with The sar,c unan:mity dc.
care that the shippers are The guilty
parties We arc inclined to believe
mil However that may be The pruc.
iicil condition which cunfr0nts us Is
lhat laws designed 10 conserve the host
interests of tho citizens Of the United
States arc faSranily and openly ,io.
tatcd. Tho people are not so much in.
lefeslcd in he mutual rccriniinalIcn
OF TIC thieves who seem TO be on me
verge OF falling out, what they wish to
hiloW Is what does the administration
ana Republican Congress- propose 10
ITO about the freight rate situation?
'h me meantime II is interesting To-
ho'e mat The executive head of ono
arPal railway system takes q common
sense view of the railways relation to
me people. In recent address before
mo Connecticut Legislature President
Mcllen. OF The New York. New Haven
q Hartford system. frankly .uld the
I lawmakers that the railway systems of
he United States arc the creatures,
AND not the creators. Their pcrmamen.
prosperity Is only secured through the
4 pest service at the most rcasona Bile
charges. lie also said that IL was his
purpose hereafter 10 appear personally
when li's system lad Liquidation. TO
ASK, TO explain the purpose Of that leg.
lhidtton' to answer tho most searching
Questions and IL he fcurd it Imppssi
Dlc 10 explain 10 the satisfaction OF tho
Legislature or The various committees
'HeH he would abandon the attcmpl 10
obtain that legislation.
When the other big railway leader;
OF tho country adopt a similar attitude
aid realize that .heir corporations resi-
ul'o'i business principles and are not
essentially channels for The operations
OF "FrcnAicd Finance there will be A
marked decrease in Tic rcscnimnt and
suspicion now felt toward some Of tic
most influential railway system in Tie
cpnptry, b