The Meeker herald., 1906-12-29
SHIPPERS TO BLAME
REsATlNe NOT THE FAULT OF
RAILROAD AGENTS.
investigation by interstate Commerce
Commission Proves That ~ .
Glass Agents Are Honest
and Faithful.

8uo asSVtbb
Col. j. H. Woodland. of Cincinnati.
O., well known as q writer on eco
nomic and political subjects and who
has had considerable practical expe-
rience In railroad construction and
operation, closely followed the recent
Investigation made by the Interstate
Commerce Commission relative to
presents or brides being given en-
ployes of railroads as an tnducement
to show preference to certain ship
pers. Col. Woodland. after analyzing
the testimony, reached the conclusion
that the investigation was good
thing. because 1t exposed the practice
between shippers and railroad en-
ployes that was morally wrong and
otherwise might have continued In
definitely. Col. Woodland, in discuss
Ing the matter. said:
THE startling feature Of all OF these
Investigations was that all OF the
brides had been paid voluntarily by
the bribers: that they originally Of
fered the hribes without solicitation
from the agents OF the companies, and
that they did 1t secretly for the pur-
pose of securing an unfair and unlaw-
full advantage over competitors, and
that their acts were unknown to the
general executive officers Of the sew
eral companies. Some Of the bribers
attempted to Justify their acts by COM
pairing them to tipping hotel servants,
claiming that the agents were under
but oI1 ~ ahnWn 10
have expected some kind OF discrim-
nation against their competitors as
the result of the bribery. The COM
panies were not the sufferers by their
acts. for the reason that in nearly all,
II not all, shipments made the rates
paid were the same as those charged
everyone else for similar service.
THE testimony. however. did show
that In every case where bribes were
paid the bribetakers kept the entire
sum paid them. thus generating the
executive officials Of the companies
which employed the dishonest agents.
But 1t did show q fact which cannot
be given too much prominence. and
that IL, that the percentage Of bribe-
taking agents was much smaller than
ID the case among public and private
employees holding similar positions OF
trust. Compared with public ofncers
In many mercantile houses or any
class of trusted agents in any private
business, the railroad agents ~ class
stand pre-eminent for honesty and
faithfulness in the discharge Of their
duties. How many agents were OF.
fsred bribes which were rejected was
not made q subject Of inquiry BY the
commission, but II II had been. and
each one who had refused had tesd-
fied, It would have startled the world.
Few persons stop to reflect that II
shippers were all honest there never
would have been paid one cent ~ re-
bates. Railroad agents. - rule. are
not hunting for business which has to
be purchased; the shipper demands
rebates under the threat of sending
his shipments by the weaker lines,
which are in the market with brides.
No railroad ever paid q bride In the
form of rebate because 1t desired to
do 70; 1t was paid under a form OF
compulsion made possible by the ex-
istence of railroads which were not
commercial necessities, and which had
been constructed upon speculation
solely, and could never hope to force
the stronger lines to buy them out
except by means Of injury they could
do through transporting persons and
commodities for less than reasonable
compensation.
"It il true that many railroads have
made special rates to encourage the
growth and development Of the terri
tory through which their rails are
iaid-industries which could not have
, developed without some such consid1
Grafton. This policy has made Ohio
and Indiana two Of the richest states.
Der capita of population. In the union.
It has developed the whole west with
out injury to anyone or any locality.
Transportation charges in the United
States, figured from any point OF In
auiry, are lower per ton per mile than
In any country in Europe or in Eng
land. and the compensation OF en-
ployss of the railroads are quite dou-
BILE what they are in foreign countries.
American railway employees are self
respecting citizens and not servants
who are objects of contemptuous
abuse, as are those in Europe.
my experience in railway operation
lends me to believe that there Is not
single case Of wrongdoing on the part
of subordinate agents which would not
be promptly corrected II the injured
PARTY would report the facts to the
higher cutives."-Baltimore Amer
lean.
Mexican Wood for Railroad Ties.
haYo honfa COHoYlafod