The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-12-26
An Interesting
Editorial
NEW YORK SUN DISCUSSES CUES
TON OF GREAT MOMENT
TO THE PEOPLE.

The strongest and most Interesting
editorial on the railroad situation In
the country appeared in the New York
Sun December Goth, and was as fol-
lows:
"The Crime Of the Railroads"
"Mr. Roosevelt's hatred Of the rail-
roads. which has reached the proper
lions Of an Intellectual obsesslon, bids
fair TO bear substantial fruit in the
not distant future. Indeed. it is quite
certain that we shall have to pay deep
! ~ for the sins Of the railroads.
"The prospective penalty impresses
rs as being too inclusive. We favor
The sevefest punishment for the crime
Of secret and fraudulent Relating,
which we take to be the root and gen
esIs Of the whole evil. We should BE-
content to see the giver and the re-
ceiver OF the dishonest rebate both
fined and sent to prison as just pen.
atty and deterrent, and we sincerely
deplore the laxIty and inetflcIency
with which the statutes have been en-
forced.
THE public has now had time for
reflection and perceives the unreason-
ableness II not the dishonesty of rate
regulation as remedy for malprae.
dce. However much astray the pub
lie may he led by clamor and sophis-
| try II will not always remain misled.
and II will very soon he aware that
there is no connection between rate
regulation and criminal rebating. In
he long run common sense will set
tie all such questions, because II is at
the bottom of public opinion, and pun
lie opinion is still the governing pow
er In this country.
"The transportation rates OF the
United States are the lowest in the
world and are a scientific wonder. They
have been achieved by the railroads
themselves without any legislation or
government interference. There Is no
yage in the history of commerce that
is so wonderful rs that which records
the fall In the cost of railroad trans
variation during the last thlrty-five
Years, Natural causes brought 1t
about, and If natural causes are not
checked in their operation by fatuouS
and ignorant meddIing rates will go
lower yet. II they are checked, and
there Is a reckless and miScbievous
effort now on foot to do so. then disas-
ter will ensue as surely as the night
follows the day, and with disaster Will
come increased costOr transportation
"The last quarter of the year has
been over $1OOOOO,OOO added to The
wages Of niiroad employees. H.ike.
wise the greatest decrease in the eff
cIncy OF labor ever noted in this or
any other country The record of The
prces OF railroad supplies, rails alone
excepted. during the year shows the
greatest advance ever known in a like
period. The condition of all around
apparent prosperity is the most omnI-
ons disclosed in our annals,
"In these conditions 10 per cent.
horizontal reduction in rates OF trans
porlution by the joint forces Of the In.
,erstate Commerce Commission and
special enactment Is proposed. and 1t
suggests at once 10 the sane and COM
petent observer that Mr.. Bryan's idea
OF government ownership Of all the
railroads was wiser and more eQuita.
BILE and implied decenter regard for
the rights of property. 1t would seem
as II the intention was to go Mr.. Bry'
i'm one better, or 90 him one worse.
In the face of this menace, what
are the railroads 10 do" Where are
they to get the money to buy the ad-
dnlOnal trackage. the need Of which
Is now so painfully apparent: the mon
ey for additional rolling stock; the
money for more motive power, aud
tlIe money for enlarged terminals?
The pressure 10 acquire all these is
the most acute that has ever existed
IN our railroad history. How can the
money he Forthcoming In the presence
Of the destructive plans OF the Federal
government? What is the prospect
for the wage earnerS? As a highly
privileged class they have some inter-
Ell in knowing whence these things
are 10 come. The apparent prosper
| ity Of the present must give way be-
fore the certain paralysis OF the rail-
roads. AS 1t is We see no signs OF
building the new trackage. Indeed.
We are disturbed by the omnibus fact
That in spite OF the we'll known AMI
olwioYs conditions the market for steel
rails is slackening. 1t could not pos.
Silly "a so Il the railroads we're doing
what mider normal circumstances
Itbey could have no choice but do.