The sun., 1906-12-20
The Crime Of the Railroads.

roads, which has reached the proportions
of an intellectual obsession. bids fair to
bear substantial fruit in the not distant
future. Indeed. it is quite certain that
we shall all have to pay deeply for the
sins of the railroads.
The prospective penalty impresses us
as being too inclusive. We favor the
severest punishment for the crime of
secret and fraudulent rebating, which we
take to be the root and genesis Of the
whole evil. We should be content to
see the giver and the receiver of the
prison as a just penalty and deterrent,
and we sincerely deplore the laxity and
inefficiency with which the statutes have
been enforced.
The public has now had time for refec-
tion and perceives the unreasonableness
II not the dishonesty of rate regulation
as a remedy for malpractice. However
much astray the public may be led by
clamor and sophistry it will not always
remain misled. and it will very soon be
aware that there is no connection between
rate regulation and criminal rebating. In
the long run common sense will settle all
such questions, because it is at the bottom
Of public opinion, and public opinion is
still the governing power in this country.
The transportation rates of the United
States are the lowest in the world and
are scientific wonder. They have been
achieved by the railroads themselves
without any legislation or Government
interference. There is no page in the
history OF commerce that is so won
derful as that which records the fall
In the cost of railroad transportation
during the last thirty-five years. Natural
causes brought it about, and if natural
causes are not checked in their opera
ton by fa.uous and ignorant meddling
rates will go lower yet. II they are
checked. and there is a reckless and mis-
chieyous effort now on foot to do So then
disaster will ensue as surely as the night
follows the day, and with disaster will
come increased cost of transportation.
The last quarter Of the year has seen
over 500, 900, 900 added to the wages of
railroad employees. likewise the great
est decrease in the efficiency of labor
ever noted in this or any other country
The record Of the prices Of railroad sup
plies, rails alone excepted, during the
year shows the greatest advance ever
known in like period. The condition of
all around apparent prosperity is the
most ominous disclosed in our annals.
In these conditions 10 per cent hori-
zontal reduction in rates Of transporta-
ton by the joint forces of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and special en-
actment is proposed, and it suggests at
once to the sane and competent observer
that Mr. BRYAN's idea of Government
ownership of all the railroads was wiser
and more equitable and implied a de-
center regard for the rights Of property.
II would seem as if the intention was to
20 Mr.. BRYAN one better, or go him
one worse.
In the face OF this menace, what are the
railroads to do? Where are they TO get
the money to buy the additional trackage,
the need of which is now 80 painfully
apparent; the money for additional roll
ing stock the money for more motive
power, and the money for enlarged ter
minals? The pressure to acquire all
these is the most acute that has ever
existed in our railroad history. How
can the money be forthcoming in the
presence OF the destructive plans of the
Federal Government? What is the pros
peot for the wage earners? As highly
privileged class they have some interest in
knowing whence these things are to come
The apparent prosperity of the present
must give way before the certain par
alyss Of the railroads. As il is we see
no signs Of building the new trackage.
Indeed, we are disturbed by the ominOus
fact that in spite of the well known and
obvious conditions the market for steel
rails is slsckening. 1t could not possibly
do so IL the railroads were doing what
under normal circumstances they could
nave no choice but do.
The outlook for the railroads is seri-
GUS Such a clamor was never before
heard as has arisen for more cars. Con-
slgnees won't unload the cars sent to
them, and there is no way to compel them
20 do so. Indeed, some State Railroad
Commissions, quick to emulate Mr.
RoosEvELr's example, forbid the rail-
roads from imposing demurrage charges
for delay. The roads are between Mr..
ROOSEVELT and the deep sea. The gross
earnings are suffocating them, the net
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