The Garland globe. [volume] (Garland, Utah) 1906-191?, 1906-11-03
SHIPPERS TO BLAME
REeATING NOT THE FAULT OF
RAILROAD AGENTS.
Investigation by Interstate Commerce
Commission Proves That as
Class Agents Are Honest
and Faithful.


Col. j. II. Woodland of Cincinnati,
o.. well known as a writer on eco:
monte 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 inducement
to show preference to certain ship.
pers. Col. Woodland, after Analysing
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 brides 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
paid; but all of them were shown to
have expected some kind of 6iscrim.
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 i'm every case where brides 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 a fact which cannot
be given too much prominence, and
that is, that the percentage OF bribe-
taking agents was much smaller than
is the case among public and private
employees holding similar positions OF
trust. Compared with public officers
in many mercantile houses or any
class of trusted agents in any private
stand pre-eminent for honesty and
faithfulness In the discharge OF their
duties. How many agents were Of
fered brides which were rejected was
not made a subject of inquiry by the
commission, but II II had been, and
each one who had refused had testi-
fed, 1t would have startled the world.
Few persons stop to reflect that II
shippers were all honest there never
would have been paid one cent as re,
bates. Railroad agents, as a 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 bride in the
form of rebate because II desired to
do so; 1t was paid under form OF
compulsion made possible by the ex
istence of railroads which we're 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.
st is true that many railroads have
made special rates to encourage the
growth and development Of the terri
| tory through which their rails are
| laid-industries which could not have
| developed without some such consid
Grafton. This policy has made Ohio
| and Indiana two Of the richest states
per capita of population, in the union
II 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
| quiry, are lower per ton per mile thar
in any country In Europe or In Eng
land, and the compensation OF em
ployes of the railroads are quite dou
BILE what they are in foreign countries
American railway employees are sell
respecting citizens and not servants
who are objects OF contemptuou
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 par
of subordinate agents which would no
be promptly corrected II the injure'
party would report the facts to tn
higher executives. "-Baltimor Amer
lean.
Mesiean Wood for Railroad Ties.