Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-10

from the rate legislation enacted by
the last congress.
| Can BE No Monopoly.
Il have said that | do not believe
the national rate commission law will
cheaper freight rates, and put them on
anything like equal terms with water
| rates There are very logical reasons
| for this. Railroads are monopolies
owned. controlled and operated by one
man or one corporation: waterways
are held by government for the free
use of all its citizens, and it is inn
possible TO monopolize them or for
any man or combination of men TO con-
troll them. On the water. the poorest
man may propel his little flatboat or
skiff as free as birds fly the air. and
the man of wealth has the same free.
dom with his floating palace. Rail-
roads cost their owners from $4,000
to $4,000 per mile for construct on
and equipment. and cost $1,000 TO ST.
800 per mile annually for maintenance.
Waterways were constructed by the
Creator of the universe for the use and
comfort of his children. and while
their improvement is sometimes neces-
sary at a small cost per mile to the
government that charge is borne
equally by every citizen of the repub-
lie. and is not tax on the commerce
of each particular waterway. as in the
case of railroads. Moreover, the pro
pelling power of any agency is fully
five times as great on water as on
steel rails. 1t follows. therefore. thai
water has great natural advantag"
over railroads; and no matter what
power NAV be given TO rate commits
s:Ons and how impartially it may be
administered. this advantage can new
er be overcome.
AccOrds With HOar.
Il am happy to say that on this sub
ject my opinion is in full accord with
that of the late Senator Hoar of Mas
sachusetts, one of the greatest lawyers
and brightest intelIects of the age In
a speech delivered in the senate of the
United States. on March /. 1902. he
said:
u should like to say a few words |
in regard to the suggestion that water
communication is of little Importance
compared with the railroads. especially |
if they are subjects to the power of |
regulation. Somehow or other the |
great cities and towns are still on the |
waterways. There is no indication |
that the great law of human habitation |
and business has as yet lost its eff |
cheney.
The city has planted and has been |
planted and always will be planted |
where there is water for purposes of |
commerce.
Now. il is true that the compare |
tive. and / do not know but that the |
absolute use of the river has diminish |
ed and that the railroad has taken its
place I suppose there are several |
bridges across the Mississippi river, |
each of which carries more freight |
than the whole river carries, but it is |
a natural, perfect and irresistible |
check upon the railroad. not the crea-
ton of human laws and not subject TO |
the imperfection in working of human
laws.
Until a very recent time, when COM
by the lakes and the can
ais from the west to the Atlantic froZe
up. the railroad rates advanced; and
in the spring. when the lakes and har-
bors and the waterways thawed out,
down went the railroad rates. 1t COM
menced with the most northerly of the
lines, and later on the New York Cen
trail, and then the Pennsylvania, and
then the Baltimore & Ohio, and so on.
l do not believe it would be possible
in the nature of things. but for that
limit upon railroad rates today, that
any human legislative power could
make the railroads charge what would