The Washington herald., 1907-03-20
Lie seat ID the TrouhIe.

One phase OF the railroad question of
very great significance has been generally
left out of consideration alike by Iegisla-
tors. executives, and the public. That is
that the real railroad constructors and
managers are not the men who are re-
sponsible for the abuses from which the
public has suffered, and TO correct which
an excess of zeal in many States is threat
ening serious trouble to the trar 1porta-
ton interests. AS a rule, the men whose
energy. capital, and constructive genius
have been devoted with such marvellous
results TO the development Of the vast
transportation systems OF the country are
not and have not been explOiters OF the
public. Their interests have been too in
timately identified with the welfare OF
those sections of the country in which
their railroads are such important fac
tors OF development 10 permit them to
adventure upon ruthless schemes of ex-
pieitation. II has remained for the Jay
GOulds of the past and the Harrimans OF
the present to do this. There is no essen
tiaI difference in methods. A primary
feature in former days was TO wreck
a struggling railroad property in order
the easier 10 exploit it, AS a result
of this. hardships we're imposed upon
every interest dependent upon the rail-
road involved for stable and orderly prog
ress. Fiuctuatins freight rates. rebates,
irregular train schedules. responsibility
without authority with which titular
managers were hampered. and a host of
other noxlous evils sprang up. to the
gTi3vous hurt of the wrecked railroad
public. These placed burdens Upon t1e
carriers earning power that crippled its
activities and demoralized it's Hanag =
ment. A natural consequence was y en-
diti0n of armed neutrality between the
railroad and the community that led TO
adverse legislation which inflicted harm
upon ali the roads alike.
In that era the men who built and man
aged the railroads suffered. Just as their
successors are suffering to-day under the
manipulation of the high financiers. 4"
The play of the forces controlled By the
railroad exploiters Of the present time are
broader in their sweep than were those
controlled by their progenitors of the past
generation. Mainly, # not wholly, on
this account the railroad problem has be-
come national. and its solution transcends
the legitimate functional capacity Of the
States. We venture the assertion that If
it were practical to check and destroy the
evils of high finance" and restore the
railroads to the control Of their share
holders and managers, the existing popu-
lar ferment would soon be stilIed and a
feeling of amity would grow up between
the roads ana the public.
Obviously the ultimate effect of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's policy will be to curb
the power Of the railroad exploiters and
turn the management of the roads back
to the men whose trained skill has devel-
oped them and whose sole concern Is to
so manage them as 10 conserve on the
one hand the interests of their share
holders and on the other the interests OF
the public. To this end the exposures
already made by the Interstate Commerce
Commission are tending. and they will
eventuate In creating sane and whole
some public opinion that viii sustain reso-
iutely the Presidents course. President
Roosevelt has shown his determination to
get at the seat Of the trouble by. consult
ing railroad managers ike B. F. Yoakum
and c. s. Mellen.