The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-17
WEDNESDAY, APRIL II, 1907.
RAILROADS AND THE PUBLIC.

RAILROADS AND THE PUBLIC.
The railroad interests are complain
ing of unfair treatment at the hands
of the people, as represented by legis-
iative assemblies. They allege that
the hostility that has been worked up
against railroads has reached an acute
stage and 10 being given effect in leg
islation that is unjust and in some
cases ruinous to the transport alton
companies.
There may be instances OF harsh.
unreasonable and oppressive railroad
legislation in some parts OF the coun-
try, but wherever such exists the in.
terests affected may obtain relief from
the courts. The property OF a rail-
road cannot be confscated or rem.
dered worthless by Legislative enact.
ment. The rights of its n to q
fair return uponStheir investment will
be recognized at all times.
The consciousness that unfair and
extortionate rates have been levied
upon the public probably causes the
railroad interests to lexpect repris ais
at the hands ofuthose who have been
compelled to submit to such imposi-
tions. The feeling of revenge, how.
ever, has no place in 1.-THE doctrine of
the Square deal" All that is de.
manded OF the railroads is fair and
equal treatmentlforsall shippers, rea.
sonable rates forI the services rem.
dered, and thelproper performance of
their duties as common carriers.
The so.called e~anti.railroad agita.
ton is thelnatural result OF exposure
Of the peculiarimethods connected with
the financing and Ioperation of many
of the larger railroad systems. The
public hasluhad an opportunity to
study these methods and inform itself
as to their effect. The investigation
has demonstrated that railroad rates
In many instances we're fixed with a
view to earning profits upon q CAPT.
taliz ationlfar in excess of the value of
the property-in other words, the
shipperL1awas being system atically
robbed in order that:the market value
of railroad securities might be main
tanned.
1t was stated recently in a press dis.
patch that a federal investig alton OF
Northern Pacific affairs developed a
reorganization incident in which
James j. Hill and associates secured
about S26, 900, 900 worth of stock for
81, DOC, coo. The dispatch went or to
describe tbeiprofts of the deal, alleg-
ing thats.S per cent dividends were
paid upon the face value Of the stock
the 81, 900, 600 investment o hav.
ing a markedly alue.of about $3S, 900,
600.
1t has that. value because shippers
were compelled to pay rates that yield
big profits uponlthe watered capital,
cation.
Congress has Ienacted a law which
cOntemplates fair and reasonable
rates upon interstate traffic; Montana
and other states have statutes from
the enforcement OIL which the people
anticipate relief from exorbitant trans
portation charges-but there exist
one defect that prevents the full reali
cation Of benefits contemplated b,
these laws. There lis no provisio.
for ascertaining;Iwhat is q fair rat
for the services rendered.
That is the point at which legisla
ton will nov be directed by advocate
of the square deal" A fair valua
ton Of railroad property, for the pur
pose of ascertaining the amount Q
profit to which it is legitimately en-
titled, will be the next number on tn
program. 1t was proposed At the las
session of congress by Senator L
Toilette, of Wisconsin,, but was vote
down by his senatorial opponents.
At the recent session of the Montan
legislature, Representative Scallor
Of Silver Row, introduced a bill While
proposed to establish the value {
railroad property in this state, &c
the purpose of determining what is
fair rate for freight and passengs
service. Mr.. Scallon's bill provide
that, in the absence of any other rel
able data, the assessed valuation
railroad property in Montana sha
be considered its value for rate nal
ing purposes. The bill did not b
come q law.
In the settlement of the controvers
between the railroads and the peopl
as to what is q fair rate for the Sc
vices rendered, justice to all interes
requires that the true value of II
railroads be a~scertained. Why do Il
railroads object to that?
Lower Rates In Minnesota.