Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1907-02-07
Entered at the postomcei in Goldsboro
second class mail matter.
RAILROADS and The PEOPLE.

That there is a widespread and
deep-seated indignation-to put it
mildly-against railroads all over the
country cannot be successfully contra
dicted. That this Indignation is not
without reason is equally true that
the railroads themselves are primarily
responsible for this feeling is likewise
true. Hence the widespread demand,
in almost every state and before al
most every legislature now in session
for stringent railroad legislation.
What we state here as to the rail-
roads themselves being primarily re-
sponsible for this condition of public
sentiment is substantiated by the re-
cent report of the interstate commerce
commission on it's investigation of dis
elimination and monopolies, under the
joint resolution Of Congress of March Z,
1906, known as the Tillman-Gillespie
resolution. By that report a number
of the large coaling railroads traVers-
ing Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio,
Maryland, New York and other States
are shown up in a very unfavorable
1SuGl Ill Gu0 IldLIcI VI PldJ 1hS
with coal companies in which officials
and employees of these roads held large
interests. The report Of the commits
sion which deals with bituminous coal
carried east of the Ohio river and in the
territory bounded on the south by the
Norfolk and Western railway, on the
north by Canada and on the east by
the Atlantic seaboard, declares that
nine railroads hauling coal in this terri
tory own directly, or by stock owner
ship in other companies, large interests
in coal lands.
The ARGUS believes in dealing fair
ly with the railroads, for they are great
upbuilders and promoters of prosperity;
but at the same time the railroads
should, of themselves, have integrity
enough to deal fairly with tie people.
In the report here referred to, 1t is
shown that both officials n employees
of railroads who had influence in the
distribution of cars were in many cases
presented with large blocks of the
stock of coal companies so as to get
their cooperation in furnishing equip
ment for handling the traffic; that this
system was practiced without subter-
fuge or pretense of purchase, until it
grew into a scandal. 1t is shown that
the coal operators secured the influence
of railroad officials by these gifts to
such an extent that Independent con-
Germs not in the combine were either
forced out of business Or discouraged
from undertaking to compete with the
combination. It is further set forth that
the railroads had an agreement among
themselves to fix rates of ~transporta-
ton and thereby control the price OF
coal.
The report exposes a combination
among these railroads and a number o.
the larger coal companies in the prac-
tice of discrimination against botE
competitors and the public. The whole
business as practdced has been in the
nature of a conspiracy in restraint O
trade, and the public, o~fcourse, gets the
shot end of it.
Under such circumstances-so Off
cially shown up by the interstate com
merce commission after careful investi
cation, is it to be wondered at that thu
people should be thoroughly iudignan
almost to extremes. But there's tn,
danger! Let us, as a law-loving, law
abiding people, who believe in doing
the fan thing, uot permit ourselves t.
go to extremes. Let's be just, though
wronged. Let's not arrogate to our
selves the divine ~prerogative of ven
geance.
Let our legislature deliberate cody
investigate thoroughly n the1
formulate and promulgate a law tina
will give relief and insure protection.