Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-11
The Railroad QuestIon.


The Railroad Question.
OMAHA, March $50 the Editor OF The /
Bee: A few days ago the writer ventured
to voice his opposition to the 2-cent rail-
road bill at a meeting Of the Commercial
club. The position taken by me was at
tributed by the newspapers to railroad
subserviency. No one in any manner called
my attention to that meeting or asked me
to attend II. / was impelled to go there
solely from the Interest have in the pros
perity and welfare Of this city, In which
my whole life since early manhood has
been passed.
Those who know me are well aware that
have never permitted the connection
am said TO have with a railroad to influence
me when the interests of Omaha have
been involved.
To those who have borne the brunt Of
battle In the past for the advancement Of
Omaha interests and Omaha men. the pres
ent situation, to say the least. is discour-
aging Omaha seems to be pulled and buff
fetted in any direction that win promote
the small temporary interests of the men
who seem now to be in complete control
of its political affairs. Our national repre-
sentation for effective results, so strong in
the past. has been entirely destroyed and
our most important interests must now be
committed to hands which have no especial
concern for Omaha and, in fact, may rep
resent interests directly hostile to ours. The
browning act was reached in foTcing an or
ganization supposed to represent the bust
ness interests Of Omaha to take a stand
directly antagonistical to what has con-
tributed the most TO its past growth and
upon which its future prosperity must
largely depend. The action taken by the
Ii. - k,, n efp hue
ness reason and was not even required
In the interest of the accent bill 1t was
politics. pure and simple. ,a.n.
The 2-cent bfll is now thing of the past
aud must stand or fall as the law courts
determine. The effect of it's passage. how
ever, remain, and upon this wish to say
few words. The action taken by the rail-
roads in suspending and perhaps abandon
ing their contemplated improvements In
Omaha is depicted in the newspapers as
spite and blum. I hope that It is BLUM
but I do not believe it, There are other
reasons which It seems to me have con-
tributed to and perhaps determined the
decision.
1t Is generally assumed that the railroads
are made of money; that in order to put
through any contemplated improvements or
extensions. all that is required is to draw
upon an overlooking treasury. ButN this
is an error. For instance: The Union
Pacific may not be willing to take S1.25NOOO
from its earnings and put 1t into a build-
ing IN Omaha, and the Burlington is not
likely to use it's earnings in the construction
of branch line in the North Platte val
ley or elsewhere. The means for such
work must be obtained from the sale Of
stocks and bonds. The market for rail-
road securities has been unfavorable for
some time past. affected undoubtedly by
the agitation concerning railroad manage
ment
The elamor in the east for a 2-cent pas
senger rate has perhaps had little effect,
for the reason that railroad construction
has there practically ceased and a heavy
traffic justifes the rate. But when a far
western state like Nebraska undertakes
to enforce the same rate by law, a state
which wants more railroads. whose ex-
listing lines are comparatively new-and IT
is notorious that the maintenance Of the
rate on some OF them will result In loss.
not proft-the effect upon the market for
such securities must be unfavorable. Cap
ital win not be invested in enterprises where
the risk Of virtual confseation is so clearly
shown. and hence a halt must be called
I'm railroad expenditures.
The railroad companies, In my judgment
do not ask or expect from the commune
ties in which they operate anything but
! justice and fair treatment The 2-cent bill
Is neither fair nor just II a set OF men,
without inquiry or knowledge Of the sub
/ ject, can arbitrarily fix a 2-cent tarin. they
can make Il ] cent. In fact II the opinion
/ Of the attorney general can be relied upon,
/ they may abolish passenger fares alto
gether and let the people ride free-pro-
vided the railroads can obtain from freight
| earnings sufficient 70 save them from bank.
Fuptey.
1t may be that the expression of public
sentiment so far given In Omaha does not
correctly reflect the opinion Of the COM
munity. The few votes cast at the Com
mereial club meeting may not be the views
of its large membership. II this should
be the case, then IL Is about time that
proper showing should be made.
Although Il may be expecting too much,
even the newspapers and their following
may conclude that they have gone too far
IN what they have accomplished. What
may yet be done cannot perhaps, repair
the damage already inflicted. but Il may
guard against still greater disaster
HENRY w. YATES.