The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-10-22
ONE WAY TO IMPROVE RAILROAD
CONDITIONS

With the fact in evidence that for
some time to come the railroads must
pay for extensions and additions out of
savings rather than by new capital. the
question of permitting traffic agree
ments between carriers comes up
again. This means simply: Shall the
railroads. under proper restrictions be
allowed to get together and plan the
most economical way to handle and
distribute traffic?
Everybody wants more railroads,
better service, and if possible, lower
rates. Anything that will make posi-
be economies in operation out of
which all these things would come,
would be desirable. The laws ban on
such agreements was framed to MAIN
tain competition. but its principal eff
fec. has been to force the carriers to
conduct their business on the most eX-
pensive lines, although the public's
main interest lies in getting the most
tIlClent ana the cheapest trallSpOfld-N
ton.
Under a law that would permit
agreements between railroads without
surrenderinS the governments right to
prohibit combinations in restraint Of
trade traffic could be so handled that
the road with a low grade would re-
lieve the high grade winding road Of
the sort of transportation that it could
not carry properly. Economical distri-
button of class freight, now prohibited
by law, would also be possible, and
the resulting economies, railroad men
say, would mean an immense saving
in dollars and an ever greater improve
ment in service.
Mr.. Hartman in his testimony be-
fore the interstate commerce commits
sion last February cited the purchase
of the dominating influence in the Bur-
lington by the Great Northern and
Northern Pacific as an argument for
allowing traffic agreements. If" he
said. I'VE had some legal method
Pacific and Great Northern, under
some legal restriction had been per-
mitted to make contracts by which
they could approximately nave accom-
plished the same thing. it would not
have been necessary to issue the $780,
200 of bonds to acquire the Burlng
ton stock. and the ownership of these
securities would have been in the hands
of the people. where l believe it is bet
Ter ii should be"
This matter of traffic agreements
seems to be the one that affords a good
opportunity for the sort of cooperation
between the government and the rail-
roads that. nearly everybody agrees,
must be undertaken if the carriers are
10 live up TO the increasing demand
upon them.
Now that the government has taken
a hand and is investigating the meth
o3s employed by the various railroads
III their traffic agreements" which are
declared to be combinations in re-
straint Of trade." the railroads are
preaching cooperation. something they
apparently never thought of until they
were given an example of what the
people would do after a season of long
suffering
Strange the railroads never thought
of cooperating with the government or
any one else until they were forced
into it, Instead of cooperating the heads
of the various Interests have thought
of nothing but the millions they were
piling up at the expense of the people
and when halt was called in some Of
their illegal practices they Immediately
began TO preach cooperation. The gov
ernment. and the people. which is the
same thing, would be glad to permit
traffic agreements in the interest Of
economy, but the railroad, and other
high financiers, have demonstrated that