The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-02-01

look takes the stand that the people
are not demanding lower rates, but
merely equal rates. And while that
no doubt represents the highest type
Of intelligence which has been lined
up in favor of regulations, It is appar
ent that the outlook is not really and
genuinely aware of the true conditions
over the country.
Contrary to the Outlooks statement
there is, as the Sun declared, gener
al clamor for lower rates on all classes
of transportation
In Nebraska there has been clam
or for destroying the present passen-
ger fare charged by railroads and sub
stituting one which shall be deter
mined by a state legislature. Two
cents per mile is the minimum thus
far suggested by any of these state
| lawmakers, but there has come forth
no apparent reason as yet why the
or half cent or less. And this same
sort of a tone is found not only in
| Nebraska but also in South Dakota and
in many other states, thus refuting the
claim of the Outlook which declares
that it is not "cheapness but equality"
that is being sought after And the
same condition is found with regard
to the transportation of other than
human commodities.
A few weeks ago James j. Hill, that
venerable railroad builder of the north
west who has done much to develop a
vast territory long years ahead of
development that might have come
but for the creative force of this indi-
vidual, wrote letter to Governor John
son of Minnesota in which he de-
clared: at is not by accident that
railroad building has declined to it's
lowest within a generation, at a time
when all other forms of activity have
been growing most rapidly. Railroads
have been made unpopular by legisla-
ton; they have been unduly taxed
quently while wealth has increased,
facilities for transporting that wealth
and making it available have almost
stood still" And Mr.. Hill points to
western legislatures of the present
year as proof of his statement that
legislative action has made railroads
little sought by investors. Along the
same line of argument, W. w. Finley,
president of the Southern railway,
shows how the cost of railway opera
ton has increased. Bridge timber,
steel rails, locomotives, passenger
coaches, freight cars, coal cars, labor,
taxes-a1l have increased in cost, be-
sides the excessive verdicts of juries
in personal injury cases and the heavy
penalties assessed by many states on
carriers for failure in service.
Engineers only last week received
an increase in pay. There is a gener
al demand over the country as re-
suit of recent wrecks and Deaths for
steel cars that will be more expensive,
and for more expensive safety appli-
ances, to say nothing of increased
trackage. And simultaneously with
this demand for the additional eXpen-
diture of millions on the part of these
investors, come state legislatures on
all hands with destructive measures
seeking to tear down the income to
these companies.
The wonder is that state legislatures
and congress have not yet taken up
for government regulation the supply
of bread, the printing of newspapers,
and the operation of every other form
of industry which has to do with the
public life. There is as yet no appar-
ent reason why we should not legis-
late for government ownership of the
newspapers that the public might get
its reading at below cost, just as it
now gets some of its stamped envel-
Ope printing. Or why should we not
attack every single industry that ex-
lists and pass laws to regulate them
and, if we choose, fix the prices that
shall be charged by them? Why not
pass law that no magazine shall
charge more than 81 per line for it's
advertising, and not more than six
cents per copy?
Perhaps the reason lies in the fact
that these suggestions have not been
made and advocated column after col
umn by the reform" newspapers of
the country and magazines.
It may be that there is a faction of
the reform" element which is merely
seeking to get equality from various
industries, but state legislatures prove
conclusively that much of the agita-
5 ton has been misunderstood by the
r lawmakers of various commonwealth
and that destruction of rates and sub
l stitution of lower charges, regardless
+ of constitutionality or of the justice OF