The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-09-15

spEclsloN in THE COMMODITIES
CASES,

NSSSS WEIHT EA1as"LN 1
III the commodities case.
IN the first place, the railroads OF
the east, Pennsylvania in particular,
own the principal coal producing prop
critics. In the matter Of disposing OF
their product they came into direct
competition with their own patrons
that is to say, coal operators who were
compelled to ship owe their lines
from mine to consumer. In the very
nature Of things, the transportation
companies had the best Of the propo-
sition. No matter how honest the
management Of the road, O how con
scientious its agent, when it came to
q question Of favoring n or the other,
Ii was but natural that the coal of the
company be given the preference over
that Of an outsider. An employe, II
he had to pass on the movement of a
train Of fuel belonging to an ~independ-
emit operator or Of the railway corpor-
alton, would most naturally send the
company shipment first.
For this reason, abuses grew out
of the system, and the small operator
was gradually forced to the wall, I'M
less he merged with some powerful
concern, when his identity was lost
which amounted to the same thing.
It was to correct these abuses that
the commodities act was passed by
the congress.
On the other hand, the railroad COM
panies purchased these properties at
a time when it was not illegal for rail
roads to own coal mines, or to come
into competition with their own Gus
toners. In many cases they develop
ed properties that individuals hest
tated to touch. 1t cannot be denied
that they squeezed the poor man, and
refused to give him quarter. There is
no question but that these roads prac.
ticed a system of legalized brigandage
permitted by no other nation in the
world. But, the mines have been &C
quired, and the properties developed
to the point where they employ thou
sands of men, and millions rely upon
them for fuel supply.
To calmly pass a law prohibiting
the roads from owning or operating
these properties would e to close
down the collieries, throw the men
out Of employment, and permit the
public, at the beginning of a hard win
ter, to suffer. .
Now we have two pictures and We
must take u choice.
1t is all right to decry the monopoly
for it is wrong, both in principle
and practice-but we are put to the
necessity of finding a remedy for ex
listing conditions.
1T is not enough that a law shall bt
passed, denying the right Of the road.
to own these mines. That does no
correct the abuses that exist.
1t was doubtless with this idea il
view that the court rendered its opin
ion. The people have rights in tn,
premises, greater than either the rail
roads or the independent operators
The people constitute the hundreds O
thousands Of coal miners, and the
millions who buy and consume the
fuel. To bring the system TO a stand
still at this moment would be to worl
i%rreparable injury not only to the priv
ate family, but to manufacturing in
terests, and when we strike at the in
dustrial side Of our life, we reacl
the core OF our material prosperity
Besides, the law permits one class Il
do something. and denies to anothe
class the same privilege-and that i
repugnant to the very letter Of tn,
constitution.
The law sought to cure an evil b
tearing down the present system
without providing an adequate metz
cd OF relief. Il it should becom
operative. 1t would close nine-tenths {
the coal mines OF the east, and tina
would paralyze u commercial life.
The remedy lies in the passage {
q law that will correct an existin
evil without disturbing the industrie
OF the nation.
While the matter has yet to go I
: higher court, 1t is hint to col
gress that q serious defect in. th
law has been discovered. by one cour
# least. and an opportunity will b
presented to pass . measure that wi
bring about the desired relief witt
out substituting 2 greater evil in Il
stead.
The Flethead Indians come by til
nalus honestly, while sone people =
quirs The Tux.