The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1908-02-13
A CHANGE IN DRIFT.

In commenting on the recent ac-
ton of the Texas Railroad commits
sion in regard to the proposed re-
duction of railroad fares, the Times
Democrat, of New Orleans, La,
handles the matter as follows:
The action OF the Texas railroad
commission in dismissing, some days
ago, it's motion to promulgate an or
der reducing passenger rates in that
state from three to two and half
cents, assigning as its reason that
the present time is unfavorable to
lower fares in Texas is significant
and encouraging. A more reasonable
affecting the common carriers is in
dicated, not alone in Texas, but in
modified degree in other southern
states which have been experiment
ing with reduced rates. The reaction
was inevitable, but the recent fur
ry and the industrial depression that
followed have naturally FASTENED it.
But a few months ago commercial
demands upon freight equipment had
swamped the carriers. Empty freight
cars, everywhere ,requistioned, were
not to be had, and the car famine
was more acute than that of the pre-
vious year. Today thousands of
'empties' are standing upon the sid
ings, with the millions Of money in
vested in them earning practically
no return. Obviously the time is i'll
chosen for reduction of railroad
| rates, and the action of the Texas
commission proves that the public
is intelligent enough to recognize
the fact and reasonable enough to
see that justice be done.
THE Times-Democrat, throughout
the period of agitation has contend
ed that passenger rates ought to be
reduced only after a careful and
thorough inquiry by competent in
vestigators has shown that reduc-
lions would prove equitable to all
wisdom of arbitrary laws, hastily
enacted by legislators ill-informed as
to the effect upon the carriers. Par
ticularly is there need of caution in
the southern states, most of which
are so sparsely populated as to rem
| der arbitrary reductions hazardous.
| 1t is true that the carriers have been
guilty of grave abuses and that their
ill-chosen methods of opposing rate
reductions have been shrewdly cal
| culated to inflame the public mind
| But two wrongs never made a right
and oppressive reprisals by legisla-
| lures or public commissions have
served to increase, rather than mini
mize, the difficulties of the problem.
| 1t is we'll understood that no state
| or community can thrive without ad-
equate railroad facilities, and a
sound public policy demands that
the carriers be encouraged in their
|
| legitimate development and that
| their right to a fair return upon
their investment be conceded. Where
| reduction of passenger rates is JUS
titled by business conditions there
can be no objection to its enforce
ment, but the reductions ought to be
based upon exact mathematical cal
culation, never upon sentiment or
prejudice. Governor Hughes of New
York took the correct position when
he vetoed the two-cent rate bill pass
ed by his own Legislature on the
ground that the question had not
been carefully considered and that
careful and competent investigation
of the rate question must be made
before such a rate could justly be
enforced. If this pronouncement be
appiauded in New York, state in
which passenger traffic is enormous,
how much stronger Is its claim to
consideration in the southern states
SO thinly settled that the earnings
from passenger traffic must of neces-
sity be much smaller.
THE growing popular demand for
more reasonable rate regulations,
and for enactments that shall be fair
alike to the public and the carriers,
points the way to better understand
ing between the clashing interests
and to a satisfactory adjustment of
the differences existing; consum-
nation devoutly to be wished.