The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-09
The Sherman Antitrust Law
Condemned by Roads.
Officials Want Amendments to
Make 1t Practicable.
MR.. RELANO'S OPINION
Wabash President Attributes
Effectiveness to Enforcement.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.
MR.. RELANO'S OPINION


shipping interests are apparently unit
ing in an effort to obtain a repeal of
the Sherman antitrust act, in 50 far.
at least, as it applies to traffic associa-
lions. This fact is made apparent in
symposium published in the Railway
Age and participated in by railroad
pres idents. governors, railroad commits
sioners and representatives of large
shipping concerns. .,-
The shippers and railway men seem
to agree that the Hepburn act has
brought some great benefits, the chief
of which is the abolition of rebates,
but that it is too soon to make cor
rect deduction of the effect Of the act
taken as a whole.
All deplore the conflict of state and
national legislation, ard also agree that
the railroad interests and the shippers
are rapidly getting closer together and
are realizing that their interests are
closely interviewer.
Decentralization in railroad opera
ton is denounced by F. A. Delano,
president of the Wabash. It is his opin-
ion that If many of the minor execu-
tive duties were left to the men on the
ground. whose duty it is to put the or
ders into effect, better results would
be obtained.
Capitalization, he declares, also over
loads the men, who otherwise would
have time to devote to the few import
ant duties and to meet the leaders of
public opinion in the various communi-
ties.
What is needed in railway operation.
he said, is an effective local self govern
ment, with a good deal of authority by
local officers, combined with which
there should be an intelligent central
supervision
W. B. Biddle, vice president of the
Frisco and the Rock Island, declares
that railroads should be permitted by
law to agree on rates. This assertion
is in line with the views held by other
traffic officials, rs well as by members
of the interstate commerce commits
Zion.
antitrust law as insincere legislation
and he says 1t should be amended to
meet actual business requirements. He
also shows how the interstate com
merce act has been made effective by
enforcement. In part, Mr.. Delano says:
1.-THE interstate commerce law, as
amended by the Hepburn act has OPP
Grated about as 1 expected. 1t should
be noted, however. that the determine
ton on the part of the Federal govern
ment to enforce the law, rather than
the actual law itself, is what has
wrought the principal Improvement IN
the entire maintenance Of rates ana
the discoptipuance of improper, as Well
as Illegal, practices.
LAS many railroad officials pointed
out before the Hepburn law was passed
the old law went pretty far, and the
reason the public got the idea that II
was Inadequate was that 1t was never
enforced. Every single Indictment
against railway companies and other
corporations has been under the OLD m
terstate commerce act and the Elklns
amendment.
ssOf course. the most imports MT effect
in the enforcement of the law has been
the entire discontinuance OF rebates
etc.
"a very important effect which has
come from the new law has oeen que
to the operation of the thlrty-oay
clause. The operation of this law, ard
the great cost of preparation of tariffs
have made much less frequent any
changes in tariffs, and 1t is becoming
more and more evident to railway men
that tariffs are becoming more anu
more inf1exible.
sWhile there are some great advan-
Sases. there are also some marked DIS
advantages In this In other WORDS
there is a good deal to be said on Dotn
sides of this question.
1sT should he glad to see the Sherman
antitrust law-which was an ins1ncere
niece of legislation when 1t was passed
and which remained dead letter on
the statute books for twenty years al
ter II was passed-made so that II
would be more consonant with actual
business methods. I think this is all
the railroads need We want no more
railroad legislation for a while; we are
having a hard enough time adjusting
ourselves to the laws-state ana ieoeral
which have already been passed.
.'It would undoubtedly be easier for
the railway official to submit to regu-
iation by only one central BODY instead
of a multiplicity of legislatures; but.
as a private citizen. think that there
is great danger of decentralization.
The railroad l am connected with runs
through seven states, and in none of
these have we been dealt with so harsh
" or so inconsiderately as by the fed
eral government in the matter of COM
pensation for carrying the mails.
"It Is impossible to answer briefly
whether the tendency of recent state
regulation of railways is to seriously
affect their earning capacity and to
impair the confidence of investors in
their securities. The hostile attitude