The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-05
FROM OTHER PENS
PLEA OF RAILROAD ANALYzED.


In support of the railroad plea for
higher rates because of rate legislation
and orders of the interstate commerce
commission, the chief argument adj
yanced is that the roads lost heavily
in revenue during the business slump
of 1907. The fact that railroad earn
ings decreased is not denied, though
the commission and the railroad repre-
|sentatives differ widely as to the
amount. This, however. is not pertinent
as applied to the present situation. If
the railroads suffered from the panic,
so did every other business enterprise.
While earnings and dividends decreas-
ed, the absence of net income was not
so noticeable in railroad as in other
lines and the struggle for actual exist
cree not nearly so severe. The real
meat of the question is whether present
conditions Justify an advance of rates.
For the months of November and De-
cember. 1908, and the month of Janu-
cry, 1900, all the railroads in the Uni
ted States showed an increase in net
earnings from operation of $34, 900 ,000 a.
compared with the panic months of the
year previous. For the month of Feb
ruary. 1900, as compared with the same
month of the preceding year the in
crease was 81. $50 900. These figures are
not taken from unauthorized sources,
but are beyond disputation by the rail-
roads, for they are the returns made
by the roads themselves to the inter-
Bee.
MOTHERS OF STATESMEN.
An interesting analysis of the
| nativity of representatives and SEN
ators in this congress, made by the
New York Evening Post, shows 26S
| of the congressman representing states
/ in which they were born, while 121
are so-called 'carpet-baggers," or
| aliens. These latter figures illustrate
| n1nhi1itV n lot frI,
the dispersion throughout the newer
| sections of the country of those who
| were born in the older parts. The
senate has 4S "carpet-baggers" and 43
in the Union whose delegations in
| congress are made up entirely of
| natives. There are only seven states
| Maryland. New Hampshire. South
Carolina. Vermont and Virginia. all
of them relatively old common
| wealths- Idaho, Colorado and five
| other states of the far west are with
out any native representatives. Ohio,
| Pennsylvania. Illinois and New York,
| of the northern, and Mississippi, of
| to more legislators, now representing
/ other states, than any of the sister
| hood Massachusetts, has only 10 to
| her credit.-Boston Herald.
KINDNESS IN PRISONS
Let us hope that prisoners and
| those under public restraint will be
treated kindly and decently. man
| Is commended when he is considerate
| with others. Generally those men
| who treat prisoners like animals are
/ themselves animals. and all such
1 should be kept away, by public
| authority. from prisons and the care
of criminals. There is nothing so
mean as for a man with a little
| authority to treat another, whom he
] guards. like dog.
4 Far better treat them with kind
ness. They may not. on the naked
issue of merit, be entitled to it. but as
| human being they are. Their very
misfortune should. awaken sympathy.
We must not forget that a sad, dark
fate is not the choice of these men.
They are victims of circumstances,
that might have crushed any of us as
} well. had we been in their places
Ohio State Journal.