The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-06-11
A SATISFYING CONCLUSION

The country will be gratihed to
learn that an amicable agreement
has been arrived at between the
president, representing the govern
ment. and the railroad companies
against which proceedings were
last week instituted by the attorney
general. This agreement practical
ly ends the threatened prosecution
of the railroad companies. and yet
leaves them free to later on increase
their rates subject to the approval
of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. 1t is more than probable
that the railroads would ultimately
have won out in the legal proceed
ings instituted, because it is hard TO
understand how one road can have a
rate different from that of another
road doing business in the same ter
ritory. and it is readily seen that
different rates on competing roads
would result in rate cutting hight
disastrous to both roads. IL was,
therefore. most natural that all OF
the roads doing business in the MD
die west should file similar tariffs,
and il is hardly likely that the courts
would have permanently enJolned
them from so doing. However. a
fight between the government and
the railroads is death to business,
not only business Of the roads. but
to the general business Of the coun-
try. IS was clearly proved in 1917
when the crusade all over the conn.,
try against the railroad companies
resulted in a disastrous panic, from
which we have never yet fully recov-
cred. The institution of. the latest
government suit against the roads
threatened the general business OF
the country at that time, and this
business under most favorable cir
cumstanceS has been none too good
since 1907. 1t resulted in cancella-
ton of large supply orders, ceSsa-
ton Of improvement work by the
roads and shaking up of business
confidence in every part of the
country. Therefore, in view OF
these dangers, it is highly pleasing
that a satisfactory compromise has
been arrived at. The railroads have
greatly increased their expenses by
meeting the various demands on
them. and it seems but fair that they
should be allowed to make fair in
creases in their freight rates.
A government clerk in a cOmmu-
nication in The Washington Post in
reference TO pensioning clerks pro-
tests against the proposition to create
pension fund by deduction from
the salaries of the clerks themselves.
In our Judgment this whole PROPOSE
ton of pensioning clerks is absurd.
If the clerks are not getting enough
to live upon, as they now claim, they
are not obliged to remain in the gov
eminent service. No man is forced
to work for Uncle Sam unless he
wants to. and there is plenty OF
work elsewhere to do and thousands
of other fellows who are anxious for
the job if he will only get out De-
cent people everywhere have grown
heartily sick of this pension business
already, and the whole country,
especially the South, has been taxed
to- pay pensions in many instances
to bogus soldiers. The remedy for
the clerks supposed ills is to cut
down the number at least one
third, for there are great many
unnecessary and inefficient clerks,
employ better men, who are selected
for their worth and not because of
political pull, and pay better salaries.
The American people are becoming
sick of the word pension and if they
keep their senses they will get out
Of the mess they are in as soon as
possible and have no more of it.