The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-18

given its nearest neighbor. No human
agency can bestow upon an interior town
the geographical and commercial ad-
vantages OF town on the seaeoast.
while I lived and did business in
California. / had to meet the problem OF
water competition, and was compelled
TO give rebates. The practice of selling
at wholesale at lower price than at
retail is as old as civilization. Connected
with the question. as it concerns rail-
roads and factories, is the element OF
operation cost. On the unit Of production
it is cheaper to run a railroad or a plow
factory to its full capacity than at half
capacity. merchant would say 10 me:
I pay you 100000 a year for freight
My competitor across the street pays you
$l0,0o. l demand a lower rate: other
wise I shall transfer my business to
another road
Cause of Rebates.
Rebates were granted that roads
might be busy up to their capacity. The
little men knew it, but they made no
objection. But conditions changed and
business becoming centralized among
groups OF strong men. it was well that
rebating became unlawful. l only want
10 say that It was logical. natural and
defenslble as praetieed by railroads at
the beginning Even insurance companies
gave rebates until recently"
And all the time" / observed public
sentiment was being slowly turned
against the transportation companies?"
Yes, but mainly by the politicians who
were after public patronage for them
selves The railways, no doubt. were
guilty of misdeeds. but they were grossly
nhsrepresented by the politicians, and
what the politicians said stuck in the
minds Of the people. Few men. compar-
atively. ship or receive freight They are
without personal knowledge concerning
the alleged abuses Of transportation
What information they have comes from
the politicians. and they believe the poll
ticians. Seemingly. railroad men are the
most INSCRIPTIONS and audacious liars on
earth. Why. railroading is a useful and
worthy profession. I am as fond of my
profession. Of its works and honors as
lawyer or a physician is fond of his
professional calling Nevertheless, l am
weary of the everlasting struggle against
years and live on one-fourth of my pres
ent income merely that l may have rest
and tranquility.
Made Rich by Railroads.
Stand 100 traffic men in a line. repre-
sentative men, who are toiling day and
night TO build the country. Look at
them. They are optimistic. patriotic, and
strong, but they are poor. Stand 100
merchants, 100 manufacturers, 100 farm
ers. and 100 lawyers in a line Gaze at
them. They are no better as men, nor
are they any more desirable as citizens
than the traffic agents. But they are
rich, and the railroads have made them
so.
Christian men in the South owned
slaves. They honestly believed in slav-
cry. They saw no injury to themselves
or their slaves in an institution sane
toned by the laws of the country. A
slave was fed to produce cotton, rice. or
sugar economically He was given no
luxuries and was worked TO the limit.
In sense. the railways have exchanged
places with the African bondmen. The
laws of the States say how much rail-
ways may charge for carrying freight,
and they fix the quality of the service.
Cars must be modern. Stations must
be large and convenient. Tracks must
be safe and smooth But dividends are
limited to 5 per cent. or e per cont on the
shares outstanding. Nothing is said of