The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-22
SOUND A WAR CRY.
CONTINUED from Page one.)

: OUUVD n WAN OkI.
Continued from Page One.)
vance in freight rates is the PROPOSE
ton that their employees should be
PAID higher wages. If they are honest
in this contention why have these en-
ployees always been forgotten when
the railroad companies had a melon to
cut of ten, twenty or thirty million
dollars surplus earnings? This sur
plus has invariably been divided among
the stockholders either in extra divi-
dends or appropriated for improve
ments and additions which in effect
were dividends to the stockholders.
There is no doubt that the faithful en-
ployees of railroads are entitled to a
| greater share than they now receive
| of the earnings which result so largely
from their labors. The railroads con-
| tinuously complain of the increased
i expense in operation, but statistics
| prove taht both the gross and net earn
! ings have increased far more rapidly
in proportion than expenses. This is
| plainly shown from year to year by
| the increase in their dividends and
| their surplus.
"The advanced rates now being con-
sidered by the interstate commerce
| commission were agreed to by the
combined railroads of the United
States and are. therefore. clearly in
violation of the Sherman antitrust
law. 1 submit to you gentlemen the
proposition that it is unwise and con-
trary to sound public policy~for the
federal government to permit these
railroads to openly and f1agrantly vio-
| late the antitrust law by combining
together for the purpose of advancing
freight rates and through their unlaw-
full acts to increase the price of trans
portation to the American people more
than one hundred million dollars an
nually. If the railroads are thus per-
mitted to violate the federal laws with
| impunity in broad daylight and there
by increase their profits millions of
dollars per annum, what incentive has
any citizen to respect the law when he
| can increase his income by breaking
Iit?
| The Logic of the Situation.
''The advances proposed and which
are now being considered by the inter
| state commerce commission are of vi
tai importance to every producing and
shipping interest of this country, as 1t
levies an additional tax on their bust
ness. 1t is utterly impossible for the
| farmers. stockmen merchants and the
working class to combine and advance
the price of their product; they are
compelled to meet competition in open
market. The farmers and stockmen
suffer from drouths, floods, storms and
panics, and no one eimburses them
for losses incurred. The laborer loses
his entire income whenever he is out
of employment and the merchant has
bad years and good years in business.
Why should the railroads be singled
out as a favored class, to be insured
against all losses and have regular in
comes regardless of financial or bust
ness conditions or bad crops.
Prison for Law VioIators.
''I am in favor of a rigid enforce
ment of the antitrust laws against
railroads, monopolies, trusts and COM
bines, and am in favor of sending every
man to prison who is guilty of build
ing monopolistic combines which in
crease the cost of the necessities of life.
Any advance in cost of transportation
increases the price of sugar, bread,
beef, food stuffs, clothing. lumber, coal
and every other necessity of life. 1t is,
in my opinion, the absolute duty of
congress to enact a simple mandatory
law, providing prison sentence for
the officers of corporations who are re-
sponsible for any unlawful combina-
tionS in restraint of trade; and also
providing that receiver shall be ap-
pointed to take charge of the property
of such corporations and manage them
for the benefit of the stockholders and
public until satisfactory assurances are
given that they will obey the law.
When congress enactS these laws and
they are rigidly enforced. trusts, COM
bines and monopolies will be as scarce
as horse thieves and no more respec-
table IN IEe
Congress should also imme diately
enact a law providing for the physical
valuation of railroads by the interstate
commerce commission and this should
be done before any general advance in
railroad rates is permitted. There is
no more reason why badly managed,
badly constructed, poorly located and
overcapitalized railroads should pros
per than why badly managed bust
ness of any kind should be successful
and neither the people nor the govern
ment have any more responsibility to
this class of railroads than they have
to i'll advised business operations of
any kind.
Discrimination in Favor of Cities.
1.-THE general policies of railroads
throughout the United States to favor
large centers and build up great cities
at the expense of the rural commune
ties is little less than crime against
civilization. Sue ha policy robs hum
dreds of thousands of children of their
natural right to wholesome surround
! ings, sunshine, pure air, and healthy
| social conditions. 1t also encourages
abnormal development in great cities
where crime and shame find conven-
! lent shelter. The true policy should be
| to so regulate transportation rates that
the rural districts will be developed
and the population normally distrib-
uted. The government and not the
railroads. should determine absolutely
| policies of this character.
Railroads are a great necessity, as
well as a great convenience, and they
should have fair and just treatment
and the public is willing to accord
| them justice, but we must remember
| that they are owned by the same men
who now control the steel trust, coal
trust lumber trust, sugar trust, and
practically every Big monopoly and
combine affecting the necessities of life
and do not need any special favors.
'TWhile the American people have
| been developing the resources of the
country a comparatively small num-
Der of men have secured enormous in
| terests in the principal manufacturing
! industries, railroads, and finances of
the country and through their affilia-
have exerted a tremendous influence
in shaping the policy of this govern
| ment in so far as it relates to trans