The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-03-30
RADICAL RAILROAD REGULATION AND IT'S
EFFECT ON BUSINESS.

creased desire on the part Of investors
to put their money into railroad prop
critics. They have been given to un-
derstand that probably their borrow
ing capacity Is to be limited within
narrow lines by the Government, so
that even IL they were willing to make
these expenditures. 1t would be Diff
cult for them 20 obtain the necessary
financing.
In fact. looking at it fror, any, point.
the owners of railroad property have
nothing to see that would encourage
them In spending any money until
they have q more definite idea as to
what extent they are going to be con-
trolled and directed by the National
Government, and under such circum-
stances. all IF the vast industrial en-
terprises that are depending upon the
railroads, will find that ut the time
that their present orders upon which
they are working. issued some six
months ago when it was not dreamed
of that the present adverse conditions
could possibly arise. will have been
completed. that we will again be in
practically the same petition that VIC
were in during the early part OF 1895
In my judgment unless Congress re-
strains its interference with the cIrIl-
ing capacities OF the railroads, there
will be q permanent setback in the
general business OF the country. that it
may take years to overcome
Some Congressman think that the
railroad interests are the real fCrco
that is behind the rapidly growing un-
rest of the business men regarding
legislation. This is absurd: we need
no spur to wake US up to our unfcr-
tunate situation, which is by no Incans
confined to railroad supply institutions
There are 100000 railroad c:,-
pioyees. 1t takes $780, 900 rcn to sup
ply what the railroads need. and
vast number Of men are employed in
supplying the personal needs OF tho
above 100000 men. Every kind Of
business is dependent in some meas
ure on railroad prosperity.
Tho producers OF wool. cotton. to-
bacco. sugar and many other special
articles in this country, have SO in
terested themselves in their business
that they have forced the General
Government to put special protect
i've tax on the things they produce.
which we and our employees. who DO
not produce them, have to pay for.
and to many of which We do not CD
ject.
On the same principle, and for the
same reasons, when business men be-
come as active in looking after their
interests, and with the same rights,
We can induce the General Govern
ment to give us equal protection by
allowing the railroad companies, who
are the producers Of our revenue. to
make sufficient profit to enable then
to buy a full plenty of the goods they
need which we manufacture. This will
involve no special tax, will mean bet
ter railroad service, and more bust
ness for everyone. particularly thu
working man; and when 1t is cO1sid-
cred that in reality 800 OF all the
money received by the railroads and
ourselves goes directly to the working
people, We should have the solid en-
dorsement and individual support c:
every working man in the country.
Cause.-The trouble with the whole
situation is that many of the men who
make the laws are not familiar with
the true inwardness of the relations
and dependence which the manufae-
turing and business interests have
upon the general railroad situation,
nor do they realize that in administer
ing their socalled discipline to tho
railroad companies that we arc the III
innate consumers" of that discipline.
Remedy:-It is OF the greatest iin-
po.tance that some decided action lie
taken by the Government at as early
date as possible, as there will be no ir,
provement until this uncertainty has
been overcome.
January %, 1910
T. A. GRiFFIN.