The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-06-30
SECTIONAL ACUMEN.


The Interstate Comerce Commission is again
reducing rates-in the West.
Reductions ranging from 20 to so per cent
have been declared on classes of commodities be
tween the Mississippi and the Coast and other
large reductions between the Coast and the Noun
famous Districts
This action probably means that there is some
where conspicuous defect in the railroad argu-
mcnt that increases in wages and in operating
expense have resulted in greater proportonate
decrease in net than increase in gross earnings.
In other words. it is finding against the rail-
road contention that good times 10 not mean tor
railroads increased prosperity except at the cost
Iof increased rates.
So far as the particular decisions are concern
ed, they reflect popular sentiment. In hard
times the railroads are the first to say that they
are merely the reticctors of the countrywide con-
ditions OF business that with business lax, they
suffer, and therefore. although business is less
able to pay the toll, they ought TO be given
the privilege of-raisng prices transportation
both of persons and freight. In good times, there
is strangely enough an absence Of railroad ella
ton The plea then is that such prosperity as
exists in the country j. the result of the railroads,
and at the cost of the railroads. Although they
have more business to do it costs them more to
do il. Consequently, they ought TO be entitled to
maintain, and even to increase rates. 1t Is gen
Ierally, i'll fact--good times bad-a case be-
tween railroad and public of White Man, Turkey,
Indian, Turkey Buzzard
We regret, however. 10 note a sectional quality
in the acumen of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission in anal wing this almost self-evfdent
condition. They reject the railroad pleas so
far the West is concerned; they sustain them,
when the section affected happens to be the
South In one leading decision, in fact, the Com
mission even went SO far as to sustain a high
Southern rate on the candid ground that, by yir-
tue of it, New England manufacturers of cot
ton were able to compete at an advantage over
their Southern competitors i'll shipments of man
ufactured goods to the Orient. In another re-
cent case. il rendered a decision III which it was
seriously suggested that Congress pass law un-
der the Commerce Clause by which authority to
fix intrastatc rates would be taken away from
State rate commissions.
On account of these facts it is interesting to
note that general Congressional election is to
the fore; that The Insurgents are militantly ram
pant in the West, and that railroad rates consti
tute the greatest of their demands which have
not already been definitely denied by Repub
hcan administration.
Il he barrel which ii is hoped will once
more save the West 10 the Republican party to be
contributed, -noLcns uoLens,-by railroads whose
rates are unpopular i'll the Republican section
now in revolt; while equally unpopular rate:
are to be permitted TO be retained in the South
where the Republican party hopes to hold such
fexistence as it has alive by continuing tax upor
| the people,
The railroad rate is prism that catches more
colc1s the more is confusing facets are turned
before the eye.