The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-14
FRON OTHER PENS
AMERICANfzING CANADA.

In November, when heavy gains in
railroad earnings were common, the
biggest increase credited to any one
| road was reported by the Canadian
Pacific. Its income exceeded its re-
ceipts for the corresponding part of
| 1908 by about 81, 162 co., or at the rate
| of more than $21;000.0O0 a year. Even
in such big business as American rail-
reading these are impressive figures.
The greater part of the growth which
made such gains possible took place in
the British Northwest. where vast fer
tile areas are being brought under Gull
tivation and crops are expanding at a
rate unmatched anywhere else in
America. The Canadian Pacific is being
carried ahead at a splendid pace by
the growth and development of the re-
gion between Manitoba and the Pa
cific.
there is SO large an immigration from
the u. s. that is it profoundly affect
ing the characteristics and outlook of
the population. With $4,000 Americans
moving into the British Northwest ev-
cry year the tendency is more and
more toward intimate trade and social
relations with the United States. 1t
turns the thoughts of the whole region
southwark more than ever before. There
is less looking eastward than formerly
to old Canada and to Great Britain
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
THE FEATHERED MENDICANT.
Whatever opinion be held regarding
the moral or esthetic value of the
English sparrow, one is forced to adj
mire his courage. 1t may be the
courage of stupidity OF the courage of
despair. but whatever it be, it subjects
a shivering, starving bird to rigors and
fortunes Of weather for which it is not
prepared.
Not a great deal of sentimentaIism
is required to object to the idea of
starvation. This unpleasant route to
the shadow of the valley is one opened
wide to the small bunch of feathers
when snow covers the accustomed din
ing tables of its kind. A handful of
crumbs thrown into the backyard will
be received gratefully by certain anx-
ious residents of a great city An
ironic protest against any form of
sympathetic endeavor to relieve dumb
suffering so long as there remains the
grim fact oe human anguish inevitably
arises on every occasion. but that will
tering food to the pathetic applicants
at the back door. The greater suf-
fering is not likely to be forgotten be-
cause the lesser is remembered.-Chi-
cago Tribune.
REBATES BY CLASSIFICATION.
1t is well known that some ship
at the hands of certain railroads
through the medium of juggled clas-
sifications. No one knows, of course,
the extent of this juggling aud the
favoritism it carries. President Taft
has been impressed with the represen-
tations made to him and he fears that
the benefits of abolishing direct re-
bates have been neutralized, in large
measure, by this indirect method of
doing the same thing. He will urge
congress SO to amend the Hepburn
rate law as to empower the interstate
commerce commission to prescribe
uniform classifications for the whole
country.
Such classification, together with
the provisions and penalties already
set forth in the Hepburn act for MAX
ing false classifications an! for failure
to make public the cIassifcatiors used.
should go far to correct the discrimi-
nations that still exist in freight ship
ping
And 1t is foretold. and plausibIy,
that the railroads will be ready to CO.
operate with the president and with
congress if congress is favOrably dis
posed, in bringing about this reform
because they have learned from the
abolition CT direct rebates that it is
more profitable to the railroads col
lectivefy to make the same rates to all
shippers. At the same time it is the
only decent and honorable way to-
transact business.-kansas City STAR.