Abilene weekly reflector., 1913-07-03

Twas busihess. that u to s6y, txat /
~1s c6nHhcted chiefly under Ii,
| guidance OF natural commerciA
iGxS,y AID that u man 'wES dksfsr
stood Ills business aud applied hin
SeIs to It was bure to succeed. fhh
dsy has Dalsed. and bSsipess Ral
|bgcome Vastly more complicated afit
dependent upon extraneous ihfiheAc
es Than It uS4d TO Be. wages, mar.
kettI rates. production ana distri.
button we're determined BY the de.
ddmds Of trade ana the voluntary
Adjustment Of those concerned. Nov
It Is no exaggeration to say that bus
iness has come to be wholly depend.
ant on the courts; the interstate
commerce commission, the state leg.
islatures and congress, and a man
to be able to take care of his inter-
ests in any degree must not only
keep himself informed as to what
all these different bodies are doing,
but he may have to try to check
contemplated action to prevent be-
ing annihilated.
Involved and hampered most of
all under the late decision of the
supreme court are the railroads.
Under the rigid rule as to through
rates of the commission at Wash
ington, rule which has permitted
no increase with all other prices
rtsing-wages, taxes, cost Of ma
teriaI and compensation for acci-
dents-they are now declared to
have over forty different masters,
each one of which may make and
enforce different regulations within
its territory, and they are, further
more, to be subjected to an arbitrary
valuation which will take years to
complete, and the uncertainty In re-
gard to which, taken together with
the other conditions referred to, are
going to make it very difficult for
them to borrow money with which
to make the extensions which the
business of the country will surely
require.
There are but two ways in which |
to meet the situation. One is for
congress 10 exercise the power as to
Interstate rates, which the supreme
court in its opinion says congress
possesses, or for the states them
selves to awake to the necessity for
he business Of the entire country
If having the roads put on a basis
If fair remuneration for capital, Il
and freedom from constant
larassment. Such has not been the
Ittitude Of many Of them in the
'ast, the courts ON many occasions L
nd the supreme court in its last
ecision having held that rates es- q
ablished by states were confisca-I II
Dry and destructive. ls
It is a thousand pities, when we
ave a people industrious, energetic
nd capable beyond any other, q
Dmain unednaled In extent and pro-
uctiveness. acdess Increasingly 10 '
ID markets OF the world ana q sea-
N giving promise Of the most boun-
fol crop OF series Of good ones,
ID when every form OF business Isl :.
raining on the Iesh to be let go =
to an era Of Unprecedented activity, A
have It held back and restrained y
artificial conditions. TinanciaI -
'pression has come largely from y
IrCpean troubles flooding our mar \,
( with our own securities. THAT -
II cease before long and turn the ~
her way. but with the railroad r,
uation what 1t is. and the full ef- ~
It OF the tariff yet to be deter -
ned and currency legislation pend ~
:, we cannot expect, even with
I'd crops, the full tide of business an
ich natural conditions entitle us
Meanwhile in determining the
ferent problems involved effect
the wellbeing of every Ameri-
!, old and young. sectionalism, he
politics and personal an
judices should be put aside and Dy
atriotic effort made to secure for IRE
country the best possible results.
hcI
EAT REND GT0CEHTrN tim