The Washington herald., 1914-03-31
RAILWAY PERSECUTION.


papers in their editorial columns al
rejecting the changed public sentimer
regarding the railroads. A system {
persecution now in operation in Texa
is discussed in an editorial in tho Me-
York Evening Post of March IS. whic
We reproduce for the information of tn
thoughtful and fair-minded reader:
HARRYING THE RAILROADS.
II Is an unusual day that does not
bring news OF fresh pin-pricking Of
, the railroads. Yesterday a suit was
filed In Liberty. Texas. against the
Atchison. Topeka and Santa Fe Rail-
road to recover 81. $50 for the crime
of operating one locomotive not
equipped with the brake appliances
required under the laws Of Texas.
A few days ago the Missouri, Kansas
and Texas and the Beaumont and
Great Northern Railroads were sued
by the same State for the modest sum
of $4,000 for violation of the laws
regarding safety appliances. Texas has
evidently high hopes of replen!shing
her treasury at corporation expense,
as well as highly fastidious tastes
in the matter OF railway equipment
Thus she requires electric headlights
on all locomotives, entailing hundreds
Of thousands of dollars of needless
expense. All this is particularly an
moving to interstate lines, which
often find themselves In danger OF be-
ing punished in one state for condi-
tions which merely conform to the
law in another.
Ill a n
we may point out that when the
Kansas City Southern enters Ark
ansas 1t is compelled by law to place
fly screens in the windows OF its
cars to protect its passengers from
the malarial mosquito When the
train enters Oklahoma its crew Is In
duty bound to remove all these
screens, since they are forbidden by
law in that State. As the railroad
winds in and out of both States, the
crews, IL they would obey the law.
find plenty to do. For all they know,
State detectives may be in each pas
senger coach piling up evidence for
ten-million dollar suit against the
road. Now, We should be the last to
defend the railroads for deliberate and
wilful failure to obey the laws Of any
State. but. as We pointed out last
pathize with the unanswerable con-
tention of the railroads that. what
ever their past sins. they are now
constantly being punished by conflict
ing orders and laws from legislatures
and commissions. State and national.
The cost OF these orders Is never
counted by the officials issuing them:
that is not their concern. but that of
the haTaSsed managers
In our own State the Federal labor
law prescribes eight hours as a work
ing day. and the State nine. The
State boiler inspection rules differ
from the orders of the Federal in
spcCtors New York requires the
washing out OF boilers every thirty
days. when everybody knows that
some need 1t every week, and others
not in six weeks. Each washing must
be attested before a notary. and his
certificate must be framed in the cab.
The Federal inspector may lay of any
engine which does not please him.
An Interstate railroad which starts
from 81. Louis finds its rates for haul
ing coal fixed by Missouri; on reach
ing Kansas II is compelled by State
law to carry al! passengers for two
cents a mile; as soon at its trains
arrive I'm Oklahoma they must stop
at a station on the State boundary.
whether there is even q hamlet there
or not. Wherever a railroad enters
this State. il must maintain State
line station. In Arkansas the law re-
Quires this same railroad to carry an
absolutely needless third brakeman
on each freight train-only to drop
him when Texas is reached and the
electric headlight is turned on. This
is only sample of what State con-
troll means and on top of it all are
the orders and regulations not only
OF the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. but sometimes of other Federal
dcpartments-the Treasury. il is re-
ported. recently isued an order TO the
railroads in regard to the use Of drink
ing water on trains.
Naturally We repeat the honest rail-
road manager who is willing to recug-
niZe the changed conditions OF today
finds himself absolutely at n loss.
How can he make a budget when he
may he suddenly ordered. like the
Pennsylvania. to waste $4,000 under
the needless full-CTew law? He is
between the devil of no dividends
for stockholders and the very deep
sea Of Federal and State regulation
Is no chart and no compass to be
given him by which he may steer y
true course fair to all concerned?
Mr. Howard Elliott in his little book,
The Truth About the Railroads"
illustrates the dilemma of the rail-
roads by the analogy of what might
happen to men engaged in hauling
freight by trucks around a city who
are suddenly told by men without
financial interest I'm the business what
to do.
One man says. II have been looking
at your wagons, and their beds arc
not the right height from the ground.
and you must change them. l notice
also that the steps are put on wrong.
and the buckles of your harness are
not of the right character. You must
fix these" Another man says. The
lanterns your tcamsters carry are not
suitable. You must buy a much more
expensive kind. and see that they are
carried, whether they are needed or
not" Another says. You must not
use a certain lead horse any more.
because he is not suited to the busi-
ness" Another says. Il noticed that
you were carrying a calf on one OF
your wagons. In such cases you must
get your wagon from the waterfront
to destination within one hour. and it
must he moved at a speed of not less
than ten miles per hour" Another
says. I'm our part of the city your
wagons must not move faster than
four miles an hour. and you must stop
them at every street crossing" An |
other says. THE city authorities have
decided that you must reduce your
charges 25 per cent" And still an
other says, Il represent a committee !!
that has decided that your sheds and
barns are not of the right type. and
you must tear them down and build
new ones" Meanwhile some of the |
stahIerDep and otbars ba,.o -. a.