The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-07-20
ASSUMES ROLE
OF PROSECUTOR
&c. Commission Criticized by Clews
for Change of Attitude

The drastic report of the Interstate
Commerce Commission regarding
New Haven affairs was fresh blow
70 confidence i'm the financial district,
saws Henry Clews. Coupled with the
minors that the Commission will next
undertake the examining of the Van
derbilt lines and the Rock Island, the
impressIon was created that the Com
mission IL becoming "a highly inquisi-
torial body with pronounced anti-rail-
road proclivities. Originally the Com
mission was intended to be of a judi
cial rather than prosecuting character.
Its actions and policies Of late, how
ever. have created widespread dis
trust and there is in consequence
much concern about the forthcoming
rate decision. Once more it should be
remembered that the railroads have
been obliged to pay much higher
prices for all the equipment and plant
which they required, and that they
have made very liberal concessions to
labor in the form of higher wages: but
have not been allowed to recoup them
selves in any degree for these increases
in expenses by higher rates. At the
same time, the roads have been
obliged to endure a somewhat serious
decline in traffic.
Economies Cannot Continue.
Severe economies have been intro
duced, but these cannot be expected to
continue indefinitely, because rails and
rolling stock are wearing out and must
eventually be replenished. 1t seems,
therefore. the height of economic in
justice to refuse to railroads the right
to do what every other business inter-
est is forced to do, which is to COM
pensate itself for unavoidable increases
in expenses, by increasing it's charges
for services A refusal to recognize
this principle would mean serious con-
sequences, and. if the credit and the
service to the public of American rail-
roads are impaired in the early future.
the responsibility should be placed
upon those directly responsible.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has done good service I'm exposing
some of the glaring evils in railroad
management, but the time has come
for reconstructive work and the dis
play OF a judicial attitude rather than
that of persistent prosecutor. Mis-
souri, Pacific affairs have also occu-
pied much attention and added to the
general lack of confidence. Rumors
as to the financial condition of some If
the weaker roads further tended to
depress the general market The
Claflin failure. seems to have disap-
peared as n disturbing effect, and the
present outlook is that other serious
consequences in that quarter will be
ayerted.
Business Conditions.
Domestic business conditions are de-
cidedly confused. 1t can not be said
that there is any decrease of trade at
large ;probably not more than five or
ten per cent below last year. The sit
ration, however, is decidedly spotty,
and some industries continue to show
a very marked shrinkage; notably in
the iron trade. The latter has, how
ever, shown a moderate tendency to-
ward recovery. but orders are still fa-
below the normal mainly because IF
the impaired purchasing ability of the |
railroads. The textile outlook is fair
ly satisfactory and a considerably |
larger business transpired in the New
York dry goods market as a result OF
the rush of buyers TO attend the Clat-
lin sale. One striking feature in the |
is the contrast between the |
optimism of the West and the pes
simism OF the East. on this side of |
the Alleghenies depression is almost
for reasons that are now well !