New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-21
The President Says Another Kind
Word for the Government
Oppressed Railroads.

rrb most honeful news which has out OF
Washington in many months is the assurance give"
by The Associated Press that PRESIDENT WILSON Is
alive to the policy Of injustice so long pursueu os
the government in its dealings with the rallroauS'
According to The Associated Press, the Preslueh'
has manifested his interest in the hnanclai COLI
dition Of the railroads. expressing desire 10 he'p
in every legitimate way to bring them rehei' He
has also "let It be known that the government was
giving consideration to the general facts OF con
tinued increase in operating expenses WIN inc
decrease in net revenues.
Those facts have made no impression on the In
terstate Commerce Commission and have hereto
fore received little consideration either at the
White House or at the Capitol Mr.. wilson
statement in his antitrust legislation message tal
the prosperity of the country is interlocked Win
the prosperity OF the railroads about the hrst
glimmer Of recognition by the government mat lhe
public interest might be better promoted through
maintaining the common carriers at the top hotch
Of economic efficiency than by gripping and scrap
ping them In domestic affairs Mr. Wilson Is
keen and farsighted politician, and his sharpness
of vision has probably enabled him to see that the
easiest means at hand for combating unemplOy
ment and business depression is to put the rail
roads again on a full time, self-sustaning basis.
We trust that the President will not hesitate to
impress his point of view on the Interstate Com
merce Commission. The newly elected chairman
of the commission. Mr. James s. Harlan, and those
who have been working with him can see only one
side Of the situation They want to bring the rail
roads to their knees and keep them there. But
there is another sde-the side Of economic justice
and fair dealing That aspect Of the case was thus
temporarily presented by President Rea of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company at recent meet
ing of the Pennsylvania board Of directors:
What is the present situation? The railroads are
prevented from charging reasonable rates they have
sustained o serious loss in revenues; they are pre-
vented from furnishing facilities to be prepared
meet the reasonable transportation needs; eVerY
occasion is being used publicly TO discred Them and
the result is that there must be enforced economies
t. large numbers Of railroad and others depend
work out OF employment, and general loss Of
confidence exists, and suspicion has been engendered
attempt must be made to place this responsibility
upon the railroad management They nave ISSUED
warnings and made petition for fair dealing, but
without effect The time has come when all far
minded and investors whole, must indi-
vidually and collectively impress state and federal
Senator's Representatives and government that they
part of the nation entitled to at least fair
sderation.
1t is time for the government at Washington TO
adopt the broaCer view 10 which the President
incnes and recognize that its obligations TO the
railroads are twOfod If it is TO take from the car
riers the power to make rates it must itself make
rates which will meet the added costs Of operation
due to government requirements. 1t must sus-
tain the railroads while regulating them. The
present policy of slow starvation is merely
derhanded and cowardly form of confscation.