The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-04
From Other Pens
EcoNoM1cs ro1xs RrprA1.

There II no harm in the presidents
pointing out that discrimination in Pam
anna tolls was opposed by a majority
OF democratic votes, and that repeal
| ed by a majority now. That is the
politics OF 1t. The economics of the
proposal p equally convincing. The
president has said that the discussion
OF either the politics or the economics
! Is dishonorable. being foreclosed by the
agreement which the United states
signed. But 1t Is permissible to point
out that the agreement rests upon solid
considerations in the interest of the
commerce OF the United States.
ihere ID no reason for tenderness
regarding the argument that the coll
lection of the tolls from the American
coastwise marine il in the interest of
the railways. ana that therefore the
repeal should be opposed by railway
matters. Those who are genuine rail-
| way haters, and Indifferent regarding
the proposal to present q million dol
lars to the coastwise monopoly. must
wish the coastwise rates to be quoted
ex tolls" That is not secured by
providing that the tolls either shall
or shall not be collected by the coast
wise marine. Its rates will be the high
est possible without turning Iawav the
business. The railway rates will not
% cut by the water lines a cent lower
tnan ts necessary to get the business
from the railways under any condi-
TONS Already the railway COMPETE
tion has been crippled by the prohi-
Dit1on OF railway owned ships from u.s.
ing the canal. Already the railway
rates are regulated with a rigor which
shippers would like to see applied to
the coastwise marine, "a monopoly by
law whose rates are the highest in
the world. just as the rail rates are the
lowest.
Before it can be contended that the
exemption Is justihable economically It
must be shown that the tolls which
are to be waived shall go to the
the Overlooking Golfers of the combine
within the monopoly. There is no
odious practice which the railways have
been forced to abandon which is not
practtced by the coastwfse marine. It's
rates are regulated neither by law nor
by competition. but the railways are
prevented from abating its extortions
by prohibition of law. Favor to such
an economic interest is a burden upon
commerce. 1t 10 no more american"
than 1t is reasonable. 1t is an insult
alike to intelligence and to honor to
suggest the detestable thing. 1t never
would be heard of again IL it were pro-
vided that the exemption must be in
public rather than private Interest,"
New York Times.
ALONG THE EARTHQUAKE BELT.
The coincidence of an earthquake in
northern Japan and the disastrous dis :.
turbance in and about the Sea of Azov,
southern Russia, suggests connection,
although the two points are many thou
sand miles apart. 1t is well known
That when the earth trembles at one
point the effect is transmitted to great
distances. The shock which threw
down Lisbon was alarmfngly severe 20
Tar away as Great Britain and the Bal
tic. The Charleston catastrophe-the
worst in this country until San Fran
reflected In Canada. and
Tar to the south and west. What il de-
scribed as the earthquake belt. a zone
at one point or another of which quakes
may be expected at pretty frequent in
tervals. follows around the earth from
Japan across Asia Minor to the Med
fterranean shores, and its vaguely de-
nned northern edge perhaps skirts the
country where the Sea Of Azov lies
The reports from southern Russia Fin
crease its gravity. Fifteen hundred
lives. instead Of 1000, as at first re-
ported. are said to have been lost in the
hurricane that swept the shores of the
Black and Azov seas accompanied bv
tidal waves. The earthquake in north
ern Japan is significant of a reneral
shakiness in that quarter. The famous
volcano Asama, only 80 miles distant
from Tokyo, 10 reported in a state Ut
too. In January Sakuratima.
in the extreme south, blew is
head on. It il suggested that Japan,s
backbone IL qufyerfnr
throughout its length. and from the
may be Observation-Disclosures Journal.