The Washington herald., 1914-11-19
What Is the |. c.. c. After!

We hear it constantly said in hotel corridors, in
clubs on the streets and wherever men congregate
that there can be no doubt that what the Interstate
Commerce Commission is trying to accomplish in its
procedure with the railroad companies is to de-
precate the credit of these companies and get their
property into such poor condition generally that the
way will be made easy for the government to buy
out the companies and operate the railway service
of the land in the same way that the postal service
is now operated.
We believe ourselves that this idea is preposter-
ous and of course, the suggestion exctes the
and indignation of the members of the Interstate
Commerce Commission Nevertheless, the truth is,
whether it is unwecome not, that it is exactly this
idea that has gained strong foothod in the minds
iof large portion of the community and not the
least intelligent portion of the community either
Any one who denounces the insinuation as something
beneath contempt must needs answer the questions,
addressed by hostile critic: Considering the long
mission how can you really think otherwise? Has
the commission shown that a body it pos
sesses the breadth of view that is necessary for the
handling of the many great problems committed to
its care? Do you suppose that people will continue
to own the stocks of railway companies that cap
able and honorable men will be found to take the
responsibility of managing these companies while the
railways continue to be subjected to such harsh
illibera and runous treatment they have received
at the hands of the supervising authorities of the
government in the last five years alonc?"
In other words, if it becomes apparent to any
ordinarily shrewd business man that the railroads
are bound for complete smash under the present
regime of governmental control as for instance it
appears to a man as intelligent and experienced as
Mr.. Charles Francis Adams why should men look
any other than exceedingly dangerous risk or, in
plain English, hazardous speculation rather than
investment at all?
Of one matter there can be no doubt and that
is that the amendment to the Interstate Commerce
law passed two years since, which gave to the
mission power to prevent schedules of railway
from taking effect until the commission had examined
these schedules and given its approval was less
than colossal mistake As the matter stood before
this amendment passed tariff schedules filed
by railway companies became operative at and
il left for experience to demonstrate whether
these rates were reasonable or not As the law now
reads after the change made in it suggested by La
Toilette, Cummins and other extremists, it is left to
the discretion of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion whether rates shall be suspended before
taking effect. But in practice the commission always
suspends the rates the assumption being apparently
invariably ask for higher than ought to be al
lowed 1t is exactly this assumption that forms part
of the groundwork for the belief that the members
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission are trying
to throw the railroad companies into bankruptcy and
so quickly bring about government ownership.
We think the people of our country are very
quickly making up their minds about this matter
The OF people do not TO read long columns
Of testimony by railway experts. They not dis
posed to these affairs by the metculous and
distorted standards set up by Mr.. Brandeis. There
only one fact that they understand or care under
stand, and that IS the indubitabe truth that for
years past railway freight and passenger charges all
over the United States have remained unchanged, |
and that this period the expenses OF the railways
in the shape of taxes, cost OF materials and supplies
md wages OF employees have doubled trebled.
The people know that this general ground the
railways are entitled to advance in charges for
freight and passenger service; and if the Interstate
Commerce Commission does not also understand the
TACT and act upon the understanding it is certain
the sun shines in the heavens that the people will
make up their minds that the present method of
rolling the railways by of Interstate Com
nercc Commission should be abandoned !