New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-21
Fair Treatment for the Railroads
an Urgent National Duty.


Of the Interstate COmmerce Commission 90 dol
grasp the problem with which they are dealing
Their point Of view seems still to be that OF inc
railroad batter in the good old times when railroad
batting was supposed to be patriotic pas'ime
vbv was the case OF the Eastern railroads
which had unsuccessfully appealed for per
cont increase in freight rates ordered to be re-
onspedq Manifestly It was because the war III
Europe had made the commissions decision OF
August look preposterous. In that declson'
handed down after the stock exchanges or Europe
and America had closed, and even after Germany
had declared war on Russia, the commission took
il upon itself to ignore one Of the most momentous
economic events in the worlds history. BODY
Of deaf. dumb and blind men, holding consuta-
,ions in 2 padlocked sub-basement could not have
been more oblivious of the worldwide enects OF
the great European conflict.
A decision ike that, which talked peace when
there was no peace could not be expected TO give
satisfaction. Public opinion was almost unanimous
in regarding It as one OF the most inopportune
official judgments ever delivered. Even the com
mission soon found out that world war was
on aud that. so far as economic results were con
cerned. the United States was dsastrously in
vohyed in It. The rehearing was granted because
The commission realized that new element had
bcen introduced into the case made in behalf OF
the railroads. If there no such element. there
WAS no reason whatever from the commissions
point Of view for reconsidering decision only few
weeks old. which had been arrived at after two
or three years Of lsborious investigation.
Yet although the commissions belated discovery
that a great European war had broken out was
the only ineligible ground for granting rear
gument we lind the commissioners asking questions
indicating that the extraordinary depression caused
bv the war is IN their opinion ground for grant
ing the railroads further relief According to one
account Of the bearing on Monday, Commissioner
Clements asked Mr. willard, the president Of the
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad "if he thought that the
railroads should be dealt with in any other man
ner than other industries affected by war condi-
tons"
Such q question is little short of amazing. Other
industries are left free by the government to regu
late their own affairs. They may raise their prices
as they please without interference from Wash
ingtou. But the railroads have no free hand.
Their earning power is limited for them by the
Iuterstate Commerce Commissions DEGREES, and
N d
general plenty, II the commission thinks it sd
vsable to starve them.
For the last FIVE or six years the commission
has advocated programme OF slow starvation. II
has been gradually weakening the resources of thu
railroads and cutting down their earning power
II recognized in the decision of August that the
starving process had gone dangerously far, al
Though it refused the very moderate request Of tn
Eastern railroads for fiat per cent increase il
freight rates Now the disturbance OF business
caused by the war has changed the plight of tn
railroads from slow starvation to quick starvation
Yet the commission seems little concerned. Som
spousbflity for the patients condition by claiming
that they have no more TO do with bis trouble
than with the troubles OF other industries not sub
iect TO governmental regulation.
That is an absolutely illogical position The rail
roads are the legal wards OF the commission. 1
has the exclusive power to look afeI their welfare
They have no power TO care for themselves. 1t il
therefore the commissions duty to see that tn,
carriers are permitted 10 make living in ordinsr!
times and to protect them against humiliation IL
times Of extraordinary disturbance
No attitude toward the railroads could be more
odims than that Of Mr. Brandes the commission;
counsel He criticises the Baltimore & Ohio Rail
road for continuing to pay dividends while it i,
dischsrging employees in order TO reduce expenses
But It should be the first business Of the commits
sion to see that the earnings of the railroads are
sufficient both to keep proper working force IN
tact and TO pay fair returns to stockholders
The commission should remember also that more
than just treatment OF the government controlled
common carriers is involved in an increase of rates
The problem Of International exchanges must enter
into any rational rate decision. If the stock ex