Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-03-19

G0fN9 why's
Sunday Capital News. see by
papers of recent date that the inter-
state commerce commission has grant
ed the railroads Of the middle west an
increase In passenger rates. and this
together with an increase in freight
rates all over the country, will make
nice, juicy melons TO be cut by the
fortunate gentlemen who own what the
people have Bald for over and over
again.
This reminds ms that in 1907 our
department OF commerce sent Judson
C. wilmer to Germany TO study and
report on that nations transportation
system and the advantages, If any, Of
public ownership. MIR. wilmer re-
turned with an exhaustive report COW
ering every phase Of the matter. dis
closing a state of affairs leaving no
room to doubt the necessity for every
nation owning its transportation sys-
tenn.
Why has Mr.. williner's report been
suppressed? why Is it that in all
countries where the railroads are pub
licly owned the relative capitalization
on which interest must be paid, is di-
minishing as the systems are extended?
why is it that in some countries, as
Switzerland for instance, and some
Australian states, the capitalization Of
railroads win be extinct in from 40 to
so years with no interest charge to pay,
while in this glorious land of equal
opportunity the capitalization is in
ereasing at an enormous rate and the
dividend and interest charges on
watered stock and bogus bonds are
eating the people up? Is it not fact
that the demand of the railroads, for
increased freight and passenger rates
recently granted is solely for the pur-
pose of making dividends on over
capitalization, for the purpose Of boil
STEERING up the credit of the railroads
| in order that our financial buccaneers
can put still another load of watered
stock on the market to further increase
the burdens that are already. breaking
our backs?
Did not Mr. Hartman, once upon a
time, manipulate affairs in the New
York legislature so that the Alton sys-
! tenn, which he then owned, got GER
tificate of good character which en-
abled him to float $50. 100000 OF add
tional stock on that system. ostensfbly
for betterment purposes. but really for
a gigantic steal?
And is IL not a fact that an investiga-
ton Of that shady transaction disclosed
the fact that only about S1S,00o,000 of
that stock issue ever found Its way
Unto the treasury of that railroad for
improvement of the system?
Is il not fact that it is for just
this kind Of "frenzied finance that we,
the people are asked to go down into
our pockets and dig up more money for
an increase in freight and passenger
rates?
The railroads Of this country receive,
on an average. about s1,05 d ton for
1.-THE freight they handle, which appears
reasonable on It's face, but how is that
laverage made up?
Is II not a fact that the owners OF
the railroads are also, the owners Of
all other big business. and as result
Of this joint ownership big business
docs most OF the shipping. but pays
no freight, which leaves the above
laverage to be made by the fellows on
the outside paying all Of it? Accord
ing to this arrangement all farmers
and 1aborers, the real producers OF
wealth. pay nearer Sf.o5 hundred than
that amount per ton.
If government ownership of rail-
roads and other public utilities is not q
SUCCESS why are all the nations of the
world. outside of this one. taking over
their roads and running them for the
common good instead Of running then