The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1916-03-28
RAILROADS ENTITLED
TO JUSTICE

~ SSos'SG
At various times The Examiner has
found occasion to comment on the at
titude OF claptrap politicians who
have sought to make the railroads
the goat of their ambitions and who
have been able, under the guise OF
the peoples friends, to secure de-
structive legislation that strikes d.
rectly at progress. The railroads
have suffered heavily from these at.
tacks and the general trade has not
only affected the railroads, but the
dear peepul who were fools enough
to listen to the political shysters
who start their careers chasing am
balances for a fee. Recently there
has been an encouraging grange OF
sentiment regarding the railroads.
Sensible thinking people have come
to see that a railroad headed for the
bankruptcy court is not a good thing
for other lines of business tributary
to the railroad The American sense
of justice has begun to assert itself
after years of rank injustice in rail
way legislation and there Is now
demand for fair play.
John b. Stoll is one of the best
known editors in the East and now
editor of The Editorial, weekly
magazine that contains the best
thoughts of the best editors through.
out the country. Mr.. Stoll, In the
current issue OF The Editorial de-
clares that the railroads are entitled
to justice and backs his argument
with the following able editorial
Recently U. S. Senator Under
wood, of Alabama, delivered in Chi
cago an exceedingly interesting and
Illuminating address on the railroad
situation. Himself a man Of affairs
and withal happily free Of bias he
brought to the attention of his hear
ers a volume Of enlightening inform.
alton on the subject of transportation
and the more or less crippled and
hampered condition of some of the
railroads in various parts of the coun-
try. He portrayed the difficulties un-
der which some OF these transporta-
ton lines are conducting their oper-
ations. He dwelt with a good deal
OF earnestness on the evil effects of
duplex and complex regulations, lay
ing especial emphasis on the spirit
OF injustice manifested by state COM
missioners and the exactions impos-
ed under state authority. He made 1t
entirely clear that no weakened or
impaired transportation company
could hope to extricate itself from
the burdensome loads viciously plac-
ed upon It. In some way laws have
been Incorporated into the statute
books OF various states that are
grossly at variance with fairness and
Justice. This is especially so in the
states where demagogic agitators
managed to get in their nefariously
destructive work, ostensible in the
interest of the people, but In point
OF fact promoted by purpose to get
even on account of the railroads
stern refusal to tickle itching palms,
While II Is undoubtedly true that
some railroad corporations deserved
and needed legislative attention, it
is equally true that hardships were
imposed upon others for which there
was not vestige of justification.
In hitting offenders, non-offenders
were struck with equal but wholly
unmerited severity.
obviously, injury is done to roads
struggling with adversely when the
Interstate commerce commission
hammers away at one point and
state commission injects its fang at
another point.
Viewed from whatever standpoint
of business or fairness, gross injus.
tice was done when and wherever
two cent fare laws were enacted with
out any regard whatever as to the
ability OF the road to carry on bust
ness under such unwarranted restric-
ton. Charles T.. Hughes then gov
ernor OF New York, earned enviable
reputation for intieXible courage and
sturdy manliness by refusing to sane
tion such an enactment in the state
OF New York, If there is any state in
the union where in railroads may be
supposed to be able to carry passen.
gers at two cents per mile, the En-.
pire state with its density of popu.
lation and the scope and excellence
Of its railroad facilities would sure.