Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1917-04-07

hauled If' the operating costs q ~
railroads, including the prices % 60.
5 labor aud material. continue 70 Cd
vance at the present rate q lot OF rail-
roads will be III the hands Of receivers
by 1913 unless some relief n afforded,
Mr.. Kruttschnitt told the committee
Owing TO the rise OF commodity
prices he said, "the purchasing power
OF tho dollar has fallen 5b per cont and
the railroads are in the position of be-
Ing compelled BY law to accept pay
ment for their service to the public In
currency worth 45 cents on the dollar.
PublIe,s Chief Interest.
'-The publies greatest interest II in
adequate trahsportation facilities and
not 20 much In low rates. Az to most
commodities freight rates form q very
small proportion OF their cost. Ex-
Guiding low grade commodities, the
percentage OF the freight rate to the
cost is SO slight as to offer no justinca-
ton for any substantial increase IN
prices to the consumer It may bs
stated with little fear Of contradiction
that the consumer. seldom. If ever,
profits from 8. lowering of freight rates.
'Extortionate charges are D thing Of
the past, and under the attempt to cut
rates to their lowest possible figure
the interest of the whole public in the
-.haracter and standard Of transporta.
zion Is subnrdinated to the interest of
that part OF tile public only that profits
,N lower rates-that is to say, the ship
'>ers and their agents and not the gen.
En ho
TIE DEcIeIoN Fo;s ,sAa.,.,
fFrom the New York Evening Post. r,
All Americans must be ~ ! 'tTat:l.
their President. il ossing ,.t,sI "a,
to resolve that ) s,ic;; y ~: >.s
between the United States and Ge-
many, called ncon the nation %
strengthen itaelF in hist, minded psr
pose. Selfish ends-conquest, domin.
ion. material compensation, indemni.
ties-he bids US tear out of our
hearts. I'VE are but one of the
champions of the rights of mankind.
We shall be satisfied when those
rights have been made as secure as
the faith and freedom OF nations can
make them" These are lofty senti-
ments. And In the same vein are Mr..
Wilson's words of magnanimous de-
votton to the cause OF democracy all
over. the world. They are certain to
reverberate throughout Europe. In
especial manner will. his eloquent ref
erence to "the wonderful and hearten-
Ing things" recently wrought by the
Russian people be hailed in Petrograd
~ reinforcement against autocracy
mightier than an army. They will af.
ford new buttress to the Russian
Republic. And his plea for "the
right OF those who submit to author
ity to have votce In their own gov.
ornments" will help to bring nearer
the day OF world-democracy. The
whole address, in fact, once accepting
the Presidents premises, Is conceiv.
ed and expressed In q way to COM
mand high admiration.
Most generous and gratifying Is
the language which the President
uses OF the German people, here and
abroad. He expresses the largest
confidence TN the loyalty of German.
Americans. This is already justified
In the response of the German-Ameri-
can press. But Mr. Wilson goes
further. He summons native.born
SiIiZouo 10 embrace eagerly the Op-
the protection OF their persons and
postunity to show friendship and
trust toward ethS millions OF men
and women Of German birth who live
among US and share our life" An
attitude Of coldness and suspicion to-
ward them would SOW discord where
there ought to. be comradeship. And
even as respects aliens on our soil,
the President asks his countrymen
not to confuse q "law1ess and malig-
nant few with the great body that
we may reasonably expect to submit
themselves quietly to the laws OF
the country and to conform to the
proDrieties Of tho situation in which
they find themselves. !. Panic fears
about their possible treachery, with
I'll spy-nania. tho President would
- e ~ banish far from us.
.fr NEi%Gii see'.g to make broader
q distinction which he hinted at In
his address to Congress at the time
OF breaking off diplomatic relations
with Germany. We mean, Of course.
tho distinction between the German
aeonle and the government that
- Pr 'hon u 10 oniv ~ith tho
-a have our "3sl-aI "7Fe
,srts, "the sincere friends
i