The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-12-26
WHAT BROUGHT IT OF!

AS VIZ are approaching th' u3N Wn'H
n promised suggestion OF 4 solution nj
the railroad problem Is 20 he made, II
would be we'll consider the things tha,
--asISa RS; contributed ~ The present
confused situation and ;he lrArple Nitir$
they have brrn multiplied. An impair
tial reviewer OF tho history Of railroad
troubles gives us true insight into
the difficulties the great transportation
lines have had 10 deal with. The re
form process known "a Federal rrgu-
lation OF interstate commerce began
quarter Of It century ago. which culnl-
mated in the establishment: Of the In
terstate Commerce Commission and =
gradual extension o. its powers until
the very last Congress bctor' the pres.
ent. It is enough 10 remind ths. reader
how in recent years tho policy dictated
by Congress and pursued ny the Inter
state Commerce Commission, Up 70 the.
very eve OF the situation produced ny
the war, has been oNe Of restraint and
hindrance instead Of Il healthy develop
ment and progress. rs 1t should have
been.
No doubt the corporations and finan-
cial interests and fhe men who direct
ed their action had beeu responsible
for many errors and much wrongdoing
in the way OF inflated capital. wasteful
expense and excessive charges. Il
was we'll TO correct the abuses and got
the transpor; alton system on as sound
a basis as was then attainabIe. Tha
opposition and resistance TO this were
in a great degree mistaken and mis-
directed. and may have been in some
degree responsible for the regulation
being carried 100 far Real statesman.
ship would nor have gone TOO fur. hui
would have sought TO bring about har'
rnony of action instead Of conflict.
The elimination OF The woes OF the
railroad corporations came on the Very
eve Of the great war emergency. when
the extreme o. regulation and restraint
was reached. Il WAS then that tha
powcrs of tho Commission wrre carried
to the limit and using in I paralrzing
way instead Of q helpful on. which
the best Judgment concerted was great
" needed But wha; was done" The
reviewer intelligentiy. says:
Tn, rates for S.-rli"" ha! hc"n k";t
down rhr rteauS f"r raising capital
had been resr-irt.h unci ~. s!s'"rr aS
- whole W.tS c";i'Di"d. With lines h-rr
and there still with "'s"i"S";n" circT-
lation OF vitality. oIt Others IA 'ar:"'is
degrees Of par:,l::ir incnpa"ity Tor 'n"i;
wort. Funds could no; h" raised for
needed extensions asd i;anr"v":n. MS ~
structures and equipment. ".ii.'" f"1tI
earnings O., from credit. |, "H$ :.tid
f., s.ruxSl.. along in tina" ~ F';l,c anal
the great need 3aS '"-"i"rn'l"n ar'!
harmony h.tw"..'r public auth"rI'? ani
nrivate r.i,"rrris" trr u '"f:}'n"n j,;.r-
nose wh!"i. would ha," boa graz
public b"n.;it t"r "a" n'.ti"n anh All -
par-s tn" leading corporate .'t"t"Si e.
,,crc -.ad. ."r :h!:>. i.i..t.i:u. '..r -. IN
order 10 ESCAPE. cunning di~aS'"" lu'-
liz ,u,hnri,v seemed ~ l." blind nrd
deaf 20 /; and would d" u"th.nr :" ".,-
store rho Si.;Int! bon ~ int"rStat" trans
,or,a,lor, - :. hr.ti:hE and vic|:,.t!S r"'t-.
dit,on. The c"rt"rrc."rS and Nnaa"i1l
interests OF thu country wrrr pr"T"t.'"'!
from taking S'I"h actt'.a "a tsi.. "i"a"!t.
saw 70 be necessary.
1t .s q moment"us parting .; tm"."nNs