Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 September 1905 — CONTROL OF RAILROADS. [ARTICLE]

CONTROL OF RAILROADS.

Gigantic Struggle Between Corporations find People. The census bureau baa ascertained that the value of all the railroads is $11,241,852,(M KI, and it is conceded that nine-tenths of this eleven billions is controlled by nine men. It Is but natural to believe, even if there was no evidence, that these nine railroad kings combine together to protect the Interests of the railroads and charge for transporting freight and passengers all they can force out of the people. They are charged with controlling congress and legislatures and thus securing or defeating legislation that aids or injures them. The universal demand for a law to control the rates charged by these corporations is proof that in most eases the rates are deemed unreasonable. A shipper has still no redress but through the common law, and how can any single shipper fight tbe millions of a railroad, with all the delays and expense, through to the highest court? An aggrieved shipper can refuse to ship his goods at tbe rate demanded and then sue tbe railroad for damages or he can pay the rate demanded under protest and sue for a recovery of the amount he claims Is unreasonable. Leaving out the question of expense of securing lawyers able to cope with the high paid and experienced railroad attorneys. tbe time of the shipper alone Is usually worth more to him than he could possibly recover. So the railroads are virtually thus free to "charge all the traffic will bear," which means in extreme cases something less than confiscation of the goods shipped. A shipper, under the Interstate commerce law, can appeal to the interstate commerce commission that a rate charged lilm by a railroad Is unreasonable, and, after hearing the evidence on both sides, the commission can declare the rate unreasonable. What then happens? Hoes the railroad return the overcharge or even reduce the rate to what the commission decides ■would be a reasonable rate? Occasionally the evidence produced has been so overwhelming that the j-ate is unreasonable and public opinion In the locality or on the line of railroad has been so aroused that the railroad officials comply witli tbe ruling of the commission and reduce the rate partially, but rarely or never to the rate declared to be reasonable. The discussion now going on about giving the interstate commerce commission power to enforce a rate it has decided would be reasonable in place of one tliat has been declared unreasonable Is to force congress to pass a law that will protect the public from unreasonable rate. Of course the railroads are vigorously objecting and will use every effort to prevent such a fair and equitable adjustment of their autocratic powers. The Republican leaders In congress are under so many obligations to the railroads for passes and contributions to campaign funds to carry conventions and elections that the voters can expect no legislation that will really control the rate making power from the congress about to meet. The real struggle will come when the Sixtieth congress Is nominated and elected in 1906, and as the nominations In many districts are made in the early spring voters will have to be alert and prepared to grapple with the octopli—the Republican politicians aud their railroad co-consplrators.