Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1915 — Restriction on Railroad Rates a Detriment to Nation’s Business [ARTICLE]

Restriction on Railroad Rates a Detriment to Nation’s Business

By Former PRESIDENT WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT

THE close and absolute supervision over t he management of railroads and tlie restriction upon tlie rates charged by them in interstate commerce arid in commerce within states, together with the increase in cost of maintenance and of wages through the efforts of labor ■unions, has ground tin; railroads between the upper and nether millstones. w *• * ALL THIS IS TO THE DETRIMENT OF THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTRY, AND ESPECIALLY TO THE COMFORT AND HAPPINESS OF THE WAGE EARNERS DEPENDENT ON NORMAL BUSINESS AND NORMAL DEMAND FOR LABOR. We are all in the same boat. The prosperity of one class is dependent on the prosperity of all. This is no reason why we should not repress injustice and punish abuse of power. Rut it is a reason why we should not indulge in excess. We must promptly grant increased rates to the railroads when conditions require it. We must not allow the outrageous injustice to continue by which we inaugurate the real reform OF PARCEL POST AND DO IT AT THE COST OF THE RAILROADS BY COMPELLING THEM TO CARRY THE ENORMOUS INCREASE OF TRAFFIC FOR NOTHING.