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About The daily morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1883-1899 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 21, 1895)
THE DAILY ASTORI AJI.. ASTORIA, WEDNJ5S DAY MORNING. AUpUST 21, 1895. HITS THE RAILROADS Chandler Asks Interstate Com mission to Interfere. HAVE RAILROADS ANY RIGHTS? The Difference Between Eight and Wrong Combines of Railroads Equity Must Prevail. The publication yesterday by the As-6iK.-Ja.ted Press of ithe letter by the Hon Wm. K. UhandSer, of Concord, N. H., to the Interstaite Coimmerce Commission pro' leading flgalnst the notion of the presl' derJta of trunk itove iultwuiyl3 In New York. whlo aire seeking to effect an or ganlzaiilon r tihe purpose of preventing the demoralization of itnattlc rates by 'the under officials of the various lines, opens the way to some interesting arguments, boUi pro and con, upon the subject In general of railroads and their relation to the people. The tt&ttt between shippers on the one side, seeking cut ratea from the ruKroads and an advantage over their own com- pallors in trade, and he railroads upon Uhe other side in an endeavor to get as much as possible for .their ervices and at t'Ue same time retain mhe patron age of large and influential shippers has been going on In one form or another ever nines tihe multiplicity of t'he rail roads has iso largely increased competi tion, bath among lUie railroads- and the Mippers. The cumpetluon amongst rail roaU ag-emlts In the large centers of trad.: has reached a point of Intensity, wihlch is very i-argely augmented by ituie drip pers thiemiselvcis shopping from one rail road otflce to anotiher and p. Wing one line against the other, often times ex- aggraliing the proposition of eaclh in order to benefit uhemyelves. Under such stress of circumstances the zeal of railroad tigemts to secure tratllc frequently got the 'beater of their Judgment aa to earn ings, oonsequentCy producing disaster to the companies represented by tihem. In all these itraneactiona the email shipper was mare or less Ignored from force of circumstances, and many of the large shippers who afterward discovered that some one else lhad secured better rates than themselves also imagined they hau cause for compSalntr There was en gendered a two-fold feeling of hostliky against the roads, while ithe farmer, who could not get as good rates as the large brokers or Shipping ilrms and who was taugiiit in the public speeches of pot house politicians that the railroads were to bliams for all t'he troubles and ills incident to the fanmer'a life, tihe email prollts upon his crops and the hard work necessary for him to do in order to pay the Interest ami mortgage on his farm, made another element at enmity ugainsit the railroads. The politicians purposely, and tihe lairnirar lgruora,nltiy, losing sight of idhe fact; iwtiicii has toe-en thoroughly demonstrated by history, itihat in all re ductions in rates upon farm products the brokers and commission men w(ho handle the business reap the profits, while the farmer's earniirora were not Increased Ave per cent. When rates tare reduced from the producing centers to trade centers the man 'who buyts the farmer s products simply pays to the farmer that much less for his wires. Strenuous efforts were made by Uw farming comimuniitle-s and the small mer chants to pass legislation restricting rail roads In the maiflter of freight charges. The history of the old Illinois, Iowa & Missouri Grange assocdiaitlors, and iiater, similar movements in Texas, Nebraska and 'Wisconsin shows to what extreme an an fdea an run away with the best judg ment of the people. The railroads were the means of populating tihe states men Honed and building up their wonderful prosperity and diverse industries, and yet to such an extreme had the feeling reached against these roads Itha't legis lation was had which almost succeeded in wiping many of them out of existence. Railroads, by virtue of the right of emin ent domain granted to them by the peo ple are to a more or less degree servants of .the people, but on the other hand In all Justice and equity .they are cer tainly entitled to live and intake a fair profit upon the millions of capital In vested in the business. Private capital Is entirely Inadequate to conduct the business carried on Iby these corporations, and without the assistance of the com plex transportation now in existence in the United States the business of the country could not (be carried on. It is therefore a self-evident propoi" ion that the railroads have rights which are as much entltied to pro! c lon under the law as are the rights of the paople. No class of men more thoroughly understand Hint the people at large should have an equal rate of transportation with others ir. their line of business, so far as the differ ent condSWoms of geographical locaitlonarid complex business interests will permit than railroad officials themselves. They also admit that under present cwnditljns owing to the unscrpilousness of some of Ihe shippers as welt as of the over zeal of some agents, this Is a hard problem to solve, and -the.t some legislation la nec s sary for -the protedtloa of both Inter ests. The evolution of the Interstate com merce act enacted by congress In 1837, through the efforts of Senator Culiom of Illinois, in behalf of the granger ele ment of that etate, ws a one-sided effort to protect the people regardless of the interests and rights of the rail roads, and made -no provision by whiA the railroads might protect themselves from unjust competition. The partial failure of the Interstate Commerce act Is Kamlliar to all and the railroads today find themselves either tn a state of abaevute bankruptcy or doing business at figures -beknw a profit. A number of efforts have been made to pafs an anvmd merjt to the Interstate Commerce act, legalizing the ptxfltog of business under rates ' and regulations Impos-id by the Interstate commission. This would give both the roads and the people a fair chance tor existence. The action of the trunk line presidents In New York city, referred to In the letter of the Right Honorable Mr. Chand ler mentioned at the head of this article Is an effort upon the part of the railroads to overcome the tremendous demoraliza tion of rates between the east and the west which his been current during the entire year of 1895, as all know who have kept themselves poflefld upon these matters. The condition of commerce be tween Chicago and New York is a most peculiar one. 'With ten or a dozen lines of railroad competing for Che business, and with lake competition on the nor.ti of I them, and adoVd to this the companion ! of Canaan railroads wtnWh are not sub ject to the laws of - the United States, tiie batata on the part of the American roads has b ea a severe and most ex pensive one. Earnings have been re duced below the cost of doing business and total demoralization and bankruptcy stares many of tho lines In the face. Under these conditions it is not strange that the officers rtiould - attempt pome measures to not only repress and conflne their own agents to .the. observance of orders, but that some action should be taken to secure legislation protecting them against the compatiltlon of foreign roads and unscrupulous shippers who use every effort and means kmowii to the trado to beat down the agent end overcome their batter Judgment. Any one who Us familiar with, tho methods em ployed to make one railroad agout be lieve that hia competitor Is taking busi ness at a lower figure thiam he la and that tariff rates have been cut to pieces can readily understand that companies driven to the wall by .tremendous ton nage at lunprofluatole ligurea should make some effort at a combination or trust that would make absolutely lmpoeuiMe Dor sucfh a state of affairs to exist. Who will deny that raiilroud companies have not the Binw right .to reasonable profits upon their business and protection against wrong that ,the individual nasi It is adimilited that great wrongs have crept into the business relations between raitroada and shippers, but the wrongs have not all been on one side. It has not been shown, aa yet, that the attempted comibiinaition by the trunk line presidents is anything more than to pro tect their lines from ifurther demoraliza tion or that on increase over the low rates already in force on these lines would not be within the iegol limits and a perfectly Just and proper course- for them to pursue. The tendency of the times and the ttnop-elefs entanglement ot the liaiiTge transcontinental railroads pdlnt Iti oombimatHon and the formation of trusts .which will enable the roads to more ecomomlcaOly handle their property and enable them ito earn profits upon the low schedule of ratea forced upon them by staltute. Some of these combinations would be perfectly just and rlKht. while others anight toe most harmful to the Interests of the ipeopile. It has already been shawm In these columns that the joining togeither of lines of railroads, thus farming a continuous railway from one point to another, as for Instance In the case of the Union Pacific and the various auxiliary lines In Dts old syeilem making a through route from the Missouri to the Pacific nortihm-iestt, is a combination which would naturally secure better service and lower rates for the public. On the other hand Ithe consolidation of parallel rail roaUs, such as is proposed In. the present effort being made to reorganize the Northern Pacific railroad by combination with the Great Northern, is an Instance where such combination of Interests probably would not be (to the interests of the public. The Jonnlng of 6uch Inter ests would wipe out of existence, em phatic statements of railroad m-agnates to the contrary notwithstanding, just and reasonable competition in the territory served by both lines. Furlthermore, it is conceded that tihe Northern Pacific, which la a land grant railroad, should not now be in Its present state of financial diffi culty. Had the land department of that company been managed differently seems most probable that such profits could have been made during the earlier periods of its existence, while the coun try was Still thinly, populated and local traffic amounted to little or nothing, as would Oiave carried it over the times of depression, of '93 and '94. However this may be, one thing is certain, and that is, that tins railroad is peculiarly a rail road of tihe people and owes to them obligations which can hardly , bs carried out under the combine proposed by J J. HKi of the Great Northern, In un in terview in Seattle the other day,. Silas w. neotrtit, general counsel for the North ern Pacific, now in attendance upon the United States district court at that point in a suit ineltatultcd by . Brayten-Ives ,to ousc Tine present receivers of the Northern Pacillc, iwlth t'he ulterior object of de feating the Adams-Hill reorganization scnomie, eays: "The drowsed Adams. HiU reorganization has never been ex plained in detail because it was so out rageous itihiat it was thousht beat to give it to tne public in broken doses. The scheme proposes to give a second mort goge bondholder a 4 per cent bond in stead of a 6 per sent bond: to Eive third montgage hoOd-er a 3 per cent bond Instead of a- 6; and to give to the con soffldiited bondholders a 1 per cent bond Instead of a 6 per cent bond. That is to say, they offer ltK give for a $1000 bond a $509 bond! bearing 3 per sent interest ami also thinee shares of stock. This Is. an near as the plum has ever been pubMstoed, but in ' Itself it shows thialt Uhe (Adams comrnllttee has victimized the Interests of Its constit uents in agreeing to subject bondholders whom It prioresses to represent to a ruinous sacrifice." The trial- of this suit for ejectment of present receivers, which will take place In a few days in SealWle will be watched with .the greatest Interest by the genera; puKlc. It fs hoped and believed by roiny of the public that some organization scheme will be evolved which will place the Northern Pacific on its own basis. independent of other concerns, as tihe interests of the (public seem to dUniand. , Let the railroads and the public both live. There are rights and wrong3 on botih sides which can cevntalnly be met on r.hie comlmion grounds of equity. ACCEPTED. Boston Home Journal. "I propose" began the deliberate old lawyer, who had called around to see a young widow on business, cwhen the vl vaclous client exclaimed: "I accept." ' They are now partners. Anwrreeable Laxative and NERVE TONIC, Bold by Druggistgor sent by mall 25cw60a, and $1.00 per package. Samples free. Vft Tift TheFsvoritelCOTB rOWEIJ kX3 JLi W for the Toeth Aad llreaai,2ij, For Sale by S. W. Cnn. Few Hen Would Ask for a Finer Dinner than those we serve. We're trying In every way to make them the most en joyable in town. All the "good things" of the season cooked by our excellent cook In the most delicious style. Perfect service. If you Invite a friend to the Palace Restaurant the place is a sufficient guar antee that he will receive a good meal. The Palaee Restaurant Stomvch and bowel complaints are best relieve by the timely use of DeWitt's Colic and Cholera Cure. Insist on hav ing this preparation. Don' take any other. i 50. FOB A CASE IT WILL MOT CUBE. 1 ANNOUNCEMENT EXTRAORDINARY! Copeland & Thorsen! Have opened a first-class Boot and Shoe Store Our stock is all new, having will comprise every grade, from the Finest Ladies' and Gentlemen's Foot wear to Miners' "Trilbies" Owing to delays in the East our Best Grades m . Have Not Arrived But we will bo in position to meet the wants of all for the FALL AND WINTER TRADE. We have deterrrined to permanently identify ourselves with And we desire their patronage. All who call upon us will receive the same poli!e attention, whether they are purchasers or not. COPELAND &TH0RSEK 4fJ In Astoria. been manufactured to OUR 523 COMMERCIAL ASTORIA, ORE. ORDER since last Slay, and Astorians ST., lL 1873 1895 Brothers, Sell "ASTORIA, Lubricating OILS A Specialty. Ship Chandelery, Hardware, Iron & Steel, Coal, 'Groceries & Provisions, Flour & Mill Feed Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Loggers Supplies, Fairbank's Scales, Doors & Windows, Agricultural Implements Wagons & Vehicles. B. F. AIvIvEN, Dealsr in Wall Paper, Artist Materials, Paints and Painters Supplies Glass, Mouldings, Japanese Mattings, Rugs and Bamboo Goods Contractor' for Fresco Painting, Paper Hanging, Etc. 765 Commercial Street. Snap R Kodak at any man coming out ot our store and you'll get a portrait ot a man brimming OTer with pleasant thoughts, ' Such quality In the liquors we have to otter are enough to PLEASE ANY MAN. Conpe and Try Them. HUGHES & CO. A.STORIA IRON WORKS Concomly St., foot of Jackton, Astoria. General Machinists and Boiler Makers , Lui and Marin Engines, Boiler work, Steam- '' boat and Cannery Work Specialty. Castings of All Descriptions Mad to Order on Short Notice. John Fox. President and Superintendent A. L. Fox Vice President 0. B. Prael Secretary They Lack Life There are twines sold to fishermen on the Columbia river that stand In the same relationship to Marshall'! Twine as a wooden Image does to the human being they lack strength life evenness and lasting qualities. Don't tool yourself into the belief that other twines besides Marshall's will do "Just as well." They won't. They cannot C.J.TRENCHrtRD, Agent Wells, Fargo & Co. and Pacific Express Co; flop and PHOENIX INSURANCE CO'S. Custom House Broker f and Commission Merchant. 50a Bond Street. Kopp's Beer Hall. Choice Wines, Liquors and Cigars. KENTUCKY WHISKEY Only banded over the bar, The largest glass of N. P. Beer. Half-and-half, ji. Free Lunch. Chat. Wirkkala, Proprietor. Cor. Concomly and Lafayette Sts. THOMAS MOKKO, The Blacksmith whoeo shop la oppos ite Cutting's cannery, is now prepared to do such odd Jobs as making new cannery coolers, repairing old ones, making new fltthln, boat irons, and re pairing old ones, and all other black, imlthtnr that requires first-class work- mnhJp Superfluous Hair! Removed by the electrio needle. Eye brows arched. Cure guaranteed. Con sultation free. The NEW YORK AND PORTLAND ELECTROLYSIS COM. PANY. Room 24, ttucker House. 698 Commercial street w KEATING ft CO wilt open their Musla Ball at 839 Astor street, Baturdsy the 16th. Tbey will www keep numberless good liquors and cigars besides having good music all th time. Hair Goods flanufactured All Style I Wigs, Bangs, Switche. Combings Made Up, Dressing, Shampooing, Bleaching and Dyeinj. Children's Hair Cutting. MRS C H SEDERLOF, JSB Commercial St., cor. Eighth. SEASIDE SAWMILL A complete stock of lumber cm hand In the rough or dressed. Flooring, rus tic, celling, and all kinds of finish; mouldings and shingles; also bracket work dons to order. Term reasonable and prices at bedrock. All orders promptly attended to. Office) and yard at milL H. V. U LOO AN. Pron'r.