The Conservative *
IXWKST RATES
ON RECORD , feature of the fi >
ures given in
'Poor's Manual of Railroads for 1899"
is that referring to the average rate of
transportation received last year from
the transportation of freight. The
average receipts per ton mile were only
7.58 mills , as against 7.97 mills in 1897
and 8.20 mills in 1896. The decrease
was 2.80 per cent last year compared
with 1897 , and the average rate per ton
mile was the lowest in the history of
our railroads. It is not at all surprising
that such a low rate record should be
made. There was a scramble for busi
ness last year among the railroads.
Rate wars were frequent , prolonged and
severe. Railroad managers seemed to
possess a desire to make a better show
ing as to the amount of tonnage moved
than to profits from such movement.
Rates suffered in consequence. The un
fortunate feature is the result that fol
lowed the year's rate troubles. The low
level established has since been con
tinued. It has been impossible to re
establish the old level , for it rarely
occurs that a rate once cut ever makes
full recovery. And thus we find a
downward tendency in rates not only in
1898 , but for years back. To offset this
condition of affairs railroad managers
have been compelled to spend vast sums
of money each year in the adoption of
methods to lessen the cost of operation.
Monster locomotives have been built ;
the capacity of freight cars steadily
enlarged ; heavier rails laid ; road-beds
practically re-made ; wooden bridges
have given away to steel structures , and
the length of trains increased. All for
the purpose stated to lessen the cost of
operation. Had not this been done
there would be few railroads in the
country today making returns to their
shareholders. In fact , most of them
would have been bankrupt ; for each
succeeding year found profits dwindling ,
the margin between gross and net earn
ings growing less and less. No one
believes the end has yet been reached.
The tendency of rates is still downwards.
"Whether or not railroad managers will
be able to introduce further economies
in operation as a partial offset remains
to be seen. If not , congress must enact
laws which will establish rates on a
profitable basis. And this is the relief
which railroad men all over the country
expect. Railway World.
PROFESSIONAL
TKUSTS. practice law is re
stricted to men
who have studied and been admitted ,
by authority of qualified courts , to com
pete for the honors and emoluments of
the legal profession. This "trust" for a
class called lawyers gives a monopoly tea
a few. Ic precludes the many from any
attempt to try to make a living out of
law. But there are some regular mem
bers of the legal guild who notwith
standing the exclusion of competition
fail to succeed. Such become generally
mere suggesters. They advocate reme
dial laws for every ill that in an eco
nomic or political way worries man
kind. They oppose all combinations for
profits , except the great combine of
regularly admitted attorneys. And the
members of this combine furnish the
great orators to fight trusts everywhere !
Nebraska has very stringent laws
creating a class who alone may practice
medicine i n this
Medical Trust. , ,
common wealth.
The disciples of Esculapius are vigilant.
No faith-cure expert , no osteologist or
bone healer , no magnetic manipulator
can break into Nebraska and attempt
treating afflicted humanity without
being proceeded against by the doctors'
trust.
The various Christian denominations
are each a monopoly in a certain style
_ . , , of creed. Each
Theological Trust. . . .
church is a com
bine to propagate certain doctrines.
Each one affirms itself orthodoxy and
all its competitors are heterodoxy.
Some of them claim to have a monopoly
of the right of way which along "the
straight and narrow path" leads to a
delightfnl terminus of eternal beati
tudes.
And besides these trusts of a mental
and moral character which limit compe-
, titionin intellect-
The Coffin Trust. , , . . .
ual and religious
fields , we find The Society of American
Undertakers has the last and most
effective combination for high profits on
a product which has the steadiest and
most iiuiversal market. These sad-
faced sympathizers with human afflic
tion have a casket combine by which
the luxury of a decently conducted
funeral costs the corpse more than a
trip to Europe costs a live person.
After law , medicine and theology have
taxed a man from birth to death , the
undertakers take the remains and in a
single effort out-do all their predecessors
in polite and unescapable extortion.
Shall there be another meeting of the
civic federation at Chicago to consider
professional trusts and to prepare for
the undertakers' combine ?
An acquaintance
, ,
/ - - ! i
of Mr. Richard
Harding Davis furnishes the following
anecdote which he thinks is authentic ,
though he was not there himself. It
has the appearance of a parable , and
still it is not unlike some of those
flashes of sardonic humor , the remem
brance of which helps to keep Yankee
hearts warm through the cold New
England winter. It at least serves to
illustrate the estimation in which Mr.
Davis is held by those who know him.
It seems that that distinguished author
was in some small New England town
and wished to attend a local assembly
of some kind , but found on reaching the
appointed spot that he was tardy , and
that no accommodations were any
longer to be had save the privilege of
standing on his two feet. This was not
satisfactory to Mr. Davis , who had
moreover a friend with him ; so he approached
preached an elderly native , whom he
espied occupying a desirable place ,
together with a small boy , and looked
at him significantly. This failed to dis
lodge the native , so Mr. Davis , after
waiting a reasonable time , spoke to him
about it. "Perhaps you don't know
me , " he said ; "I am Mr. Richard Hard
ing Davis , and this is my friend , Mr.
so-and-so. "
- - ,
"Mercy sakes , " responded the New
Englander , instantly rising ; "is it pos
sible ? The great Mr. Davis ? It is for
me to apologize , I am sure. But let me
introduce myself ; I am God the Father ,
and this" pulling forth the small
Yankee from behind him "is my be
loved son. Take our seats , by all means ,
gentlemen. "
DOWNTRODDEN FARMERS.
On Thursday , August 31st , 1899 , the
old settlers in the county south of Otoe
gathered at Nem aha City for a picnic
and a general'interchange of experiences
and reminiscences. Gov. Robert W. Fnr-
nas , who was a principal figure on the
occasion , estimated the number present
at between four and five thousand.
They were a stalwart folk. They
were joyous and exuberant in health
and prosperity. Instead of arriving at
the grounds in ox wagons as they would
have done thirty-five or forty years ago ,
they came in pretty surreys , nice buggies
and comfortable carriages.
The pleasure vehicles in attendance
numbered so many that good judges
estimated them to have cost more than
fifty thousand dollars. Poor farmers !
How plutocratic tyranny rides them I
"It is not a democratic nomination in
any way , shapw , or manner , " says the
Cleveland Plain Dealer ( dem. ) , of the
choice of McLean. "It has no claim to
the support of democrats who are true
to the principles and organization of
Ohio. The candidate represents nothing
but his own selfish interests , and those
interests are antagonistic to democratic
welfare. No democrat who refuses to
vote for him can be justly accused of
bolting a democratic nomination , for the
nominee is not entitled to consideration
as a democrat. "
"So far as getting the silver plank
right up to the front , if the signs of the
times are worth anything , Mr. Bryan is
going to have his way , " the Baltimore
News ( dem. ) thinks. "Whether he can
make it a real feature of the campaign is
another question. "