Show INCENTIVE MAKING business men will view all attempts to change methods of rate malting on railways in the united states from the practical aspect what they will desire to know is not whether it Is possible that adding power to the interstate commerce commission will improve material conditions but whether such improvement la probable the question has been befogged more or less by the writings of men who doubtless mean well but have not taken sufficient time to inquire under the existing system where the railroads make rates business Is the only consideration transportation is a business and in its operation makes the transaction of other business on a large scale among the common possibilities it rates are to be made in pursuance of the largest good attainable it will be readily conceded that considering the complex problems that aro preset ned the greatest possible skill that can be secured is indispensable in rate making the business of the railroads is to increase the volume of traffic as much as possible for by so doing they augment their own earnings railroads operate within definite areas they run from point to point and create by their operation much of the business that in aum ium yields revenue to them the problems attending particular crops sectional industries dus tries and the view of the units of transportation as a part of the whole are necessarily their particular study granting that they have the best skill that can be secured and that they depend upon the country through which they pass for their own prosperity it must be admitted that they have both the means and the incentive to determine how the interests of the country can best be sub served each road hag its own field for particular study each railroad official must be devoted to providing the best showing that he can and that can only be effected by making the earnings of the line a continually growing amount it the rates are oppressive business will not be offered in increasing quantities if the rates are too low the efficiency of the railroad must be curtailed because there will not be money enough in hand to supply adequate service hence the rates are made by those who have the possible interest in building up their respective territories and whose prosperity also depends upon the bulk of business that can be secured from connecting lines as through freight |