Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1858-03-06
FOR SHERIFF.


Whether the tariff ought to be raised or
lowered on this road, or suffered to remain
as it is, the duty Of the Directors is the
same. to test its propriety By some certain
standard, by which the company, if not the
travelling and trading public, will be salts
fed Of its justice and wisdom. At this
particular crisis in the history and progress
Of public improvement in Virginia, when
Euoh works may be considered everywhere
IN experiment, unfinished and of unascer-
tanned final success-when their further
prosecution depends mainly on the action of
the representatives of the people, and when
very large proportion Of the means Of COLI
struction is drawn from the common treasu-
ry Of the State, it becomes a matter of jus
tice, as well as Of sound policy, that their
popularity should be increased in every pro-
per way it can be effected, not by appeal
ing to unworthy prejudice, nor by empty
and undeserved commentator, but by the
adoption and continuance of an enlightened
policy in the conduct Of them, and by
farir and frank exposition Of the reasons and
data on which it is founded. AS the Cen
trail Railroad is more interested in the es-
tablishment Of such popularity than any
other improvement in the State-as the
highest value and the nationality Of that
work depend much more on what Is to be
done by the representatives Of the people
than on what has been done by the compa-
ny, we feel very anxious to see the control
lers Of its destiny take the initiative in es-
tablishing for it that worthy and permanent
popularity we have here referred to. We
wish to see this end accomplished by no
penny wise and pound foolish" policy-lio
ttinting Of officers in their salaries-no cut
ting off Of few free tickets nothing in
that small way. IF there are supcrnume-
rary officers, discharge shem--if the pay
Of any is diaproportioned to the labor, re-
spcnsbility and skill required, cut them
aown--but let great care be taken that the
scale Of merit shall not be reduced aad the
service injured, By an attempt to conform
She pay Of the officers ''to the standard of
compensation which prevails among private
individuals for similar services" If the
free ticket system is abused, let not the COM
pany take the matter into their OWE hands,
and divest themselves Of all courtesy, if not
Of much Interchange of useful information
with other companies and associations, by
the establishment of surly and iron rules,
without tinse for consideration or experience
to guide then, bet let them take the re-
sponsibility and dsty Of correcting abuses
where it properly belengs-on their dirccto-
~. Make them assume 1T, and hold them
accountable while you pay thesn But,
though in an enterprise of such magnitude,
everything, even the lninutis,, is important,
these salaries and free tickets are compare
lively small matters, and We were surprised
to find such stress laid on them at the last
meeting ee the stockholders, while nobody
oven adverted to the valuable suggestions
Of Mr.. Ellet for framing judicious tariff
We find resolution moved and carried
THAT copy Of the proceedings Of this
meeting in reference to free tickets be COM
municated to the railroad companies of the
State, and ts the grea. railroad conven-
tion. which assembled in Richmond on
the 9Th of December last for censidera-
non, as if those crude uuconsdered, and