The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-07-09


!IOWA'S NEW RAILWAY LAW
LETTER FROM SUPERINTENDENT RID
DIE, OF CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND
AND PACIFIC RAILROAD TO THE
GOVERNOR.
The Company qoiW Obey the Neso
L0ao as ON Experiment, but does
not consider at va1td.
Special Dispatch to the Evening Journal.
Dies MONIES, Iowa, July 2.-The
State Register this morning contains
a long letter from Hugh Riddle, Su-
perinlendent of the Rock Island rail
road, to Gov. Carpenter. It con-
cludes as follows: While this COM
pany denies TIE justice and constitu-
tionality of the (RaiLroad) act, it is
disposed to subject it to the test of
actual experiment before assailing it
IN the courts. Schedules have been
arranged in conformity with its pro-
visions for the transportation Of per-
sons and property between points in
the State OF Iowa. The officers of
the company, however, are trustees
charged with the management of the
property ofits stockholders in such a
manner as to secure the revenue nee
essary for the payment of the operat-
ing expenses, reasonable dividends
upon the stock, and interest upon the
bonds. While engaging ia the ex-
pertinent Of operating that portion of
the road in Iowa in accordance with
the schedules named in the act, it is
their duty to SO adjust the rates ap-
pllcable to inter-S tate commerce as to
secure from the entire business of the
company the reserve to which it is
entitled. Infexible schedules have
uniformly been found impracticable,
and we say frankly that we do not
believe that the operation of this
road in conformity with this one will
accord with the principles which gov.
Iern commerce, or that the result will
be satisfactory, either to the owners
OF the railway or to the people Of the
State It is hoped, however, that
some practical good will result from
submitting the act TO the test Of actu-
al experiment. 1t may contribute
something toward either confirming
or dispelling new theories in regard
to transportation, land bringing abouta
better understanding of the principles
which should govern the relations
existing between the owners of rail
road property and the public. If
actual experiment shall demonstrate
that continued observance of these
schedules will not result in total or
partial confscation, it may not be
necessary to raise any question as to
the validity Of the act. Ifthe result
of a thorough and satisfactory exper-
iment shall slow that such observ-
ance mnst involve permanent sur
rander of the revenues to which the
company is entitled from The opera
ton Of its lines. a different policy
will be adopted with view IF secur-
ing such revenue, and any attempt to
enforce the act as a valid law will be
resisted in the proper tribunals. It
is the purpose of the officers of this
company to conduct this experiment
in such manner as to satisfy all
Reasonable persons Of their good faith,
shrinking from no investigation Of
their management, and listening at
tenEively to all honest and sincere
criticisms. While this company un-
equivocaIly denies the obligation Of
this statute as valid law, and will
do nothing which might operate to
preclude it from asserting its invalid.
lty hereafter. it has no desire to dis
regard that which seems to be the
will Of the people, even though ex-
pressed in void enactmen1s, and it
will do so only when that will de-
mands the surrender Of rights secured
to the ownere Of such property by the
fundamental laws Of the land rights
the maintenance Of which is essential
to the properand profitable use of all
property, whether owned by individ-