, 1875-10-01

the Germans Of Chicago That they can votc
md act with these ragiten again, and Mt tho
same timo vote for honest money, is not tho
ts-Zti&u',g netting tho part Of " bunko-
steeror"?
PROPOSED SOLUTION OF THE RAILROAD
PROBLEM.
Tho speech Of CHARLES TaANcrs ADAMS,
Jr., at Oshkosh yesterday, is given in full to-
lay. We hope Lis audience heard with at-
tension. and VIC trust cur readers will reatl
tho wllolo ornsion. It is cain, discussion Of
facts, with no viturerative twaddlo thrown
in. The farmers Of Wisconsin are nskcd to
consider tho fact that tho railroad system has
mado farms in WISCONSIN possible, and to
judge the defects in the. system and tho rom-
edies for them impartinlly. Tho speaker, in
his brilliant sketch OF the growth Of the sys-
tom, missed one happy point. Railway loco
motion WINS inaugur atcd, not on tho dato ho
gives, Oct. G, 1875, but just hnlf century
ago this week, Sept. 81, 1926 Not Rainhilt,
but Darlington, saw tho first locomotive
driven by GEoaaE STEpHENsox's prentice
hand.
The root Of tho railroad trouble in tho WcBt
is where Mr. ADAMS finds it, in tho nation-
nj claracteris tic Of going ahead too fast, Too
many rn'lrof lis, o consequent incnpncity for
mir profits, this, in q nutshell, is tho case.
How ia th's trouble to 10 remedcd, tie prob
lem solve IL And hero wo got tho gist of
tho orN don. 1t treats tho railroad rs mn
anoma} y, not to 10 classified with other
ccono nio facts. Government ownership is
not t4e remedy. Rigid force laws nre not
tho solution. What il needed is calm and
cdr Gated public opinion, which will vary in
10 eordanco with vnrying facts in each partic-
lar case. This opinion must bo made ef-
fcotive In como way. Massachusetts, by
. a happy Legislative accident, has hit upon
TINT way. It hos d Bonrd of Railroad Com
missioners, with simply supervisory power.
This Board investigates evory complaint
1natle to it, without cost to tho complainant.
1t makes suggestions to tho railroad authors
ties, and reports to tho Legislature these sug-
gestions and any action taken upon them.
1t is lens which concentrates public opinion
| upon railroad oftioials, and 90 makos tho pub
1ic conviction burn into Official minds. We
znay quote two samples Of ita tnsks. It be-
came Convinced TINT certain bridges were un-
safe, and notified tho President of tho road
owning and using them. Tho notice wns
pigeon-holed. Thon the Directors received
notice that public attention would be called
to the mnttor unless it was zemedied.
Every bridge on the road was prompt
| ly repaired. In order to have the
successful workingmons trims, SO often do.
aosibed in THE TRIBUNE, run betwoon Boston
and Lynn. the Board asked the Directors of
the Eastorn Hallway to put them on. The
request was aatly refusod. The public was
| therefore appealed to, and the trains wero
soon On the track. Tho Directors could not
stand concentrated public opinion, however,
little effect homeopathic doses of 1t would
havo laa upon thoir conduct. The Board
is now engaged in an attempt to secure uni
| formity, e1actness, and absolute publicity Of
oil railway accounts. With this, A1r. ADAMS
believes the solution Of tho problem will be
reaehod in Massachusetts. Tho moods Of tho
day In every State aro thus summed up:
want TO sea publicity - regards railroad corporn-
toua secured beyond question who It IL Set time
Ill tho rsst may then. need he, rest and sleep for
generation for euRht caro-. wsnt also to 1na-
chlna perfected through which public opluiop can
mako tiaelf fo!s,-eas!y, quickly, cAoap1y want to
sso tho syateu 30 perfected that any laborIug nan
having good cauae for complaint Rgaaat sny, 4yen tho
WealthleH corporation, may, by dropping poD.acard
Into box do What Ill Tho complex machinery Of your
courts WI" not enRtlo him to do w,-aecuro Intel
ugent presentation Of AiE case. now to ssa In
oyary Btase, md In tho Government Of ths ua!tod
etatca. trAnrd ocers whose duty 1t shall ba to
1nn md supervise tho accounts OF tAe tnlltoad com.
panIes ~ 10 insure ia faesn uniformity sxactpess
md publicity. 10 tho end that may longer g1ops