Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1879-02-22
sbepberSstowm Register.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 90, 1879,
Brief Review Of N7r. HAeyser's Adj.
dress before the Stale Senate
Judiciary Committee.

of the representatives of the people, yet
we must not be expected to shut our
eyes or blunt our judgments as to their
shortcomings or credulity TO the soph-
istry OF special pleading of those who
come before them TO plead the protec-
ton of their special interest, or browbeat
them from protecting the interest Of
those they represent.
Mr.. Keyser quotes section 8 of the
acts of the Legislature of lS47, which
expressly reserves she power to the
Legislature" "of hereafter of Altering,
amending or modifying every or any
part Of the provisions Of this act" We
think if he had looked further into the
laws of Virginia, under which they
built their road, he would have found a
provision which declared when the net
earnings OF said road should pay six per
cent on It's capital invested, the Leglsla-
ture should have the right 10 revise and
modify lis tariff rate OF charges and
that is what our Legislature is asked TO
do, for il has the evidence in Mr.. Gar
rett's last ANIMAL report that the compa-
ny, after adding millions Of dollars to
its outlay beyond the legitimate cost of
constructing and economically equip
ping its road, by its special palace cars,
mammoth hotels, ornamental grounds
and parks, has declared over seven per
cent dividend; this per cent on all this
expenditure is made up mainly of OF
the way freight and passenger travel,
for Mr.. Keyser frankly admits that from
I'll points where their road strikes COM
peting lines they put down their rates,
but he doesn't say that those competing
rates are below what is remunerative
compensation for services rendered, nor
do we believe, or suspect that any man
with ordinary intelligence believes, that
the 3. s o. Il. R. Company, or any
other railroad company which is under
the management of competent men, will
carry freight Or passengers from any
point for less than it costs them, except
possibly spaSmodically for the purpose
of breaking down some weak rival; and
we do not agree that the people OF
West Virginia should be made to pay
tribute to the ambitious schemes Of any
corporation,
Dir. Keyser rather mikes the effects
of Mr. Johnson's bill when he says.
"However beneficial at the first glance
its provisions may be to the citizens Of
your State, that it must result in fnan-
oial ruin to the company itself" Then
he goes or to cite its arbitrary effects,
which simply rererses the present order
Of things; that is, instead of the people
of the State being entirely subject to
the arbitrary, hearlless, grasping, mon
ey-lovipg ambitions Of soulless copora.
ton, it places the corporation under the
control of liberal, enlightened and just
legislation, where redress can always be
had when injustice is shown to have
been done. Mr.. Keyser further says
Mr.. Johnson's bill ignores the "cost of
constructing and operating the road
over the mountain ranges of this State,
than over ali equal distance of tie prai-
ries CT Illinois" Then be states that
he has just agreed to freight 10000
tons of coal from Piedmont to Chicago
for one-balf cent per ton per mile.
Now we apprehend that comparison
of the grades and cost of construction,
cost of operating tie same number Of
miles east from Piedmont TO Harper's
Ferry, or even TO Baltimore, is not as
great as the same number of miles &C.
ing west from Piedmont, yet their char,
ges coming east are much grtater.
Mr.. Keyser admits that the railroad
company has received from the State in
It's Sovereign capacity valuable fran
chises, and that it owes to the State the
allegiance which the creature necessari'
" holds to the creator, and that lar
from desiring 10 antagonize the State or
any of its interest, it has az earnest de.
sire to pursue such policy as will pro-
mote It's interest and secure friendly re-
lations." This patriotic declaration Of
M. X. toward the State ought to bring
the blush of shame TO the Judases IN
our Legislature, who sit with the price
of their dcsertion Of the interest Of The
State in their pockets. We must judge
of tho tree by its fruits, and therefore
impugn Mr.. Keyser's pretentions to
pursue such a "policy as will promote
the States interest" when the practice
of the company he represents is to ship
the products of other States. hundreds
of miles further of, to the same market
il does those from West Virginia, for
less pay. Is not this ''antagonizing
her material interest by breaking down