Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-30

directors, and to publish the same Immediately
after every meeting If not In the public prints,
at least by circular sent to each shareholder,
in order that these may be kept properly in
formed at the time Of the conduct OF their re-
ptesentatives In respect to current questions
and transactions.
Finally. to complete this method OF govern
ment and 70 give 70 It that practical erect
without which it might be injurious rather
than beneficial. provision should be made n
the criminal law Of the State for the punish
| inent OF corporation officials who withhold In
FORMATION. misrepresent facts. or disooey the
resoIutions OF the boards OF directors:
appears to me that such regulations as
tnese will meet all the requirements OF the
Sase Sas: ana VIII remove all possible danger OF
usstrInent 70 the railroads on the one hand and
| OF INJURY 20 the public on the other The only
ooJncuon IS likely to come from those who are
reaiiV 10 oe feared by the public, and against
wh0m alone IL is necessary to take precau-
tlon 5, namely, the few persons who by combf-
| troll of the corporations
The railroads themselves are not dangerous
any more than a locomotive is when IN com
pet@nt ana responsible hands; nor are corpo-
ratlonS IN themselves otherwise than effective
instruments for accomplishing the purposes
for which they are created by the State, but
the corporations undoubtedly possess powers
and resources which when welded by a single
will seem formidable in the eyes of those who
know from history bv what means other re-
publics have been subverted, and who believe
that like causes will always produce like ef-
fects.
What is dangerous, therefore, is that the
absolute control of these corporations should
pass into the hands of a few persons united by
the strongest ties of mutual fidelity, whose
individual wealth renders them Independent
OF the influences which produce in the COM
munity at large general prosperity or general
adversely. and whose proceedings are yelled.
not only frcm the public but even from their
own stockholders.
But besides State action, whether in the way
now subjected or otherwise, it is in the power
of all persons having dealings with railroads,
or influence with the public. to contribute to-
wards the improvement of railroad admins
tration by acquiring full and accurate know
ledge of what is practicable and desirable
in railroad management, so that an Intelligent
public opinion may be created which railroad
managers will necessarily respect and propi-
tiate. The carpings of the selfish and the
criticism of the ignorant carry no weight; in
deed they encourage perverseneSs and an arbi-
trary spirit on the part of officials, but no man
or sufficient ability to occupy and retain an
important position in railroad will be indif-
ferent to the opinion of his management en-
tertained by those whose knowledge upon the
subject is entitled to his res pect.
When we consider that there are a presentin in
this country ninetY-three thousand six hundred
miles of ffniShed railroads, representing an in
vestment of five thousand millions of dollars, it
will at once appear how futile it would be to
apply to the administration of these corpora
tions anv regulative influence except hat OF
an enlightened and discriminating public opin-
ion operating through hchannels'connecting the
management directly with the local public OF
each road No other force but this is suffi-
ciently flexible and constant to be effectually
applied to so elastic a subject matter as that
of railroad Transportation and corporate ad-
mipistration Naturally the railroads have en-
listed on their side the highest abilities end the
strongest influences in each community; thew
could never have attained their present devel-
opment without such alliances, nor can they
even now afford to discard them, Upon our
plan these allies of the railroads would become
the bulwarks of the public.
In conclusion permit me to direct your at
tention to the debt of gratitude which this
whole country owes to the men who have pro-
iected and achieved its magnificent system Of
railroads. Not only is this debt due to those
who are identified with the early history of the
roads, but it is also eminentlY due to those
who in our own time have by improvements,
extensions and combinations made our rail-
roads one of the marvels of the world.
Feeling strongly we may the need of sub
jecting these corporations to such restrictions
and limitations as are demanded by interests
sent, we cannot be Indifferent to the good they
have accomplished, nor can we fail to admire
the skill and devotion exhibited daily by the
great body of their officials.
It will be a great gain to both the railroads
and the public if the present distrust and
alienation can be made to give place to a sense
of mutual confidence and respect: for. after
all, the railroads of this great country are our
railroads. We the public, own their securities,
we give them business we have created them,
and still creating others; while, on the
other hand, it is for us, for our comfort pleas
ure and profit that they ply their busy trains
as a weaver plies his shuttles weaving out of
individual industries, talent and enterprise the
rich fabric of material prosperity, and knitting
us all together by intercourse and commerce
into community one in interest, one in feel
ing and one IN destiny.