Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-22

Just and what are unlust-tne peopao WISH
information on this point.
Again. We are informed that the reason
our coal industry languishes is because
railroad officials discriminate against such
producers as are not in partnership with
them. That is TO say. no coal producer u
making money unless ne is in partnership
with some railroad official The writer OF
this report does not pretend to assert on his
own responsibility that such state OF al
fairs exist.
Importance of this Matter.
These illustrations are surely sufficient to
arouse our people to the infinite Importance
OF creating some agency which may be re.
lied upon 10 unearth and give publicity to
facts which would otherwise escape general
attention.
No one can fail to observe that, as things
are now conducted, the managers OF our
highways have the power to hx price on
every article offered for shipment. These
managers are men anxious to make money;
if they can buy coal at one end Of the line
for so cents and sell it at the other for 50, it
is reasonable to expect that they will do so.
The value of the coal aud timber in this
state is so great that the figures appall the
mind. For example, we have recently seen
the statement that gentleman who, ten
years ago,was not worth probably $50. 600,
ten years hence viii have acquired in West
Virginia private fortune of $50, OO0,0 900;
but it requires no argument to prove that a
state is not prosperous when one man may
ACQUIRE $l5O,000000 in so short time, be
cause every one knows that such vast
wealth cannot be obtained by the legitimate
use Of q highway
Capital Afraid of Railroad Securities.
The writer here goes on to show how the
inside managers OF corporations may ap
propriate the money of corporations to their
own use instead of dividins it among the
people stockholders. The misuse of funds
and bad faith in the conduct of railroads,
the writer urges, has destroyed confidence
in securities. The report goes further and
at length shows how Inscriptions men
manage corporations and railroads for their
private interest and to the detriment OF the
public at large, and argues that there will be
but little activity in legitimate railroas en-,
terprise until some system is devised which
will compel the inside managers to conduct
the business of a railroad corporation
openly and not secretly.
1t is Practicable to Obtain Faithful Ser
vice.
We constantly hear the remark that al
though the great corporations are Away;
able to procure the faithful services of the
best intellects, yet the business of the State
is often ineficiently administered. But
when this matter is considered it will bt
found that two causes operate to deprive
State Of the services Of such men as would
perform this work successfully.
The report under this head, says the ex
ecutive would likely appoint some polite
ian; that the appointment ola competent
officer would excite clamor among unlawful
scbemers; that the appointment ofan in
efficient man would displease the persons
whom it is expected the officer would ex
pose; that the executive would be be afraid
TO appoint an efficient man because Of the
possibility of its placing his popularity in
jeopardy among the very classes the officer
must expose. As q safeguard it is pro
posed to require applicants to write essay
upon the subjects to be dealt with; that the
Governor would then learn who was com
petent; that after the essays were published
the public would be surprised and disap
pointed if the most competen
man was not appointed; tina
the officer shall be paid accord
irg to the time employed in composing il
and his account appended thereto so tina
the public may judge as to the cost ant
merit of the papers
The report is signed by ]. M
! Mason, L. A. Bennett and 10
seph Bell, but Mr.. Bell says b
is not prepared to concur in certain of tn
views expressed in the report. The para
graphs marked with star indicate sucl
parts of the report as Mr.. Bennett refuses Il
concur in.
"Mr. Bennett is of opinion that this paragraph
slould be omitted,