Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1886-04-22

Commerce SnOulQ De lett 10 follow It's natr
raj channels, and the railroads and vats,
ways should be left to compete without die.
elimination.
In framing a general law for the benss,
of the whole people of this country to reSn'
late its vast carrying interests, is il not be,.
ter to make the rule uniform and of general
application, in which the interests of the
vast body of the whole people are to be az
fected. rather than TO make exceptions tbs,
apply only to isolated cases, and which eT'
ceptions may affect so materially the mr..
poses of the bill?
In order to get at the exceptions it be.
comes necessary TO delegate to the commits.
sion appointed under the provisions of the
bill dangerous discretion which virtually
places i'm their hands the essence of the
whole question of determinations intended
to be remedied by the bill. 1t will also i'm.
pair the usefulness and high reputation
which the commission ought TO possess 10,
disinterested fairness, and subject it to sus
picions and imputations for every excep.
| ton the commission may make must be IN
the interests of the railroads, and 1t will sub.
/ iect it to embarrassing criticisms from which
| it ought to be exempt
Mr.. President, wish ii understood that
| have no war to make upon railroads "
corporations within the proper limit of their
usefulness | only aim at fair and just reg.
ulations. such as will correct the unwisdOm
of their own acts and produce approximate
stability and fairness in rates to their pa
irons. | know there are in many commu-
mites men whose hobby it is TO dencunce
railroads. men who are neither laborers,
producers, nor shippers themselves, and
who never aided with encouragement or
contributed by their means to the employ
| ment of labor, the building OF railroads, or
! the development of any other useful public
enterprise men who do not create employ
ment or make two blades of grass grow
where only one grew before"
If the development of the country in
which they live had depended upon their
| exertions we would have had little inter
state commerce to regulate; and we and
our children perhaps for generations to come
would have found our way from our forest
homes by means familiar to the pioneers.
! In the eyes of such men, the man who IN
vests his means or gives his energies TO
public enterprises is the subject of suspicion,
! denuncati0n, and abuse.
Mr.. President, | have no sympathy with
/ this class of agitators.. They agitate, not
because they have ever felt or known the
effects of determinations or tie oppression
of corporations, but agtate and derouuce
because il is their political stock IN trade
a capital that costs nothing, an investment
which if it pays is all clear gain 20 then
and leaves the development and thrift Of
| the country to take care OF itself or be taken
/ care of by those who are willing TO labor Tor
| il and be advertised as enemies to the pub
| lie good
our railroads have been of untold bene-
/ ft They have been the means of opening
up aud developing this country a. no other
/ country has ever been developed IN the
same space of time before. They are the
arteries through which flows the iie-bood
of the worlds commerce." They are the
means of civilization and of progress in all
the material aims and purposes OF life.
! They have become so necessary TO the de-
yelopment of every section Of country that
emigration and capital will not go beyond
the lines of transportation, and IN the very
nature of things all enterprises Of magnl-
tude. whether of railroad, mining, or man.
ufacturing interests, must be built up and
operated by the aggregation OF capital IN
the form of corporations.
This capital, except in rare instances, can
not be obtaired in the communities TO be
benefited most by their construction. IL Is
therefore not only unwise but unjust to ios-
ter the impression that such corporations
are public enemies 10 be denounced and leg
slated against rs such.
This country has more capital invested IN
railroads than the aggregate OF all other IN
vestments. and these securities are owned
throughout the country indiscrim nately
and they have precisely as much right to
protection and no more than any other class
of property that exists.
There is no community without the fac-
tiles of railroad transportation that doe not
hail with satisfaction the prospect Of obtain
ing it. with all its accompanying advantages
and conveniences. Without transportation
manufacturing can not exist mines can no'
be operated, forests can not be turned 70
value. labor is without demand and forced
TO seek employing where thriit and enter
prise follow in the wake Of transportation
and commerce. We feel this IN the stale
which have the honor in part 20 represent
n State which lacks only railroad iaclllue
10 penetrate and develop its mines OF hidden
wealth and carry of its forests OF valuable
timber 10 make il one of the foremost States
of the Union in wealth, prosperity, and IN,
creasing population For these reasons
would ask no unjust or oppressive legisa'
ton to retard developments or imperl me
capital already invested. / would treat al
such corporations with the same fairness !
would treat individuals, but | would require
from them equal fairness to their patrons.
would invite capital and enterprise aua
labor with the hospitality Of friendship 70
come and make their homes with us, ana
would assure them fair and generous pro'ee'
ton instead Of proclaiming them enemIe
seeking to intrude unbidden and unwelcoms
into our territory. And MIR. Presiden-
whatever may be said or done by the lev
who may be prompted by motives OF iGels
own, political or otherwise, am sure ln5'
in the statement Of this spirit OF bIoSQ
minded and liberal fairness represent ihs
general sentiment on this subject "hioI
characterizes the great body OF the COZ
people of my own State and OF. the couD"i
at large. -
This spirit il just 10 all-it is this 'Plits
which has marked and made the progfe'y'
mankind. 1t will continue TO promote, 'Is
development Of the country at large, ana ~
State in all classes Of its citizenship VIZ
fair adjustment of the relations Of labor eD-
capital will profit more largely by u 'D'D
my own.