Evening journal., 1888-12-22
Tho baltimore ana OHIO Railroad.

Inc baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
Baltimore Sun.
The directors OF the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company at their meeting
yesterday, elected, by vote of thirteen
to eight, Mr.. Charles f. Mayer president,
IN place OF Mr. Samuel Spencer. 1t has
been well known for son time past that
TINS change was contemplated, but pre-
cisely why it has been deemed necessary
to displsce so satisfactory an officer even
by the choice Of one so estimable as Mr..
Mayer IS conceded to be is not 80 well un-
derstood, at least by the public Mr.
Pratt aptly expressed the feeling abroad
when he hkened il to sWappinp
horses mid stream, in the homely phrase
OF Mr., Lincoln, but a majority of a board
OF directors, as Lord Holt said Of Parlia-
ment, we suppose, can do no wrong, but
they can do some very odd things. How
ever, Mr.. Spencer has laid down the in
sigma of his office, and it may be pleas
ant to him to know that the community
has fully appreciated his services. and
would gladly have continued him in
charge of its interests had It held the
reins of power in deciding 80 important a
matter. Mr.. Mayer is a man of strong
character and business experiences.
He is so highly esteemed by
those who know him that it can
scarcely be supposed his elevation
to the high Office he is to fill means any
thing else than that the road is to be
managed for the best interests of those
who own 1t. 1t may be pertinent to state
the fact, however, that among those who
are fortunate or unfortunate enough, as
the case may be, TO enjoy this distinction
the city and state ought not to be for
gotten. These vast interests have so
often and so persistently been overlooked
In the past, and so far as We can observe
are so little needed now that it is well
that close watch be kept on the fact by
those who are specially commissioned for
this purpose. Among these gentltmen
are MIR. Lanahsn and Mr. German the
last survivors Of the investigating com
mittee appointed last spring. They
doubtless feel lonely enough, as events
have turned out, and, judging from re-
cent occurrences, would probably be
accorded tickets of leave IL there was
authority armed with power TO make this
disposition of them. Mis-
takes have been made-mistakes which
have shaken the credit Of this great cor
poration to its very foundation The
same interest under which all that hap
pened is again apparently in control, and
whether IT, offend or please, the direc
tors sent by the city and state
owe their best services to those who
have honored them by their choice
at a time Of difficulty, when the
public purse is so largely at stake The
time has passed, for clique management.
II has also passed, let us hope, for that
even worse madness which permitted
politicians to use the road and their |
places of power in it to crafty either
their ambition, their malice or their |
creed. Not only have our people a large |
pecuniary stake involved in the future !
of this road, but apart from that they !
feel very natural interest in all that |
affects it, They hope to see it win back !
the proud place it once held in the role |
of our great corporations. But if il is to |
prosper as it should, those who are in !
charge Of it must see that it serves the |
public first and last. and be not handi- |
capped by personal rule, clique manage |
ment or political manipulation.