Middletown transcript., 1899-12-30

i
framed to prevent and punish railroa
pooling for the benefit of certain ia
vored shippers Mr.. Powers states i
his resignation that he can no longe
consistently withhold the informatio
he possesses against the road He ha
placed his evidence against the com
pany IN the hands of the commission
and it is now for them to take actiol
upoa 1t.
1.-THE News wishes to express itsel
on this action Of Mr.. Powers. In th
first place, he has nothing to gain b,
it. He has lost a valuable place volun
tarily when by keeping silent he nigh
have retained it. In the second place
we believe his action ought to receiv,
the approval of all thoughtful, homes
citizens who believe in seeing Law
obeyed and lawbreakers brought to jus
tice. In case like this, where evidenc,
against railroad company is generally
understood to be almost impossible tt
obtain, it is the general belief that the
officers Of the road are often in posses
sion Of eliminating facts. but do moi
consider it to be any Of their business
to inform the authorities that the law
is being defied
The entire result of this evasion Of
responsibility on the part of those who
are responsible is demoralizing to every
young man connected with the road.
The editor of The News recalls the
statement made by a prominent rail
road official in this city a little while
ago that nearly every clerk in certain
department Of the road who understood
how large sums of money were made by
shrewd violations of the interstate COM
merce law was ready to admire the
shrewdness with which it was done and
declared that they would all do the
same thing if they were high enough in
railroad circles to attempt it. This was
actually said in one of the general of
fees Of a great western railroad, to the
authors knowledge
''It is not necessary to say that such
a condition of business is destructive
to all the nobler and higher standards
of conduct, and no young man can live
in such an atmosphere of unpunished
dishonesty and lawlessness without
wrecking his character.
"In our judgment, Mr.. Powers did
the only thing that a Christian man
can do. He has rendered brave and USE
full service to the state and the general
public. It is not always an easy matter
to determine the relations that exist be-
tween the individual citizen and his
fixed duty to the public. In this case
there is no doubt in our mind that the
step which Mr.. Powers has taker COM
mends itself to every man who believes
in law and its enforcement. There are
times when the individual must act for
the people in ways that will mean sac
rifice and loss to him of the gravest
character. Mr.. Powers will be misun-
derstood and misrepresented, but there
Is no question that his course will be
by every citizen who wishes
to see the greatest corporations as we'll
rs the weakest individual subject to the
anne law. Mr.. Powers has done all that
! loyal, patriotic citizen could do It
low remains for the commission to act
lpon his evidence, which, we under
tand, is overwhelming proof of the
awlessness of the L. and T. Let the |
aw be enforced, no matter who the |
'ersons may be who have been guilty"
Henry Maxwell finished reading and |
ropped the paper.
Il must go and see Powers. This is
he result Of his promise. +"
He rose. and as he was going out his
rife said:
''Do You think, Henry. that Jesus
7ould have done thatf'
Henry Maxwell paused a moment
hen he answered slowly:
eyes; think he would At any rate,
overs has decided SO. and each one of
s who made the promise understands
nat he is not deciding Jesus conduct
u any one else, only for himself. "
'sHow about his familyH How will
[rs Powers and Celia be likely to take
p
Every hard. have no doubt That
i'll be Powers cross in this matter.
hey will not understand his motive .
Henry Maxwell went out and walked
yer to the next block. where the su-
,rintendent lived To his relief. Pow
8 himself came to the door
The two men shook hands silently.
hey instantly understood each other
ithout words There had never been |
ch bond of union between tho min
ter and his parishioner
"What are you going to dor" Henry
axweI asked after L. I'D talked
ver the facts in the case nd co.-s3dcred
em well
"You mean another positionH l have
} plans yet. / can go back to my old
ork as telegraph operator. Ny fam
? will not suffer except in a social
ay."
Alexander Powers spoke calmly, if
dly. Henry Maxwell did not need to
K him how his wife and daughter :
It, He knew well enough that the su-
rintendent had suffered deepest at |,
at point. =
teFhere 10 one matter l wish you
ould see to, said Powers after
While. 'and that is the work begun at
g shops So far as l know. the com Z
ny will not object to that going right q
: 1t is one of the contradictions of :
9 railroad world that the Y. NJ. G. A.
d other Christian influences are en- 8
uraged by the roads, while all the 9
ne the most unC Christian and lawless
is are being committed in the official .
Of the roads themselves. P
course it is understood that it pays
railroad to have in its employ men y
10 are temperate and honest and =
ristian. So have no doubt the mas o
mechanic viii have the same cour- n
y extended to him that had in the r
stter of the room and It's uses. But v
lat want you to do, Mr.. Maxwell, !
TO see that my plan is carried out. :.
III your You understand what the II
a was in general You made very
Vorable impression on the men. Go q
wn there as often as you can. Get =
lton Wright interested to provide q
nething for the furnishing and ex- tc
lse of the coffee plant and reading Q,
lies. VIII you do it3" 2
Yes. replied Henry Maxwell He
i'd a little longer. Before he went