St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-09-27

thing. 1t fixes responsibility for itemi
where it belongs and raises the standard
Of work DONE good thing all around
for public and writers.
Henry Maxwell suddenly paused. His
wife looked up from some work she
was doing. He was reading something
with the utmost interest.
"Listen to this Mary" he said after
q moment, while his voice trembled:
"This morning Alexander Powers,
superintendent of the l.. and T. r. r.
shops in this city, handed his resigna-
ton to the road and gave as the reason
the fact that certain proof had fallen
into his hands Of the violation Of the
interstate commerce law, and also of
the state law, which has recently been
framed to prevent and punish railroad
pooling for the benefit of certain IA
vored shippers. Mr.. Powers states in
his resignation that he can no longer
consistently withhold the information
he possesses against the road. He has
placed his evidence against the COM
pany in the hands of the commission,
and it is now for them to take action
upon it.
1.-THE News wishes to express itself
on this action of Mr.. Powers. In the
first place, he has nothing to gain by
it. He has lost valuable place volun-
tarily when by keeping silent he might
have retained it. In the second place,
we believe his action ought to receive
the approval Of all thoughtful, honest
citizens who believe in seeing law
obeyed and lawbreakers brought to JUS
tice. In case like this, where evidence
against railroad company is generally
understood to be almost impossible to
obtain it is the general belief that the
officers of the road are often in posses
sion of eliminating facts, but do not
consider it to be any Of their business
to inform the authorities that the law
is being defed.
''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 prominent rail
road official in this city 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
MERGE 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 great western railroad, to the
authors knowledge.
"It is not necessary to say that such
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 UNPUBLISHED
dishonesty and lawlessness without
wrecking his character.
''In our Judgment, Mr.. Powers did
the only thing that Christian man
can do. He has rendered brave and USE
full service to the state and the general
public. 1t 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 taken 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
rifce 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
approved by every citizen who wishes
to see the greatest corporations as well
as the weakest individual subject to the
same law. Mr.. Powers has done all that
loyal, patriotic citizen could do 1t
now remains for the commission to act
upon his evidence, which, we under
stand, is overwhelming proof of the
lawlessness Of the L. and T. Let the
law be enforced, no matter who the
persons may be who have been guilty. 1"
Henry Maxwell finished reading and
dropped the paper
II must 60 and see Powers. This is
the result of his promise"
He rose. and as he was going out his
wife said:
"Do you think, Henry, that Jesus
would have done that2"
Henry Maxwell paused a moment
Then he answered slowly:
Eyes; think he would. At any rate,
Powers has decided SO, and each one of
us who made the promise understands
that he is not deciding Jesus conduct
for any one else, only for himself. "
"How about his family2 How will
Mrs. Powers and Celia be likely to take
it?"
Every hard, have no doubt. That
will be Powers cross in this matter.
They will not understand his motive. "
Henry Maxwell went out and walked
over to the next block, where the su-
perintendent lived, To his relief, Pow
ers himself came to the door.
The two men shook hands silently.
They instantly understood each other
without words. There had never been
such bond of union between the min
lister and his parishioner.
"What are you going to do2" Henry
Maxwell asked after they had talke.
over the facts in the case and considered
them we'll