The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-08-30
DIVoRCING BUSINESS FROM POL
TTICS.
New York Cnmmsro.al.

ANNN 4 20 NNAAA4lA-ANHastas
Among the alleged reasons tor ,h,
resignation Of Charles NJ. Hays from
the presidency of the southern Pacific
Railroad is that his policy Of at;empting
to absolutely divorce the affairs OF the
company from politics was not approved
by the dominen: owners Of the property
and was actually detrimental 20 1t.
Presi3en; Hays discharge % Manager
Wallace in Nevada, for instance, IS re-
por;ed to have resulted speedily in a
largely Increased assessmen; on all the
Southern Pacific properties in that
state; ana Jack" wrlghcs discharge
from the eompanys employ after twen-
ty years service as the practical leader
Of the railroad lobby a, Sacramento Is
said 20 have already baen particularly
distasteful TO the Hartman Interests.
Both these Officials" had probably been
Of great value 20 the company in the
pas;-and their services were sin in
requisiiion-buJ in a way, presumably.
that President Hays could noI, OF a;
least. did not approve.
Pres Hays will have the sympathy
Of tha: large class which aims a, what
may quite properly be :ermed purism
in business; and his sand in this mat
ter viii hardly provoke adverse criticism
from the other and more practical class.
II his purpose was, as alleged. to ad-
minister the affairs Of his company alb
solutely without the use Of political or
other outside influences. he Is simply
ahead Of the times n railroad and cor
poration administration. and his position
Is so isolated and 50 without support
that It cannot. apparently, be main
tanned in these days. The inciisnt, how
ever. raises some highly important ques-
tions in business admI-is,ra;ion-ques-
;ions that viii have 70 be solved and
settled some time, but no. perhaps in
our generation.
Is there a railroad company Of any
considerable Importance in this country
tina, manages 10 &c, along absolutely
without the aid of lobbyists. politicians.
confidential Attorney" "peacemaksrs'
or "bun;ers"? II there IS. it has IS
capped our notice up to date. The fact
is that i; Is the prevailing policy Of such
corporations to get results by she most
direct and practical way. II one man,
through the adrolt and perfectly legal
use Of his political and other influence
among legislators. railr1ai commission
ers, county commissioners, boards ot as
SCISSORS, aldermen, appraisers and the
like, can prevent a certain railroad com
pany from being mulcted Of 100000 an
nually by means Of high assessments.
TOO low maximum Of freight and pas
senger rates and other such devices.
he is most certainly worth $4,000 a year
to that company-and % per cent Of
them will pay it and gladly, too. The
alternative would be a continuous fight
for rights. with attorneys fees and other
expenses aggregating an amount double
$4,000, and with all the friction and an
noyance incident to lawsuits AMI the
enmltles that they bring, and, in the end.
perhaps, no relief from official Con
hscatlon" of the company's property !
This illustration is not overdrawn. The !
system has become so common az to
barely provoke comment excep. uader !
SeTSdllJfldl OF ull VI udi I'll Nul4I7-a+lN'-'' !
1t is the short. economical cut to peace. !
What CORPORATION res9lutely turns rs |
back on it-lnd suffers? What indIyid- |
ual Of large affairs Is inclined to frJwn |
IT down? What firm ever discharged a |
salesman because his Influence" with a
board Of education or park commission
was good for $4,000 worth Of business
a year?
We are not defending the system.
We are simply stating a business situa-
tion as It exists today. It may fairly
be assumed that the Purltans didn't do
that way. But are there any
acute indications that by the year POOL
We shall have returned to the business
methods Of the Puritans? It looks a
good deal as II President Hays, Of the !