The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-05

evening by an unusually large at
tendance at the monthly meeting OF the
Rhode Island Business Mems associa-
ton.
The feature OF the meeting was an ad-
dress by Edward G.. Buckland, attorney
for the New York. New Haven and Mart
ford Railroad company on The RecipTo-
cal Duties OF the Railroad Company and
the Community"
The meeting was called TO order by ex-
Alderman Charles c. Nichols, one OF the
vice presidents OF the association. Sec
retary George A. Littlefeld read several
communications which were referred 10
the executive committee.
Among them was a request from the
secretary OF the Chamber of Comr1srce
of FL Paso, Texas. for the new manual
OF the association q letter from the
Chamber of Commerce OF San Diego. Cal,
asking for influence with menlbe.s cf
Congress in behalf OF building the Mica
ragua canal one from the South Carolina
Interstate and West Indian Exposition
Co, calling attention 10 the South csro-
lima exposition TO be held next iall and
winter. and asking assistance toward
securing national appropria tion, and one
from the Milwaukee Interstate Com
merce law convention asking assistance
for the passage by Congress of the Gull
lum bill.
Vice President Nichols then introduced
Mr. Buckland.
MR. BuCKLAND'S ADDR ESS.
Mr. auckland said I'm substance: The
modern railroad company is a duas-pub-
lie corporati ton. doing business as a COM
mon carrier OF goods and passengers. It's
duties are threefold I'm their nature: First,
10 the state: second. 20 It's patrons, end
third, To its stockholders. Its duties TO
the state are those imposed upon IL by
the provisions OF the act which creates
IL. called "A charter.
The charter implies obligations to carry
passengers and freight for reasonable
sum. having reference To the cost CT
building and equipping the read, AMI 10
run rea sonable number OF trains fer
the performance OF these duties.
All charters granted within this state
for the last 50 years have conlainei
clause which gives the state the right
10 alter. amend or repeal them at the
pleasure of the legislature. Herein lies
the power OF the state over all corpora
tions whether public, quasi-pubiic or
private.
Now, while a legislature may have a
technical legal right at it's pleasure 10 sl-
ter amend or repeal a railroad compauy's
r'Pht To- do such thing 80 long as he
duties imposed by the charter are per-
formed
III legislature from mere caprice or
for political ends, or because of tenn
porary popular demand attempts to re-
quire a railroad company TO do something
contrary TO sound business principles un-
der the gnise of an amendment TO the
charter. or of statutory regulation, II
wrongs the company. or rather the stock
holders and bondholders which compose
IL.
REMEDY IN THE COURTS.
II a corporation is not performing du-
ties il has agreed TO perform when IL
accepted its q arter, there Is ample
remedy In the courts OF common law and
equity to compel the performance OF such
duties.
Ii may therefore bc suspected that per-
sons who are always running to the legis-
lature to correct an alleged abuse by
corporation, fear that these courts would
say tnat there was no abuse at all, and
that the persons were simply requiring
the corporation TO give them something
for nothing
A railroad company owes TO the public
the duty TO carry passengers and freight
at a reasonable price. and without dis
elimination.
This does not mean that passengers
should be carried from A to at the
same rate as from G to ID, but that all
persons shouldb be carried from A to Il
at a reasonable price, and that all per-
sons should be carried from g to ID at a
reasonable price, that all passengers
should be carried from A to Ii under like
conditions for the same price and that
all passengers should be carried from G.
to ID under like conditions for the same
price.
There must be no discrimination on ac-
count of persons over the same route.
An investigation into the cost of the
roads Of Rhode Island will show a great
ly varying price per mile.
Some roads have been built cheaply,
when money was plenty, material was
cheap. construction was easy and bonds
could be loated at a low rate OF interest
Other roads were built when money
was scarce. material dear, construction
difficult and bonds could he 1oated only
at an exorbitant rate of interest
REPORTS SHOULD BE MADE.
railroad company owes to passengers
a duty 10 use the highest degree of care
I'm carrying them How we'll IL has per-
formed this duty is shown In the wonder
fully small percentage of injuries TO pass
engers on the railroads OF the United
States.
In fact, as Artemus Ward said at is
safer TO travel than to stay at home, be-
cause OF the persons who stay at home a
greater proportion die than OF those who
travel on railroads"
THE RAILROADS.
passenger should not only he carried
safely. but he should be treated courte-
ously while he II travelling. and this
brings me TO a subject In which I feel
free TO express the sentiments Of the rail-
road company which I represent Con-
stant. unlsiling courtesy is demanded by
this company from its employees In their
relations 20 passengers Conductors and
brakomen are paid not only TO run trains.
but 20 treat passengers courteously while
on the trains IL sometimes happens that
tranmen do not fulfl their duties In this
respect. hut I beg TO assure you that
every such failure is a direct disobedience
not only OF written rules. but Of explicit
commands impressed upon employees day
after day during the course of their em-
pioymcnt You who are employers well
know how hard II is 10 get from those
who serve you the exact degree Of eff
rfonrv uhlch you would like 10 have