New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-05
RAILWAY CONGRESS OPENS
REPRESENTS THE WORLD
Mr. Fairbanks Welcomes DELEGATES
N. Grcrd and lfr. Fish Sneak.


Washington. May 4-The seventh international
railway congress was formally opened here to-day
BY Vice-Presideut Charles ". Fairbanks The cere.
Enony took place IN the ballroom Of the New Willard
Hotel and was attended by nearly five hundred
delegates and as many OF their friends Three hun.
6ed OF the delegates are foreigners and every rail-
road OF Importance in the world is represented Mr.
Fstrbanks's words OF welcome and Generalization
were followed by addresses by Stuyvesant Fish,
president Of the American section Of the congress
and Ernest Giraro, Of Belgium, temporary chair
T1zl OF the permanent commission The five sec
ions through which the congress IS 10 eccornnl,sb
SIS work Of discussion were organized at once and
vii meet at o'clock tomorrow to take I'D the
duties assigned to them In the afternoon the dele
gates visited Mount Vernon. and in the evening a
private view OF the collection of the Corcoran Gal
lsry OF Art given
Tho discussions OF the sections ara conducted be-
hind closed doors. IN order that there may be no
restraint IN expressions OF opinion by DELEGATES The
topics 20 De considered scientific and technical
The decisions reached by the sections after due
discussion OF topic, presented to the congress
These decisions are printed, and constitute the work
q the congress No legislation OF any nature is
ever enacted. and 10 resolutions binding railroad
homogeneous 10 any line OF policy arc considered
The present is the first session Of the congress to be
held Il The United States
NR. FAIRBANKS OPENS 7Ep co,-cPpss
Ylce-rresdent Fairbanks called the congress- IN
order shortly after Il O'clock In his address %
welcome TO the delegates he said:
The very pleasant duty rests upon me 10 welcome
you 70 the seventh session of the International
tend cordial greeting You Who ave- ri Sc UI
tTon toEeign countries need no assurance from me
that TIE American people welcome you with that
genuine and generous hospitality with which you
ere ever pleased TO receive Americans Your as
Eembing IS always an event of much Significance
fer il brings together men eminent IN the POLITICAL
economic and TRANSFORMATION affairs "a ~ v-o-IS
70 deliberate upon themes which have a very direct
eng oonsi11~o-e bearing upon the interests Of man
The railway Is essentially an instrument Of our
who born prior the construction Of the Arst
railway either n England the United states
rs growth has been one Of the most marvellous de
.e4opnen,ts q recent times From local creation,
binds together remote Industrial centres 1t crosses
other the capitals OF the world It tends to knit
peoples together by the ties Of mutual respect It
had profound influence iJno The co7 II mas
customs Of the people Of the entire world. 1t has
become the artery through which flows the worlds
commerce giving life and vitality to countless com
!nunities and manifold industries 1t is inextrica-
s}K ,|oye. iato the social and commercial life OF
NOT i only has the mileage Of the railway rapidly
re4le-I n me character Of its construction
enc N me method Of its operation Inventive
genius labor and unlimited capital have been EN-
pioyed continually IN devisng new means OF in
cEeasng Us ehcacy and adapting II 10 the increas
don The work Of ca1sfr,,c+5o1 IgIsC reDolI
is unendlng. The roadway, terminals and rolling
Soc suited 70 the needs OF yesterday made
ouste for the necessities Of to-day and still much
larger provision must be made for the requirements
q tomorrow. The universal, urgent and unremit-
ting demand IS for increased carrying capacity, at
E minimum cost OF maintenance and operation.
Hena n hand with this gees the demand for low
rates o. transportation.
In The rapid evolution Of this great instrument Of
arise. As we survey the past we can see how much
experience and enlightened judgment have served
agency touches The social e39 jn5stTaI infeIest
O
the Inequalities should have been removed: We
may hope that spirit Of justice and aTnpler know
ledge may lead 10 the removal OF the present de-
The railway, by its very nature, is charged with
great public duties. II is in the highest a
with ipartiay giving to al whom It serves just
treatment Equality Of service is the predicate Of
itigm should not obtain that rates should be open
tent as secrecy, where there should be publicity
inequality where there should be equality. Trans
portauon charges must be fixed with just regard
70 the owners, the employees and the public The
interests Of none can be disregarded without ulu-
Tie SPECIFIC subjects which invite your delibera-
tons are OF the utmost Importance Among them
security Of The travelling public and make more
secure the lives and limbs Of the employees upon
whose skill and fidelity the safety Of the person and
kDr3Tc:6les and 1Ians for the retirement and in
With The progressive spirit which mas characterized
concerned To provide some measure OF relief for
those who iuCapaciated for further service by
accident the infrmities Of years IS in the highest
degree Just and praiseworthy. Such relief Is found
Cd upon broad. equitable and humanitarian princi-
Tie sessions Of the international Railway Con
Eress are of far-reaching moment They bring into
closer Fellowship distinguished and able representa-
uves az many nations. inspired by q wholesome
common impulse They bring together those VINO
engaged IN promoting the arts OF peace, ana
who DESTROYS of advancing the welfare OF man
kline They enlarge the circle Of international &C
Cualntance and tend TO preserve international am
Try They emphasize the fact that our common
good IS be promoted by the maintenance or
broad, fraternal, international spirit " ME de-
EbeTztlCg upon Uethods 10 promote Inc e4ltie-iIE
O. the railway, let Us hope that you may cuItlFale
2 purpose 10 promote the adjustment, through inc
sr5tranlent Of reason. SO far as may De oone con-
problems which sometimes arise 10 menace the
worlds peace. The nation which seeks an honor
81 some other manner than BY the SWORD IS nor
Cecsdent II Is not wanting IN natlohal VlfIIily II
S merely rnanifesting advanced degree OF CIVIL
ration II evidencing the fact thai the paFDaTlc
strain has out Of its blood - -
Again permit TO welcome you ana 10 express
the confident hope that your oeIloerauqqus nay oe
your attention and that in good time the inter
national RAILWAY Congress may return and resume
!ts sessions IN the United States.
NJ GIRARD's RESPONSE
Ernest Girard responded for the foreign dele-
gates, speaking follows:
Twenty years ago Belgium solenlnlzed the If
t.elE anuverLary Of the opening OF the Ilrsl ran
way 10 public traffic on the Continent The BrIs-
SIS 10 Malnes line enacted by the law OF 1884,
was opened to traaic IN LSo, the nlustrous George
Stephenson being present Belgium now possesses
z.555 kilometres Of standard gauge lines and ~
kilometres Of light railways, most OF them marrow
gauge, the latter feeding the former, the tGtat
lines conveying passengers and goods. That Is
10 say that the mileage OF the steam mes system