Arizona republican., 1905-10-26
Railroad Regulation.


 remarks made by Andrew J. Frame on railroad rate legislation, among which the following is to be found: Tt is rare that feeder lines of pioneer roads. which develop our country. reimburse their owners for years after building them" MT. Frame might we'll have gone farther and have said that in many cases they never do, other than in an incidental way. It is unnecessary to call the attention of readers of The Republican to the beneficial results that have accrued to this territory as a result Of rail road construction. Es> pecially Is 1t true that the benefits to Arizona as whole have been very great, through the building of branch lines into mining districts at enormous expense, and far in advance of traffic being assured to justify the invest ment When we consider the new rail- road construction now under way in the territory and in contemplation. and the great benefits that will accrue to tae territory there from. every conservative busi- ness man, regardless of calling, must realize that there is great danger of the good work being seriously af- fected should the enterprising policy of these great corporations that are today establishing these important arteries of trade and traffic be forced into un- tried hands by congressional enact ment.
 When We say untried hands we do not necessarily mean that a commits sion, such as might be created to make rates for and control railroads could not be composed of strong men, men with unblemished character. and. if you please, men reasonably well informed on most questions that would likely come before them for cOnsidera- tion. but the investing public, repre- senting every branch of civilization, has come to know either directly or indirectly the capabilities of the man. agement of the different corporations, in which their funds. great and small, are placed, in the belief that their in terests will be safely guarded and reasonable return made to them, upon which so much depends.
 We venture to say that in our opinion the influence of a commission appoint ed for the purposes indicated will have little effect upon human nature, and the same contest that is now being waged between managers of railroads in defense of the rights and benefits justly belonging to those who have intrusted with them, in many cases a life's savings, the result of long hours of faithful toll in every branch of in dustry, will continue Therefore is it not reasonable to expect that if those who have won the confidence of in- vestors through their ability to defend successfully the interests intrusted 10 their care are to be subjected to the dictates of a political commission, as any commission appointed must neces- sariIy be, will at least hesitate before making further investments in enter prises where men who are supposed to manage and look after their interests can no longer do so. but are to be suc- ceeded by a commission composed of men with whom they have had no bus iness connection, and who are only remotely interested in their welfare, as every good citizen should be, but natu- rally not to such an extent as to en- courage investment in railroad secu- rites, not being responsible for such investments?
 What the merchants want in this and every other section of the country are opportunities to do business at a reasonable profit, but they must have customers; lawyers, and other professional men must have pat rons, all of which come with increasing population. Farmers must have markets opened for them. miners must have facilities with which to make possible the successful opera ton of their mines. Railroads must work to secure all of these blessings or they will not prove profitable in- vestments, and they must take their chances on the more or less doubtful future, while development is in prog ress. While there are doubtless cases where railroads have discriminated against localities, paid rebates and fa- vored big shippers, it is claimed that if the facts were known the responsi> bility would not rest upon the rail. roads as much, if you please, as upon a combination of circumstances for which they, to. say the most, are only partly responsible. and the transporta- ton companies declare they are as anxious as any complaining citizen can be, to have the evils remedied.