Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-04
Fairbanks TALKS
70 RAILWAY MEN
Delivers Address of Welcome to-
the international Railway
Congress at Washington
TOUCHES ON RATE QUESTION
Says Equality Of Service and Rates
Open to Each and All Alike ls Just
Demand Of People From Their Ser
want. - Publicity a. Cure For
Evils.

Evils.
Washington, May 4.-The Interna-
tional Railway Congress was formally
opened today by Vice President Fair
banks. Every railroad Of Importance
in the world is represented.
Vice President Fairbanks discussed
at some length the purposes Of the
congress. He welcomed the delegates
to the United States and congratulated
this country that the congress was
holding its seventh session here.
President Stuyvesant Fish, Of the
Illinois Central, also spoke.
The very pleasant duty rests upon me
to welcome you to the seventh session
Of the International Railway Congress-.
To each and all Of you extend q cor
dial greeting. You who are accredited
from foreign countries need no assur-
ance from me that the American peo-
pie welcome you with that genuine and
ScnSlOuS AOSRAI0ASy WAtA WAASAA yOSA
are ever pleased to receive Americans.
Your assembling Is always an event
Of much significance, for It brings to-
gether men eminent in the political.
economic and transportation affairs Of
the world, to deliberate upon themes
which have very direct and consid-
cradle bearing upon the interests Of
mankind.
The railway Is essentially an instru-
ment of our modern civilization. There
are many men living who were born
prior to the construction of the first
railway either in England or the Unit
ed States. It was created to meet an
imperative demand and Its growth has
been one Of the most marvellous de-
velopments of recent times. From
local creation to meet local necessities
it has expanded until 1t binds togeth-
er remote Industrial centers. It cross
es, and ! tcrosses continenvs and brIng3
nearer to cath other the capitals Of the:
world. It tends to knit the people to-
gether by the ties Of mutual respect.
1t has pushed forward the frontiers Of
civilization and brought the waste.
places under cultivation. It has had q
profound influence upon the commerce
and customs Of the people Of the en-
tire world. 1t has become the artery
thru which flows the worlds CONS
merce, giving life apd vitality to count-
less communities and manifold indus
tries. It is inextricably woven into the
social and commercial life Of millions
Of the human race.
Not only has the mileage Of the rail-
way rapidly and vastly increased. but
there has been marked Improvement
in the character Of its construction and
in the method Of its operation. Inven-
tive genius, labor and unlimited capi-
tai have been employed continually
in devising new means OF increasing
its efficiency and adapting 1t to the
increasing requirements OF trade and
commerce.
f Science and art, labor and capital.
have wrought revolution. The work
OF construction and reconstruction is
unending. The roadway, terminals and
rolling stock, suited to the needs OF
yesterday are inadequate for the neces-3
stiles of today. and still much larger
provision must be made for the re-
quirements of tomorrow.
The universal, urgent and unremit-
ting demand Is for increased carrying
capacity, at minimum cost Of main-
tenance and operation. Hand in. hand
with this goes the demand for low
rates of transportation.
In the rapid evolution OF this great
instrument Of civilization. 1t is not un-
natural that abuses should arise. AZ
we survey the past. we can see how
much experience and enlightened judg-
~. k<>4 n 20 -
the wrongs which have existed. 1t 10
too much to expect, where such an
agency touches the social and indus
trial interests Of SO many people. at 80
many points, that all of the inequah-
ties should have been removed. We.
may hope that spirit OF Justice and
ampler knowledge may lead to the re-
moyal OF the present defects and the
prevention of evils in the future. Tho
railway. by its very nature. Is charged
with great public duties. 1t is in the
highest sense a public servant, anS
must discharge its functions with i'm
partiality giving to all whom 1t serve:
just treatment. Equality OF service H.
the predicate of good relations betweef
the railway and the public. 1t is Of tn
utmost importance that unjust favor
itism should not obtain; that rate
should be open and enjoyed by a
alike Nothing so quickly and SURE
lays the foundation Of distrust an
discomfort as secrecy. where the,
should be publicity. as inequalj
where there should be equality. Ira
portarion charges must be fixed
Just regard to the owners. the e
ployes and the public. The intere.
Of none can be disregarded without
innate injury to all.
The specific subjects which In
your deliberations are OF the utp
Importance. Among them are Il
which seek to promote the comfort
security of the travelling public.
make more secure the lives and Iii
of the employees upon whose skill
fidelity the safety Of the person
property OF so many depends. Cons