The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-01-21
HARMON SEES END
Of RATE ABUSE
Receiver of Defunct Lines
Sounds Keynote of Honesty.
HE GIVES NO FAVORS
Believes That Tariff Cutting and Re
batting Will Become a Thing
Of the Past.

DETROIT, Mich. Jan. 90-The fea-
ture OF the annual banquet of the
Cosmopolitan Club Of this city tonight
was the address Of formOr Attorney
General of the United States Judson
Harmon, receiver of the Chicago, Ham
ilton and Dayton railway and the Pere
Marquette railway system
Mr.. Harmon sounded the keynote Of
his speech before ne had been talking
ten minutes when he said:
I have discovered that one cannot
be a good fellow all around and do his
full duty in managing a railroad, es-
pecially when he is doing il in the
name of the law and, more especially
stil, when, for the time the law is
embodied in-two Judges, one in the Dor
minion ana one in the Republic whom
All revere for their learning. their tai
ents. their justice and their inhexible
fairness to an,
Merely a Trustee.
Under them i am merely trustee
rot only for the owners of this great
property, but also for the people for all
the people, and for all the people alike.
My duty is not one OF mere legal hon
osty.' 1t is not to be performed by
simply keeping myself and my people
out of jail. l am bound 20 administer
my trust to the spirit and purpose OF
the law and of the courts in admins
tering it.
so what right have I 10 grant spe-
eial favors or advantages 10 any one.
big or little. rich or poor, powerful or
weak? The public character OF rail-
road makes the control of il a public as
well as private trust i'm every hand
tl.at holds it, whether the hand be
chosen by the court or otherwise. This
truth has been too often and too long
neglected and storm signals are flying
What right has such trustee 10 give
away the use of the trust property?
What right 10 grant one patron an ad-
vantage over his rival by a lower rate
for like service, or more than his fair
share of cars or service when there are
not enough for aH2 The people OF
Michigan are Just and fair.
NO Favors Given.
"Let it be understood that there are
nc favors going. open or secret, but that
it is fair and fair alike all around and
they win be satisfied. And ] take this
occasion TO give that assurance to all"
AR. Harmon then discussed the ques-
uon of ra.A cutting and the illegal
granting Of rebates declaring that in his
opinion the Federal Government is now
proceeding earnestly TO enforce the law.
lie expressed the belief that the activity
az the Federal officials viii have ben
cEcial effect all around and that soon
rotating and secret rate cutting viii be
al an end. He then said.
His Bold Der.
IF 1t shall turn out after fair trial
that the united shippers are not able
10 have the common rates made and
kept reasonable. then some remedy
must be applied. because we shall never
submit in this country to imposition |
by the strong upon the weak. when
the strong get their strength by means
of public franchises and the weak are
individuals struggling to secure for
themselves and their families their fair
share OF the advantage of our land and
our free Institutions
1T distresses me to refuse applica-
lions for passes and special favors. but |
l must stand by my own integrity /
And If the property and business com
mitted to me by the courts shall suffer |
from this cause. either AT the hands |
Of pubic officials or those OF rival lines. !
the reaSon will be plain, even TO the /
wayfaring man, and the lesson will be |
worth to the cbuntry all il costs"