Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-03-17
ENDORSES ELKIN'S VIEWS |
Representative Woodyafd Tells
What the Shippers Want Most,
is NOT i QUE lion CT RATES
What W st Virginia Netd DIS is q Law
That viii Compel the Railroads
to Give Shipping Facilities.


In the course of a tlk Represent
alive Woodya i expressed himself
wherein the Hrpbur1 bill fails to
meet the west yirinia situation in
some respects.
IL vo,ed f the Hepburn bill as it
passed the honss, aud in the main
approve of its principles, and yet am
frank to that it does not meet
conditions with which West Virginia
is afflicted. 1t Is not question of
rates with West Virginia slippers so
much S K j. ne of shipping faciii-
ties. If cur shippers could get the
proper facilti to ship their pro-
ducts they would no. complain so
much about the present rates, but
this they cannot do, and there is
nothing in the Hepburn bill to rem-
edy this condition. had prepared an
amendment which proposed to offer
in the house to the Hepburn bill, pro-
viding that railroads should lie re-
hired to install proper switches and
other facilities for the handling of
freight, aud requiring them TO fur
nish cars for the han ling Ct that
freight, but an agreement hayine been
reached by the party leaders OF both
sides that the Hepburn bill should
not be open for amendment, with
held it. / think that our shippers
would be willing to pas the present
rates if they could thereby get their
products t. market, bot if there is
going to be no provision in tho bill
to compel the railroads TO haul their
products, what will any law for the
reduction OF rates amount to; What
we want is law that puts everv ship
per on the same basis, whether that
shipper be big coal company or tn
smallest operator.
ut j. not the trunk lines that de
velope a states resources. It is the lit
Tie line that is bailt M TO this new
coal mine or that new piece of tim
Der land. But if that little line is TO
be denied the privilege of connecting,
ii the people who sc nHilt it cannot
arrange an agreement with tine trunk
lines Of what profit is it, and what
Will be the incentive to build another
like it? In these things lie the evil of
the railroad conditions III West Virgin
ia. 1t we want to remedy it we mus
look beyond the Hepburn bill. We
must have a law compelling the rail
roads to give connections and traffic
arrangements with the small lines,
compelling them co furnish cars to all
Shippers alike. Until we have snch a
law West Virginians need not expect
much subtant,al relief from the pres
emit conditions
Ann les it he said that it is for these
very thing, these essential things e.
the developement of Vest Virginia re
sources along proper lines. that SEN
stor skins has been fighting
He has insisted that the Hepburn
bill does not go far enough that it
ought To have the provisions have
mentioned. He has never opposed the
principles of the Hepburn bill, but
his course all along has heea that Of a
man seeking 60 strengthen that bill
in it's weak places. hope and be-
lieve chat he will succeed ia getting
his amendments in the senate. and in
his effort 60 do so he deserves tn,
aid and support of all who want to
see the peculiar conditions in West
Virainia remodel.