The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1906-12-01
RoARp o. TRApE MEETINe
Money Will Be Raised to Take Legal
Action to Compel the A. c. 1. 70
Do Its Duty


The meeting Of the board OF trade
yesterday afternoon was well attend
ed and il the line OF action marked
out IS steadily followed, some relief
from Ocala's present intolerable rail-
road conditions may be expected.
Among those present were the fol-
lowing; Messrs. r McCOnathy, o. T..
Green, Arthur Hardaker, OF Martel: Z.
c. Mcleod. Of Kendrick; George Dit
mer. Of Holder; r. c. Hail. r 5. Hall,
D. +. McIver, George MacKay, r L
Anderson. :. A Rswls, Jake Brown, J.
J. Gerfg, Z c. Chambliss. a. s. An
derson. Charles Rheinauer, Maurice
Strauss. d. s Woodrow. w. o. Mas
sey, A. L. Leavengood, II Fishel, ].
". Pearson, J. r. MOOThead, G. T.
Taylor. T. f McLin, Thomas Sexton.
G. G. CrOm, Emmett Robinson Z. p.
Thagard ". a. knight. J. NJ. Nenert,
g T. Cullen, Z c. Smith, Z. Van
Hood, Walter Hood, W. J. Ritchie. L J.
Brumby. T. T. Munroe and Frank z.
Harris.
President Munroe stated that the
regular order Of business would be
suspended and that the board would
at once proceed to discuss the bust
ness for which the meeting was called.
In the absence Of the secretary Mr..
L. J. Brumby was requested to act
ia that capacity.
The first speaker was Mr.. A. Har-
daker, who read a copy Of a letter
written BY his company to Mr.. Emer-
son, the traffic manager of the At
lantic Coast Line.
Mr.. Hardaker explained the impos-
sibility Of securing sufficient cars to
conduct their business. He did not
mince words condemning the action of
the officials Of this system TO provide
proper facilities, but also he claimed
the company officials deceived their
patrons as to the furnishing OF cars.
Several gentlemen referred to griev-
ances and the consensus Of opinion
was that the grievances were so clear
and manifest that their specific emu
meration was an act Of supererOga-
tion.
Bfr. o. T. Green made some perth
nent remarks on the position of the
railways as common carriers and their
duties and obligations to the public.
Mr. Green went on to show how the
railways we're making enormous prof
its. and. to illustrate his point. read
from the official figures to show the
large and increasing dividends and
earnings.
Mr.. Green ably discussed the ques-
tion in its legal points and claimed
that the attorney general of the state
could institute proceedings to force
the railways to perform their proper
duties to the public.
Rr. George P. Dittmer, a phosphate
shipper, followed Mr.. Green and pledg-
ed his cooperation and support.
AEr. Chambliss desired to hear from
other lawyers present.
Judge McCOnathy was called on and
IN discussing the question mentioned
the fact that the railroads might ex-
cuse their miserable service on the
grounds of the great prosperity of
the country" But in answer TO that
the people might say they had ample
time to prepare for this condition.
The judge said the railroad COM
missioners were not in touch with the
people. that we could hardly expect
competent men at the salary paid and
that the salary should be at least $10,-
coo year, and further. that these men
should have some knowledge of the
railroad business.
Judge McConathy also suggested the
indictment Of the railroads or rail-
grand jury, which convenes in Ocala in
4 very few days.
Mr.. H L Anderson was the next
speaker. He wanted to know if it
was not possible for an individual
shipper TO secure action through the
courts to compel the railways to do
their duty. He said the Martel Lum-
Der Company for instance might place
its case before the court and ask that
court to issue a writ of Injunction to
compel proper service. He believed il
could be done And If the railroad
company claimed they could not per-
form their public duties, the court
could appoint a receiver. who could
at least try. Mr. Anderson was partic-
ularly sarcastic in his reference to the
antiquated rolling stock showed off on
the Florida people.
MFR. Sexton interrupted Mr.. Anderson
to explain that a bill had been intro
duced ia the last session Of the legisla-
ture to give the railroad commission !
some power over the physical condition
of the railroads and that this bill was
defeated by Mr.. Gilchrist in the house
and that ne wanted the people to re-
member this.
Mr.. r. L Anderson followed and
made a very clear cut statement of
the existing conditions. He illustrat-
ed the absolute absurdity of further
making personal appeals to the various
officials OF the road who come in con-
tact with the public. Their object was
personally to inrease dividends and
that they as far as the public was con-
cerned confined their work 10 ''pacify- |
ing the public and often with promises !
that In the very nature Of things they j
knew would not be fulfilled.
afr Andersen said the Ocala board !
OF trade should appoint a committee !
to first confer or consult with the at |
torney general and If he failed to take |
any action. then this committee should |