The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-08-10

1T MNUlA NNk lANN I'N'I.i' t' OK
the able Corporation Commission 70"
guess what protest VIII be maut nl
the railroad, against Che liking OF %
tWo-cent passenger RATE Ihey WilI
show that at the present tate of about
3 to 4 cents per mile they make mo-
money. and with fearful voices and
eloquent speech imp'ore the ~ympa-
thetic commission t0 spare them from
complete disaster.
There is nothing boz hearings on
these propositions and We cannot see
tbe need of them OF VIVA, good cam Doe
ACCOMPLISHED. n tlc Corporation
Commission is to Doe guided oy me
railroads statement of the case Do
might as well now decline t0 ilN SUCH
a rate.
Why not tiN the passenger rate, az
cents per mile as The legislature su--
gested. and did %, far as u thought
possible. and then let the railroads
show after trial, in what cases and
ion what localities 10 is am unreasonable
burden upon theme The railroads
should be fairly treated, and there
should be no cOuli,calOTy action m the
reduction of eitherfreight or passenger
rates, but lower fares bring greater
travel, and what seems obnoxious 10
the roads may prove as great bless
ing To them as il would Co the public.
There is a good deal Of truth and
wisdom in what the Ledgcr-Di-patch
says. The railroads will protest ,igo-
rously, and Will talk darkly Of COM
Gscation, persecution, etc They will
prove 10 their own satisfaction that a
twO-ceut rate will ruin Them and
figures Will be produced 10 show this
to the satisfaction of all the railroad
people and their attorneys But they
will not convince anybody else 10 is
safe to say that the testimony of
railroad officials, carries no
weight any longer with the great
majroity Of people.
The Ledger-Dispatch well says Chat
the voluntary reduction of the rate ou
Sundays between Richmond and Nor
folk, from $3.50 to SlOO, seems TO
have teen a money-maker ior the ra.l-
roads; aud this is am illustration show
ing that lower rate, greatly increase
travel Another illustration might be
cited-that of street car fares. Many
years ago they were 10 cents, and the
street car companies had a hard time
making a living. Today the fare is
five cents usually with six tickets for
p cents, and good transfers And at
certain hours Communication tickets are
given at half rate. And the street
car lines are making big money.
The suggestion of the Ledger-Di,-
patch that the Corporation Commits
sion should 60 ahead and fix the rate
at two cents "a mile, and "theu let the
railroads show, after trial. n what
cases and i'm what localities il is am
unreasonable burden upon them, -" viii
almost produce am apoplectic attack
i'm railroad circles. "ro 20 ahead and
fix ruinOus rates without "a hearing
If this isn't conhscation, what is it?r
Such will be the cry of righteous in-
dignation raised
And there is no question, as the
Ledger-Dispatch says, that "the rail-
roads should be fairly treated, and
there should be no confscatory ac-
ton
But it's poor rule That doesn't
work two ways What is sauce for
the goose should be sauce for the gan
der. Moreover, it's "A long lane that has
no turning And again. the chicken,
will come home 10 roost. All ofwhich
proverbs it may be well for the rail-
roads TO ponder just now 1.-THE rail
roads have raised rates and fixed them
at their own sweet will, without con-
sulting the public; if they have been /
prompt to charge demurrage and uni /
formly refused 10 pay it, if they have /
made ridiculous and humiliating con-
ditions TO travellers with mo- compen-
sating advantages. if they have done
these things and many more, by what
right do they now claim their "day i'm
court and talk of confscaton?
Yes, the railroads should be allowed
a hearing and they will get it, They
have always had it, but the public
hasn't. Now the public Will have it.
and will grant it TO the railroads. l
What change Despite their te,u-
nony, despite the cry Of "conG,ca-
.ion,' the public will control the
situation more and more. The mills |
If the Gods grind slowly, but they
grind exceedingly fine. That time is
zone when the railroads can snap
heir fingers at the public and defy
'ublic sentiment. These proud folk,
would today almost shake hands
With a dog
We have said that the public does
.ot believe the testimony of railroad
flicials Whose fault is it that this
so? In the rate hearing that has
cen conducted by the Corporation
commission recently, one railroad of
cial was asked by Mr. BraNton why L
reduction in freight rates wouldhm :
Is road. because wc have such- .
nd-such am amount of property in \
ie state; and we must earn a fair b
vidend on IL, he said he was
'ked If this was "a fair valuation of
le property, and stated that 10 wa, 4
few days later Mr.. Braxton asked g
Ie same official, "What is your pro- :
.rty listed at for taxes boz mi. State"
he amount was named SIS that n
ir valuation Of your property 900 said
r BraXton. ayes, sir was the "a
ply Mr. BraXtol made him reter-
e the statement aud then SAID. ga 4