Live Oak daily Democrat. (Live Oak, Fla.) 190?-190?, 1907-04-29
4 RAILROAD SITUATION in FLORIDA
nen Letter Mr. Drew President Florida Railway
the Railroad Situation is Ably Discussed by One in
Position to

~ w. II.
Tallahassee, Florida
Sir: .
,.re been informed that at this
i, Of the Legislature it is consid-
q generally, matter of political
"a for member to advocate
q ,ustice to railroad interests:
.hould hesitate to request you
!. % II i did not believe that you
! Hight before expediency.
So the proper regulation OF rail-
]. nv confirming their activities to
ter purposes and for insuring an
I.,t service at reasonable rates.
aided to every patron alike. no
.,eer advocate can be found than
~. Especially opposed to that
: of dishonesty, either dignified
oseh terming it business sagacity,
sttiugly branded as theft, by re-
;ue | should like to see the law so
eic that 1t would land in the peni-
tary, all who receive as well as
rebates. And | can well appre-
4 that by the present system of
.rafing in vogue on many railroads
requirement of dividends is of
X significance than their public
Nee; and as a consequence their
rcus are left to the attention of
ereilious and inefficient employees,
even by the cheap rate for their
yIces are over-paid for any consid-
Non which they give to their dut-
of to the requests and complaints
he roads patrons. The official
nton is 30 absorbed in working
DE margin OF percentage in cost
receipts. that those who provide
rwenues must content themselves
4 whatever measure Of regard the
Ezge clerk may have in reserve
them after that first bestowed
> bis cigarette.
3 Is not the rate Of pay by the rail-
il to their men that affects the
We, Is the Governor intimates in
message: but 1t Is the class and
bre Of the men themselves, en-
1ed because they are low in price
Rdless OF being so also in capac-
Raising a mans salary will not
him brains, energy or courtesy.
PED, take 1t that these could be
<d better by giving to the Rail-
Commission ample authority to
ealy fine the corporation, but also
tesponsible officer and the incap-
or inattentive clerk, or other en-
e, at fault in each case; until the
roads shall be purged of inefficien-
sad, through necessity Of employ
better men. be forced to some
aaard OF service commensurate
the power delegated to them by
state for operating and controll-
ne highways of traffic.
va matters might indeed be
g nj subjects of legislation; but
h'ng Of public advantage can be
ned by measures which seek mere.
Increase monetary liabilities and
aens Of the railroads beyond those
eed upon individuals 'a;-' '.,'
eday' as every one knows, there
thousands Of carloads of freight
i'ing shipment in Florida las else
''e, and there are hundreds OF
ppe's facing financial ruin, solely
.ase the railroads cannot handle
uafnc- But blind fury against
public service corporation.
s's as such cannot build addition.
mes or acquire and develop term
VI produce equipment, all o.
are the physical needs of thu
7 and situation.
goes without saying that to &C
sl'sa these and to develop the re
VI THIS State make it abso
ESSENTIAL to secure investmen,
ua.s'de capital; and how this ma,
,eo generally is shown by tn,
s,,. which the present legislatiy,
'0l Is having on the extension.
movements projected by thil
years since we organized
- ownership, which has al
49, a maintained with interest.
Identified with the State
'''tasad carried through