Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-05-16
A RAILROAD talk.
A Lawyer Tells How he Conducted
One Without Breaking Ex-
listing Laws.
ne TREATED ALL ALIKE
HIs Experience In Getting Cars and
How They Left HIm-Hlo
View Of Reciprocal Do.
murraue.

/
ing to a toast on Some Experiences
of a Lawyer in the Railroad Business,
here Thursday night, Judson Harmon
of this city. gave frank statement
Of some of his views on the conduct
of a railroad without breaking exist.
ing laws. His address was given at
a banquet Of the National Supply and
Machinery Dealers Association, the
Southern Supply and Machinery Deal
ers' Association and the American
Supply and Machinery Manufacturers
Association. Mr.. Harmon said:
IT was surprised to find myself late
In 1905, almost without notice. in sole
charge, under court orders, Of the
$500 miles Of railway, running
through four states and the Province
Of Ontario. After year and half
I am still alive and out Of jail.
When assumed command the sub
feet Of further railroad legislation
was Just beginning to attract attention.
This was true also Of the observance
Of existing laws which merely fixed
penalties for the violation Of the
common law which has applied to
public carriers for centuries.
/ had always maintained that rail
roads could be conducted without
breaking these wholesome laws, so
at the very start I said:
"The public character Of a railroad
makes the control Of It a public as
we'll as a private trust In every hand
that hold 1t, whether the hand be
chosen by a court or otherwise This
truth has been too long neglected and
storm signals are flying. Let 1t be
understood that there are no favors
going, open or secret, but that 1t is
fare and fare alike all around. And
II the property and business commit
ted to me by the courts shall suffer
from this cause, either at the hands
Of public officials or those Of rival
lines, the reason will be plain to a
man and the lesson will be
worth to the country all It costs"
think many did not at first take
me seriously. Commercial ideas have
too long prevailed. You are all free
10 deal or refuse to deal, to buy as
cheap and sell as dear as you can.
You may have wholesale and retail
prices. You can give discounts and
make concessions. A railroad must
serve everyone that asks and charge
III alike for the same service.
I was met by many outcries as
proceeded to enforce my policy by dis.
arding all old arrangements which
thought conflicted with 1t and re.
using to make new ones. But there
vas the law. The old question What
3 the constitution between friends
nd It's later form. What is the con
titution when one knows something
ught to be done?" are safe enough to
SIX because the constitution provides
o penalties for its violation. But ,
lws always wind up with unpleasant ,
lauses-so much or SO long or both. I
| soon found more cars were need.
4 and secured authority to get
lem. | asked for bids from builders. :
hey said they had no space. Space" :,
said. II have plenty Of space. l
ant cars to run through IT," Then =,
lie railroad tenderfoot found they :,
cant room on the list of orders. At :
st | got four thousand new box
lrs. could have loaded every one y
ght where they were built. But no, =
sent them all empty to home sta '
ons and divided them as fairly as ! u
'uld among waiting shippers. In .
70 weeks they were scattered all u
ver the Union and the cry was still .
r more. | coaxed and threatened IL
I'd did all | could to get them back ~
I those that came were right off o.
ain as before. A region which pro-
ces more shipped articles than 1t pl
Of course, sends out more CT
lded cars than It receives. So cars Il
I'd to accumulate on trunk lines
d in the great commercial centers.
ID when cars are scarce the temp
ion is to load them, wherever they Il
} found, for no matter where in II
'ad Of loading so as to start them 81
n
rhe railroads have Just fixed the Il
argos against each other for fall b,
} to return cars so high that great
promptness Is assured The same
st be done with like charges
inst shippers. Nobody wants you
pay them, but Just to release the -
s. That Is the only object, not M
enue. w
This Is not understood by the advo- A,
es Of what Is miscalled "recipro- m,
demVrrage." with respect to car m
,ply. The shipper has Car In MS !.
session which he will not load or ~
cad promptly so as to set II free 10
other service. A per diem charge ~,
made against nina penalty for
doing what be ought to and can =
So. they say, the railroad should =
made to pay the Ike amount when
ioes not promptly furnish a car 10
shipper when requested.
the railroad had car which II