The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-19
New Era in Railway management.

President Finley, Of the Southern Rail-
way. gave excellent advice TO the repre-
sentatives of the freight and passenger
departments Of that road in an address
delivered at Atlanta on Wednesday last
He pointed out that the unvarying policy
Of the company was 70 be lust and fair
to all alike-to the small shipper and the
occasional traveller. as we'll as 10 the
large shipper and the regular traveller"
and that the interests OF the railway and
Of the people served by IL are identical
and inseparably interviewer" Respect
ing the observance Of the law. President
Finley admonished his subordinates Is
follows:
"Of even more importance than careful observance
c. duties prescribed by the company Is obedience %
law Many Of the relations between the railways
and the public arc nov regulated BY Fcliesal and
State statutes. and every Official and emp!oye OF
the Southern Railway Company must understand
that It's business Affairs are 10 be conducted at all
times in strict accordance with tho laws Of the land
No transaction or practice that is forbidden BY the
laws can be permitted. aud, as ! sure sou all
understand. there must he no resort to evasion Of
any kind
President Finley frankly avowed his
desire to bring about a mutual good UNI
Outstanding between the Southern Rail-
way and the people of the sections it
traverses by a considerate treatment Of
those having business with the road, in
asmuch as his personal experience con-
WINGED him that the people Us a rule
are fair-minded. and when fully informed
can be relied upon to deal justly with
the transportation interests"
OF similar tenor are the remarks made by
Vice President Thayer of the Pennsyl-
vania system, in an address before the
Traffic Club Of New York, when he ex-
pressed a desire on the part of the rail-
roads 10 make peace with the public Mr..
Thayer admitted that the railroads were
in large part responsible for the existing
agitation but he asserted that whatever
may have been its faults In the past. the
methods and practices Of railroad man
agcment are now based upon a decent
regard for their public responsibilities"
He hoped that a regime Of fairness and
confidence on the part Of the public to-
ward the railroads would be restored.
and to this end he thought the case Of
! the railroads should be placed before
legislators and the people. Theodore p.
Shonts likewise, in recent address. adj
/ v!scd railway managers 10 lay aside all
/ sUbterfuge and adopt policy Of pub
Iicity. as we'll as to uphold the hands of
/ the President in enforcing existing laws
( and securing such other legislation as
may be necessary to bring about better
corporate practices.
/ This fair and candid attitude on the
part of railway managers marks "a rad
zeal change from that Of the public
/ be damned magnates Of a former day.
+ The vital interest OF the public in rail-
way management is now fully rccos-
nized. and reasonable legislation looking
/ to the protection OF that interest and TO
the betterment Of railway operation Is
no longer opposed. by our ablest and
most thoughtful captains Of transporta-
/ ton. We do not doubt that the new
spirit of fair dealing and strict con-
/ Torrance with reasonable legislation will
/ be met in like spirit by the public gen
orally, and that, as President Finley says,
/ the people will deal justly with trans
portation interests when convinced that
transportation interests are dealing just
4 " with the public