The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1907-02-01

ed the excessive verdicts of 5uries in personal
jury cases.
In addition 70 this there IS a marked tendency /
on the part OF many Of the states to re-
gard any faiIbre Of service as wilfful and Inn
pose upon the carrier a heavy penalty therefor.
Inasmuch as adequate facilities for all are not
in existence the imposition OF penalty for fail
1 ure to furnish cars under the abo We mentioned
( circumstances. If it has any effect other than
merely To depete the Treasury Of the carrier and
to deprive il 70 that extent Of the power to I'M
prove its transportation and service must result
simply IN the withdrawal Of the carriers faciG-
ties from THE service III respect 20 which there Is
/ no penalty in order 70 use them in the service
! where there IS q penalty. The logical resalt OF
This would be- race between the States 70 see
which could infict the highest penalty so As toI
obtain a preference for its own citizens
The imposition Of penalties viii not build rail-
! road tracks supply equipment or enlarge and
: simplify terminals nor would it, under the CIR
4 cumstances mentioned. benefit the Transports
tion service as whole, but the contrary.
/ would tend to produce Injustice and discrimiua-
tion between persons and localities. Besides.
this naturally would develop into preference in
favor Of state commerce over interstate COM
merce. But the larger interests OF the shipping
public Of the south are ia Interstate commerce
for the reason that their principal markets are
the larger markets Of the country. which are IN
other states
That TINS condition Is appreciated By the ship
pers viii be apparent from the following quota
tion from letter just received from large ship
per.
Practically III our shipments 90 out the state.
therefore we cannot use form a q form used
for the purpsse Of ayaIng OF the penalty laws OF
the State1. consequently orders for shipment
within the state when shippers use form 81 are
given preference.
1T is not to be wondered At that the large in
crease in the cost Of mateaaJs. equipment and
labor and other expenses above adverted TO and
the increased difficulties IN transportation. are.
as shown by its published reports. reflected IN
large decrease OF the net earnings Of the Compa-
ny since july T. 1906, Notwithstanding its in
creased gross earnings.
With these greatly increased expenses for ma
teIial for labor, for taxes for penalties ana for
damage claims. and with the just demands Of
the public for better facilities and greater safety
Of operation. it must be apparent that a reduc-
ton Of revenues must conflict with the public in
terest in these larger duestions of better faoli-
ties and greater safety.
1 submit these facts to the candid cousidera-
ton of those people who. i'm perfect good faith.
desire reduction in our freight rates and pas
senger fares The public should be advised that
with decreased revenues the railroads Of the
country win be utterly unable to pursue success
fully their efforts to provide better facilities and
/ greater safety of transportation.
The point is near where it may be absolutely
necessary for the public to take the choice be-
D tween better and safer facilities on the one
hand. and lower rates on the other In the ma
ture Of things # is impossible TO provide both.
5 in view ofthe difficulty of meeting the just de-
/ mands OF the public for larger facilities and
greater safety with reduced revenues and
increased expenses. ] feel that am justified
: in laying before our patrons and the public this
plain statement of conditions.
Respectfully.