Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-06

| N'i'N MS II ulSNuSSlOI ul lHt
railroad rate situation. by Air. Franci.
+. Causcy. OF Texas. Mr.. Causcy wa.
Tor Il number of years one of tn,
most prominent members of the bal
here, being senior pattncr in the loga
firm of Causey. Jones Il Woodward
Several years ago he went to Texas
and located near San Antonio, where
Ne now makes his home. He is non
here to visit the Exposition and sec
old friends:
There are some complicated details
concerning the all.important railroad
question, yet the underlying princi
pies are simple. To comprehend amy
question, one must clearly understand
the fundamental facts which govern
it. Any effort to confuse garble, be
fox or distort such basic facts
amounts To an effort to prevent Il
correct solution OF The question. one
can but be convinced that. in many
instances, the railroads have attempt
cd to bcfuddlo the situation rather
than clarity it-they seek darkness
rather than light; they clamor Tor
justice and do not want ii.
II has even been contcnded that
n railroad is private property If this
contention be true then the railroads
may render whatever service they
please and charge whatever rates they
please. But Il railroad enterprise
varies very materially from n private
business. by reason OF the peculiar
traffic and physical construction OF
tho railroad, certain extraordinary
powers and privileges must be con
iclrcd by tho state in order hat tho
company may prosecute it's business
No private business concern on indi-
vidual requires or could obtain such
powers. For instance: Tie railroad
company may, under the power of
eminent domain, condemn and pur
chase private property against the
owners Will. 1t may obstruct and
occupy other highways. II may bridge
rivers and watcrcourscs, thereby
impeding NAVIGATION Furthermore,
the rights conferred by the railroads.
charter constitute it practically a.
and the public knows only
too well that there is practically mol
competition between the railroads.
Now what IN return. is the railroadI
to give for the extraordinary rightsI
''i'N IL nv Vto NilNli wv lltOHlt iltNtI
given It? Ii not reasonable rates
and reasonable service then nothing.
What power save the Government.
is TO enforce the performance OF these
duties?
|, tx n we'll known principle OF pub
lie policy that The State does not cx-
crcisc it's power of eminent domain
In the condemnation of private prop-l
crty except for public uses There.
fore, railroad is quasi.nublc in
stiution. IN other words. railroad
is Il highway as well rs public car
rier II is II substitution of iron rails
and wooden ties for turnpike. The
State In many respects has the same
inherent rights In the one kind of road
as In the other As Il consideration
for the funds invested by the com
pany, the State permits the company
to charge tho public reasonable
toll for the use of the road and it's
services. The duties and obligations
between State and railroad company
are reciprocal. The charqdr. solely
by virtue of which the railroad exists.
is contract between company and
state: and, beyond and above the cx-
press terms thereof. there Is I'M i'm
piled obligation OF Justice on both
sidcs-reasonablc services on The part
of the railroad, reasonable reward on
the part of the people.
After much arrogant braggadocio,
and with tactlcss reluctance, the rail
roads have generally acquicsccd in.
the principle that the government
has the right To- require them to make
reasonable ch;Tges tor transporti.
ton. This abstract admission il
about rs for MS we have cotton t..
ward giving the people the relief the 81
have so long been seeding. Yhe|
titanic efforts of railroad lohbics in
State and National legislatures against