Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-17
RAILROADS WILL HELP
CHAIRMAN KNAPP FoRESEES AN
ERA OF PEACE.
Expects Corporations to Cooperate
With Commission in En-
forcing Laws.

In statement made public yesterday,
Chairman Knapp of the interstate COM
merce commission, generally considered the
most conservative member of that body,
processes to see the first faint streaks of
the rosy dawn of peace in the railroad
world Judge Knapp says that soon rail-
road men will be found cooperating in the
enforcement of all well considered meas
ures regulating and controlling commerce
between the states, and that there will be
cordial understanding between the rail-
ways and the country from which great
good will result Moreover, despite the
present timdity concerning investment he
thought an abundance of capital would be
found in time to make needed extensions
and improvements to carry the constantly
growing traffic of the country.
Judge Knapp said that for years there
had been marked tendency toward higher
ideals in the conduct and management of
railroad properties in this country which
was also to be observed in every sphere of
business activity.
Public Conscience Quickened.
when men say there has been no inn
provement, when they say that things are
going from bad to worse" he remarked,
they indicate to my mind a quickened
public conscience, which now condemns
sharply what was not long ago accepted
with tolerance. if not approval For ex
ample, the imitation of the Chicago and
Alton, recently brought to public notice,
has provoked extreme indignation in every
quarter. But far from being an iso-
lated or unique performance. it would be
easy to find numerous operations of about
the same period of time, much more
fragrant and inexcusable.
I'm my judgment, no legislation Is likely
to be enacted, or even seriously considered,
which is at all likely to question the valid
or inn n X
listing securities, nor do | believe there will
be any legislation which would increase
the difficulty of borrowing money for rail-
way improvements and extensions at rea-
Sonable rates of interest.
1T is my belief that the general railroad
situation will improve
Danger in Legislation.
1.-The danger of further drastic legislation
in states seems to have nearly disappeared.
Already, I think, there is a rather perma-
nent belief that some of the legislation has
been unwise. In this connection the sturdy
veto by Gov. Hughes of New York Of the
two-cent bill, to say nothing of the three
brakemen bill, has produced an impression
throughout the country.
1T is very plain to me that within recent
years there has been vast Improvement
in the methods Of railway management as
respects the obligations of the railways to
the public. If the practices which were
characteristic and almost universal less
than two years ago are compared with the
practices which now generally obtain, 1t
will be seen that immense advance has
been made toward correct and impartial
dealing. Indeed, there has been marked
change in the average conception or the
railway in its public relations.
Nothing seems to me more important
at the present time-nothing has SO much
to do with our national prosperity in the
immediate future. as to provide with the
least possible delay very great increase
in our transportation facilities. The prof
liable output of the farm the forest and
the factory is measured by the ability TO
move the product promptly and cheaply
from producer to consumer. Upon an in
crease of profitable production depends
our continued advance in material
wealth. and that increased production
must in turn depend upon enlarged ia
cilities for their distribution.
The needs of the country in this re-
gard are growing with astonishing ra-
pidity. They have OutgroWn the carry
ing capacity of our railroads The sur
plus from current operations is entirely
Inadequate to supply our present neces-
stiles. An immense amount of fresh cap
ital must be invested in railway i'm
provements in order that our Internal
commerce may develop and our prosper
ity abide