The Washington herald., 1907-05-09
AT THE HOTELS.

''The railroad situation Is better than
i was some weeks ago, but next winter
the country viii be confronted with the
same defective and inefficient service
which was given by the transportation
companies last winter, said Mr.. C. C.
McChord, State commissioner of rail-
roads for Kentucky az the Raleigh.
There is not line in the country that
has adequate equipment Business has
increased tremendously, the roads are
earning more money than they ever did,
but they are altogether unable 10 handle
the trafiic. A certain important system.
operating in Kentucky. had within the
State, in 1895. $50 engines and cars; in 1896
it had but e94
Some evils have already been remedied
by agitation and legislative enactment.
Discrimination between individual ship
pers has largely ceased, but there is stiI
great discrimination shown as between
different points Certain towns are ia
vored at the expense OF their competitors.
and there is d great deal Of complaint on
this score. But that viii be adjusted in
time, and meanwhile the worst Of the
hardships is that Of poor and defective
service, and this the roads viii be COM
PEELED 10 cure, or else they viii be held
TO a much stricter accountability than at
present.
I am not a believer In governmental
ownership. and think Il should not be
thought Of except as a last resort. The
railroads are here, and they should not
be deprived Of a chance TO make good
profits: but they are here primarily to
serve the people. and must not fail in
that mission. It might easily happen, II
they continue 70 disappoint their patrons
by not providing cars 10 haul their
products. that some day one OF these viii
get out a mandatory order from 4 court
that viii provide for the appointment Of
some one who will move the goods. The
first thing this receiver or whatever may
be his title. viii do. will be 10 purchase
sufficient ears. engines, and other
equipment. Then he viii apply the first
money made 10 paying the employees that
is to say. the men who do the actual
labor After that interest on bonds and
dividends would be attended 20. but the
public needs would be the first thing met
There is no need OF the government
owning the roads, for between Federal
and State regulations, the companies viii
eventually recognize that they must give
the public service as nearly perfect as
human conditions viii allow, if they wish
TO keep ownership in their own hands"
One Of the interesting men attending
the medical congress is Dr. Babc0ck. Of
Chicago. Who Notwithstanding the fact
that he is blind. has built up an immense
practice because Of his skill IN all diseases
Of the heart. IN this speciality he ranks
with the foremost doctors Of America.
His lack OF vision does not seem 10 be
the slightest drawback TO his successful
work. and his other senses are developed
10 an unusual degree, especially his sense
Of hearing. He is q very popular man,
and his brother medicos show him a great
deal OF attention.
Mr. c. G. Pauiding. a young New York
lawyer and nephew Of Senator Chauncey
Depew. is at the New Willard. He is
great-grandson OF John Paulding the
Revolutionary patriot. who with two other
heroes. Van Vert and Williams. caught
Maj. Andre, the British spy, who was
executed and who spurned Andres offer
Of gold for his release. The silver medal
that Congress voted John PauIding is
now in the possession Of his descendant
above mentioned. and 1t viii 60 down in
his family to remote generations as an
heirloom Of priceless worth.
In going over the country somewhat
extensively" said Representative James
5. Sherman, Of New York, ar the Shore
ham, Il find a popular sentiment for
President Roosevelt that has not in our
generation been exhibited toward any
American. The people seem TO be almost
a unit in defending him personally and
upholding his policies"
do you think he could be elected in
1852"
He would be elected by the most over
whelming vote ever given a Presidential
candidate / do not mean 10 say that no
other Republican could win. but I refuse
10 consider any other as likely TO run but
the man now in the White House This
viii happen, not of his own volition, but
/ because the pressure of public opinion
viii be Irresistible. If the American
people make up their mind 10 put 4 man
in the Executive Office they are very apt
10 carry the point, for the united will OF
nation must be stronger than the wish
of a single individual"
Among the great surgeons of the coun-
try, few take precedence Of Dr. John r.
Murphy, Of Chicago. whose inventions OF
useful surgical appliances have given him
a national reputation.
4 think" said Dr. Murphy to q Herald
reporter. that Washington is a glorious
old town. and that the whole nation
should be proud Of il, because Of its
beauty. its restfulness, its freedom from
the things that make life commonplace
and put existence on sOrdid basis Of
unendIng grind and struggle for material
advantage. I hope that the Capital City
will never be different from what it is
now, except to get more beautiful, at
tractive, and esthetic. If any Of its good
people are ambitious TO make it a busl-
ness center, a great mart. or a manufac-
turing town. let them at once get rid Of
such a preposterous notion.
ITO make of Washington a second
PittsbTg or Chicago is impracticabIe, but
even If Ii were possible. il is altogether
undesirable. The worst thing that could
happen 10 it would be to establish here
/ immense factories 10 contaminate the at
mOSphere and make dirt where cieanE-
ness formerly reigned. Industries in addi-
tlon TO those that now exist are alto
gether unnecessary at the seat of our
national government, which only needs
few more decades and wise fostering
TO become the greatest of all capitals"
Mr. Frank Wallace. formerly Of Phila-
delphia, but now representing a great
business firm Of New York City. is at the
New Willard. Mr. Wallace has been COM
ing TO Washington SO many years that,