Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-13
POL|CYOF GOV. HUGHES
Believes in a Square Deal for
Both Sides.
VETOED 2-CENT-FARE BILL
Stoutly Opposed to All Hold-Up
Legislation.
FAvORS RIGID REGULATION
Question of the Corporations Re-
moved From Politics by the New
Public Utilities Law.
FAvORS RIGID REGULATION
BY WILLIAM F.. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence OF The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.


The policy of Gov. Hughes of New York
toward the corporations, which is a SUBJ
ject of great importance in view Of the
continual talk about his nomination for
the presidency. may be described as "A
square deal for both Sides
He vetoed a two-cent-fare BILL which is
said to have been inspired by spite and
a desire for revenge. and prepared a law
himself which gave a commission of five
men authority to fix reasonable rates.
for passenger and freight traffic. He has
stood stubbornly against all "hold-up"
legislation, but has secured the passage of
several rigid laws regulating the insur-
ance companies and other great interests
in which the public welfare is involved
He is not entirely satisfied with some fea-
lures of the insurance law prepared by
himself and passed upon the recommended
ton of the Armstrong legislative commit
tee. of which he was legal adviser. He
does not consider himself infallible. He
has found defects in his own Legislative
theories, and has invited the leading in
surance men of the state to a consulta-
ton before the meeting of the legislature
in order to frame certain amendments
greater part of the law is not in con-
troversy, but he thinks it is only just
and fair that the representatives of the
insurance companies should have an OPP
portunity to point out the provisions that
| pinch them, and interfere with the salts
factory conduct of their business.
There will be a similar conference con
corning the public utilities law before he
writes his message. He is the author of
that law also. and is not aware of any
serious defects in its provisions. But the
two commissions. one in Greater New
York, and the other in the state at large,
have been instructed to recommend a::J
amendments which their brief experience
since the law went into effect on the list
of July last-has suggested to them. Be
fore sending these recommendations to
the legislature, he will give the railway
managers and other representatives of the
corporations involved an opportunity to be
heard, and to make their suggestions.
Fair Play to Corporations.
Gov. Hughes believes that a railroad as
well as a laborer is entitled to its hire.
He believes that the public can afford to
pay reasonable rates and that the stock
holders are entitled to fair return upon
their investment. He has asserted that
proposition in public speeches as we'll as
in private conversation. 1t Is his theory
that the earnings of a railway corporation
and other public utilities should be sufil-
cient to pay for the very best service,
and that it Is wiser to maintain the pres
ent rates for freight and passenger trans
portation and eXpend the money in i'm
provements and betterments. He acts on
the theory that the public prefers first
class service to low rates of tranSporta-
ton. In the new law he gave the public
services commissions authority to fix such
rates, and at the same time to require
the corporations to make the improve
ments and betterments desired.
Those commissions have almost auto
- 10 %
compel the railway companies to put on
all the trains that are needed to accom-
modate the public. to furnish sufficient
number of cars. and they may designate
the patterns and the style of cars which
best suit the comfort and convenience OF
the passengers. They have authority to
compel the railway companies to relay
their tracks, to straighten their curves,
to lower their grades. to build suitable
stations and can fix the speed at which
the trains shall run. This applies not
only to the steam railways but to every
street line in the state. But the governor
does not expect the railway companies to
furnish such facilities without being rea-
sonably repaid for the cost and the stock
holders assured of a reasonable dividend
upon their Investments.
Cooperation of Railways.
The railway managers of New York
state have met the governor half way and
are giving him the most cordial support
and cooperation in this policy. / have
not heard anything here about "confis-
catory legislation" l have not heard
anything about the poor farmers and
other shippers being crushed under the
juggernaut of the monopolies. If any
farmer or any shipper in this state has
complaint to make against railway COM
pany he need not hire d lawyer: 1t is only
necessary for him to submit a statement
to the commission, which promptly fur
niSheS a copy of the complaint to the
sponsible railway officials and requires an
explanation and a correction If necessary.
The railway companies respond promptly,
and thus far no order of the commissions
has been disobeyed. On the contrary, the
railway companies recognize that they
are certain of fair and just treatment and
act accordingly.
The same policy is being applied by
Gov. Hughes to other public utilties-to
the street car companies, the gas COM
panies, the electric light companies and
various other corporations which are de-
pendent upon public support and are nee
essary for public convenience and COM
fort. In one instance gas company ap-
pealed from the order of the commission
to the courts and the commission was
sustained.
1t might be to the advantage of all con-
cerned if similar friendly policy of su-
pervision and regulation were undertaken
in other states, instead of indictments and
restrictive laws. Its success in the largest
and most important commonwealth in the
Union has certainly recommended it for
trial elsewhere. But there is one draw
back which may make ii unpopular.
There is no politics in il. Nobody is run
ming for office in New York state on his
record as a trust-buster. Nobody is ap-
pealing to the people up here to authorize
| him to defend their rights against the
grasping corporations. Nobody has tried
to acquire political popularity by prose-
cutting the railway companies. There is
no complaint in the party platforms of
! Determinations and no demand for relief
| from oppression. The railway question is
| practically out of politics. The people ac-
! cept the remedies that have been fur
| nished them, and so far find them salts
factory.
Indemnity for Injuries.
The railway companies are being re-
! quired TO pay suitable indemnity to those
who have suffered N person or property
| from the carelessness of their employees
! or the neglect of the management, and
| on the other hand. they are protected
! from Matchmaking personal damage suits
which prevailed SO extensively throughout
/ other parts of the country and were for
! merly so common here. Under the new
! arrangement COW that is killed on a
| railway track is paid for at her actual in