Bisbee daily review., 1907-03-07
RAILROAD STOCKHOLDERS RIGHTS.

How long will the stockholders of railroad companies. not members of the charmed order of high finan- ciers." submit to the footing of prop critics in which they are interested? Of all the rottenness and corruption thus far disclosed in corporation man. agement in this country nothing has been found to approach in vilainy what Is now being published as the result of the investigation by the in- terstate commerce commission of the management of various railroad cor porations, says the Globe-Democrat. Constant, brazen and defiant disre- gard of the duties Of trustees to stock holders is the crooked and shameless record That others besides these pi- rates have any rights never seems to occur to them. Juggling with ac- counts, tampering with funds not their own, violation of the statutes and federal laws Is their daily and fayorite occupation, and the purchase from themselves, for corporations which they control, of immensely in- fated securities at still more inflated prices is their profitable and criminal pastime. As to what the people who have chosen them as their trustees are entitled to never even remotely suggests itself to them.
 The interstate commerce commis. sion Is performing a great public ser vice in Investigating the acts of these railroad "fnanciers." The pity Of it is that in the process of rectificatiou of the crying evils of corporate man agement many innocent people will suffer. The stock lists of railroad companies contain the names of many widows and orphans. They have done nothing to bring about the disgraceful state of affairs in the properties in
 Shich their funcs are invested They
 n common with other stockholders
 lot in the ring" are the victims oi
 nis era of corruption in corporate management. The high financiers'
 never lose. Good times or bad times
 are the same to them. Like the crooked faro dealer the right card fol them always comes out of the box | It seems to us that the remedy lies in the hands of the stockholders them
 selves. Only few in number among the stockholders are in the conspira siey 10 rob the various corporations Meetings of those interested ought tc be promptly called, demanding the
 resignation of the rcreant officers, an6
 and if such pressure will not bring the desired relief the courts ought tc ], be appealed to to remove for nal I feasance in office all such faithlesi trustees, and suits ought to bt promptly instituted for the restitu
 ton of the many millions stolen
 there Is DO other name to properl!
 Characterize their actions-from ths
 stockholders. It is unthinkable tha
 the innocent victims, with the aid O
 the courts of the land. will fail to finC
 a way to remedy a condition that hai
 become intolerable.
 Of course, not all railroad corpora tions are dishonesty managed Man. are under the control of clean am honest men. The injustice must therefore, not be committed of indis : criminately condemning all railroa' managers and directors. The homes ones are as much. or even more, ir terested in exposing and punishin the guilty ones as other members c the community But no time shoul be lost In putting the brand of 1T fanny on all those who deserve 1t.
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