The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-12

truth in these complaints; and there
are great many cases, indeed. in
which no complaints were made. be-
cause the sufferers thought complaints
were not prudent. do not want TO
go into this subject In detail. because
4 do not desire to stir up strife be-
tween the people and the railroads:
and I cannot think II is necessary. for
: certainly this Legislature will give
the people the relief for which they
have been asking for more than a
quarter OF century. cannot too
, strongly impress upon you the i'm
. portance of the two things above
Observation-Disclosures salaries and suf-
ficient authority. In some States the
railroad commission has not fulfilled
; public expectation. largely because
refused proper authority. Our Ma
uonal Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion begged Congress for years for
sufficient authority, before they got
1t. Congress held back until public
opinion literally forced 1t to do what
1t was evident to every student of the
question and every investigator Of
the subject ought TO have done long
ago. The commission. of course. will
be charged with the enforcement of
all laws on our statute books relating
to railroads and their operation. In
addition to these laws they ought TO
have authority 20 compel railroads TO
make connection with switches of
any plant. factory. mill or mine es-
tablished along their lines which can
show sufficient amount OF business
to justify 1t. They should be required
to make connections with other rail-
roads and interchange cars and
freight upon fair and reasonable
terms. In any place where by rea.
son of narrow gorge or other nation.
al obstruction there can be but one
line Of railroad built. and 1t is nee
essary that other railroads get through
such gorge or beyond such obstruc.
ton. the track laid through such
gorge should be subject to the use OF
all other railroads. upon such fair
terms and conditions as may be agreed
upon, or may be prescribed by the
commission. This would cure an evil
in this State that has retarded its de.
velopment much, which is the appro-
priation under certain conditions of
the only practical route for railroad.
and the shutting out thereby of all
other railroads, or causing them TO
spend an immense amount of money
to build over other routes. When
railroads have TO spend more money
than they ought, they have TO charge
their patrons more money than they
ought, because railroads ought to be
allowed to have reasonable earnings
upon the cost Of their property. All
trunk railroads should be required
upon application to make prompt con.
nections with branch and lateral
) lines, and prorating arrangements with
such lines upon fair and reasonable
terms; alto to make through rates for
l such branch and lateral lines; and
: be required to. allow something to
: the short lines connected with them
l for originating freight. For instance
!. II short Independent line OF ten
l miles in length furnishes to the trunk
/, line car load OF freight, which Is 10
! travel over that trunk line thousand
miles, the short road which original.
r ed the freight Is entitled to more per
; ton per mile over its line than the
, trunk line is entitled to over its road
, Our corporation laws concerning
! the Incorporation and regulation OF
r railroads ought to be amended SO as
) TO make 1t more difficult to take out a
, charter for the building Of railroad
r Now 1t is very easy to get charter
: Men who propose to form companies
t for constructing railroads in this
, State, before they are allowed a char.
, ter therefor, should be required 10
: give some evidence that they are act.
ing in good faith. and that they would
| likely be able to construct the rail.
: road in fact, which they propose to
!. put on paper. Sometimes these char
t ters are taken out and companies
: formed for the purpose of securing
valuable routes. with on intention OF
: building themselves. but with the pur,
. pose of holding up other companies
> or persons who do intend to build.