New-York tribune., 1907-08-02
STEVENS 1T CH4UT1UQUA
Speahs on "Public Utilities and
Social Unrest.

(r7auteunua n Y. Aug. 1.-Frank ". stevens
chairman of the upstate Public Service Commits
sion addressed the assembly this afternoon on " ,'
subject Public Utilities and Social unrest ii'
said. IN part:
Social unrest with the management OF corpora
..o,. ro,d.rins nublic service Is a fact Recent
DEVELOPMENTS have shown that great ssgress'''o'
Of capital frequently are used ior purposes ti4 ~ -,
% the public interest. The unscrupulousness ot
the methods and the seltishness OF ,ne , aii'is
certain great capitalists have aroused the aVelslp
of the mass Of people. and. nightly or WINS
they have with practical unanimity reached 'i's
conclusion that they must control the ralIloauI VI
the railroads will control them They nave reacI.eu
the profound conviction that the fuhoaHieii'hi ~
cinIe upon which public utilities must be cohuuc'eu
is wholly different from the principle upon 49, 49,
for instance the mercantile business Is conduc'e
Because the immensely iinporta1. ,Ito
Of the public IN their proper coiduc': pIe ~
der,arns that in the ultimate resort IL silaiI say
what that conduct shall be. 1t may nol DC con On
ce,led by all new theory OF CoIPo,ato =. a.
ton has sprung existence; neEerttleSS' IL ID
After reviewing legislation relating to pubic u,,i-
ites and naming some OF the powers e'1e - ~ 80
Public Service Commissioners, Mr.. 0'''e"' '0''
tnued: ,,,, ,.,
such powers these are not reconcilnhle WIN W..
> -,,rforc obtained am not concerned TO ad-
vance arguments in support OF this theory II IS IN
o,ara:on Il Justify itself In use ana 'iIe AZ
c,.-ent OF success failure IS the only one "i i'
mont ultimate.
success failure OF the pUtC service
IaU- depends almost exclusively upon the Puo!ie-
The railroads can aud and they can hinder MY
cvr, belief IS that wise administration or IN" n"
WI rrove 50 greatly TO their real bencit III '',e
r7rnTer sense that they viii find IL 10 thclr ad-
I-anraR, 70 aid The commissioners may prove ntl-
,,isa or inefficient They are easily removed and
better men put in their places. The cardlnai 'hc'
remains that be the commissioners ever so wise.
unless their work meets tn" approval ana "Apect'-
tions OF the public it Will prove n failure me
public will ultimately have what II wants II II
has set nm machinery which does not produce the
results II desires that machinery will surely be
relegated TO the junk heap and Il new installation
made.
'rorrac icablp the accomplishment OF that demand
would be the worst calamity that could befal II
The problem for the public IS 10 see that IN Its
own interest il asks and permits only that which
IS lust and reasonable
To bring about safer operation. conVeni"ne" and
comfort for the public. fairness and efficiency Of
service and fairness OF service and rates Mr.
Stevens said. required time and the expenditure
Of large sums OF money by the railroads. and the
public should not demand or attempt the iinpos-
slble. In closing he said:
IF | were addressing the railroads would say
to them that / most firmly believe that the new
legislation viii. II rightly met, be 10 their meal
c1Ilable bencrt. They prosper only as the
as they prosper. The troubles In the past ha Z
In large part arisen from disregard OF these OBJ
vious truths IA railroad management The public
has been treated like victims TO be plucked instead
of friends 10 DO cultivated. Tho elementary laws
of honesty and fair dealing have been violated
Rapacity and indifference TO ordinary human rights
have prevailed Everything has been subordinated
to the immediate and enormous gain OF the few.
Change all this. Obey the letter OF the law. The
American people do not and never will begrudge
a generous peCuniary reward for first class
vice but they do and Will object to first class
price for nth class service"