The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-13
RAILWAY Problem
is FULLY DISCUSSED
President WV Finley, 81 South
crn, and Mr.. John DOMAIN
Present Views.
FROM VARYING VIEWPOINTS
One Speaks from the Railway
Standpoint, the Other. from
That Of the Shipper.

Tho features of yesterday sessions Of
tho Southern Hardware Jobberst Assoc
citation and certainly Of tho open ses-
sion Of That body In the afternoon
Finley. Of tho Southern RAILWAY, and
Mr. John Donnan,. OF this city. Both
spoke on tho railway question: one
viewing It from thu. standpoint Of tho
railway president, the other from the
turers. and the juxta position or tho
two addresses. ono lmmed lately follow
Ing the other. and taking issue with
MIN as to ny points, made tho two
papers in tho nature OF n Joint do
bate.
Both addresses werc nble prosentn-
lions of their. subject from varying
viewpoints and each was to some eN-
tent a plea for consideration for his
frequently recently throughout tho
South on this theme laying stress upon
the Importance of increased transport
tation facilities and opposing hostile
legislation and Determinations against
Donnan, IN a paper OF about the same
length. vigorously combatted many
OF the views and contentious of his
distinguished predecessor on the ros-
of facts and figures.
MR. tlnley said tho substantial and
practical transportation problem OF the
present day confronting both the ship
can greater 81 service
be obta!ned?" He asked the hardware
men, as shippers. to look at this prob
lem from the viewpoint Of the rail-
culties he encounters in his efforts to
solve 1t. Tho business of the country
had grown so rapidly that the railways
had not been able to keep pace with It,
though they had not lacked zeal In
their facilities. This work would now
be going on at a more rapid rate If
public faith IN railway credit had not
been shaken by the character Of some
of the enacted and proposed legisla
ton and by the uncertainty as to flu
ture State and national Legislative poll
ctes, some of which might not be
harmful IA but many Of which had not
yet been fully defined.
After reviewing the expenditures Of
the Southern Railway Company for i'm.
proven ents and telling Of It's plans for
the future, the carrying out Of which
faith in railway securities Mr.. Finley
quoted President Roosevelt as to the
Importance of maintaining railway
credit. He then pointed out that the
amount of business that could be done
capacity Of its railways, and said:
This Is matter that should appeal
especially to tho young men of the South.
's.iHo ,''aue 'o,aay or next year IN
may have effects lasting for years. Tho
future pelonss TO tho young men, II thoy
u,o .h 70 reiem inc nlgnest oesree OF success
ing to them of tho doors of opportunity
IN IN Inc me-, contrary, policles must 20 ADOPTED
Inht nv, WI open up 10 thom new opportunities
an .n, .,., unS o. MoIld-"lde commerce ana
sential to tho existence of business oppor--
.u"'.''s ~ guy 'oe1hues'
Must Protect Property Rights.
Mr.. Finley defended the right Of the
railway company to the profits Of its
the Requirement that its rates should
be reasonable and not discriminatory,
and said: M =.
II do not contend that the railway man
agoment OF the United states has boen with
out fault That abuses have existed in tina
past Is undoniable but the responsibility.
for many Of those abuses has been divided
between the railway and the public. and
there has been much oxaggeration as 10
their prevalence in recent Years. On the
ethical side OF railway regulation with tha
proper field OF prevention Of wrong doing. n
great deal has boon accom- plished-more by
tho force Of public opinion than by legls-
lutive enactment. There has boon nm awak-
oning OF tho public conscience and there
has boen an awakening OF the corpornte
conscience, resulting in the correction OF
faults of railway management that we're
Justly causes OF complaint Tho agitation
that has lod to this awakening having ac-
complished tho reform those who inflated
1t had in view, and the grounds OF lust
public complaint against the railways hay.
Ing been removed in large part II not an.
tlrely. the time has now como to look to
INC a., sato1y OF propor5y rights
NJ NE; r'nley sac me tIansporlattt1In
pionieni was much orohuer tnMn Ing
Iesulatlon OF inc raliWays. me IN,
!erior WaterWays snouid pc improved
20 20 me polnl lnaI YOU'D enhpio tnein
20 60 become more actlVe competitors OF
thG rallWays'
IN conclusion, Pres1dents smiley SAID:
- ,,..! nave uttemptou ~. sno" you that the
railway quest1oh as vioweo oy railway
pans,uen. - WY psopiols o. MAINTAINING
" ,.,ae y, o' suss.ce nau 81 Increasing 1aci!
~ ~ aaeo w. s.uae hSe
1a'm ~ ma h ,n, ~ e.ose uim!cus.es
5sh, - ou .h n 81. .n,nt OUT siew W
jnnnco yn w -" thass hieim,,os ~
thav .ra v,oWnd wv tha 90 r,va no ,o ~
hova ,ndonvnrod ~" r,n,1a a.. nInir go ",
railways should he Iaw.ahid,nc p and that
propor rormiotion shonid NOT he soa1atod t mi
thai il is The d,tv ~ Tho railwnv mnnoyar
to tho n,,b;o, mo'neaa thnn w 'tSa ra,,.ta ;
TO resort to lawful menna to nrotoct Tia
property and to preserve its efficiency and
ia credit you arc mon ~ atnndiny and
inr,uonce IN Your &c eommunttios' and nah
anch opa ~ vou ~ study : Mia ',nou+ton ana