The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-07-01
THE PEOPLE,
RAILROADS and
GOVERNMENT
"WE ARE NOT PLANNING FOR
TODAY ALONE, But FOR
TOMORROW.
COOPERATION IS THE SOLUTION
How One Railroad Official Views the
Questions at Issue Between the
People and Railroads.
CONTINUED from page one.)

urged, The expense it would entail
on the government would be unwise,
as all the elements constituting the
principle of. fair and equitable rates
can be had through other sources of
information at the government S
command-which will be reliable,
while the valuation theory will not.
3. Limitation of Future Security
This plsnk is the most radical OF
all platforms and meets my views. |
believe that the capitalization of all
railroads should be directly under
federal law, which would provide
federal authority to construct and
operate a railroad, the purpose of
which is to engage in interstate traf-
fic either over it's own rails or
through connecting lines. Such leg
islation should be made with the fact
clearly in mind that in some sections
of the country there are large areas
that need railroads, and that they
cannot get the railroads unless the
y blfiltNrs are allowed to make proht
4 or see the chance of profits, on the
Ebuilding. The law should, however,
make it impossible to gain these
hrofits more than once; and the re-
upirements of railroads for new capt.
tab for Improvement, equipment ana
deSelopment of the property, and the
oauntry served, should be placed I'M
1er the supervision of the Interstate
Commerce commission, with the au-
Nhority only to authorize such IN
Erease of capital as the property
Needs fully to take care OF It's re-
Iuirements. =,
This is a question that will re.
iuire careful consideration and the
commissioners should be allowed SUI
Hcient latitude for them to use some
ldiscretion as conditions may war
1 rant
4. Uniform System of Accounts.
believe that there should be uni
formity in accounts, and | am glad TO
see the efforts now being made III
that direction by the government.
when the end is accomplished ana
the plan is in working order, the IN
weston will know to certainty
that the reports of the diner
ent companies are direct gulde 10
the value of their securities. III
other words, the annual reports Oh
tbe railroads will be g. proper anu
legitimate basis for public commence
as they should be.
$. Publicity.
There should be no mystery in the
railroad business. | think tnat our
accounts should be subject to lnspec-
tion nv the government as openly anu
freely as the accounts OF a natloha'
hank are now subject to the lnspee-
ton of the examiners; but all lhlor,
nation appertaining to the railroads
business should be protected agalns,
improper use. Such puDllcily WIZ
he found the ultimate safeguaru vi
the laws looking toward iair ,a,es
and equitable dealings, and WILL d.
tba came time. afford to the investor
another proper test OF the Vai"e VI
the securities he buys or owns,
@. Legalizcd Traffic Association
do not believe that railroad pools
should he legalized, but | do belleve
tbat traffic association between raii-
.roads should be allowed. Suppose
s for instance, that two railroads can
reach all the lumber traffic OF the
states of Texas and Washington. Ihey
might form a pool with certain con-
nactine lines northward and east
ward whereby those connecting lines
s,,nnld receive all this timber Ior
',ortotion between the northern
and eastern termini of the two lines
nool is closed association, "A trai-
tio association. on the other hand' Is
nnen and all the connecting lines are
ailowed to participate. The federai
government, by endorsing pooi
would give an advantage TO iea
of tbe stronger lines, to the detrimenl
Of others not parties to the pooi. ps
legalizing, however, the tranic asso
4 citation, the government wouiu NC ,on
fslating for the whole, rather .han
for the part. This is the True i"iie
ton of the government. ~ L,o
When the government shali nav
aet.hiished it's interstate agents at
the different commerclal cense's VI
the country, the federal traInc rep
rasantatiye should attend the meet
inps of the railroad traffic associa-
lions where all matters pertaining 10
the movement of traffic, rules, rates
and regulations governing salie
could he discussed between the OF
ticers of the roads and the representa-
five of the government.
A Reasonable Time for Delivery.
The railroads should fix reasona-
hle time in which the freight Is 10 ne
delivered to the consignees. Inc
limit should be abundantly reason
.hla because the nature OF tne
freight business, over which the rail-
roads cannot always control, demands
I great deal of liberality in It's move
,nent. but | believe some OF the tiiIe
Tow consumed in such delivery couiG
and should be saved, to the prom. VI
Moth the consignees and rallroaos,
such a regulation could ne worheu
\ ant that would be of mutual interes'
ia the railroads and the Shippers.
= Notation of state and Federal
Power.
Where the regulation OF rates, y,
state legislation on other raliroau
subjects directly affects interstate
, transportation, the federal authority
| should rule. For instance, let us
assume that the rate from Denver 10
st Louis is $50, made up or 81
from Denver to the Missouri river.
and so cents local from the Missouri
to st. Louis. If Missouri should re-
duce the local rate in Missouri to 80
cents. it would make the interstate
rate $3.50, which means, In effect,
that the rate on commerce between
state has been fixed by the state COM
missioners instead of by the federal
commissioners This is one OF the
numerous cases and is the same as