The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-03-22

, Commerce -.tcHight President W. w
Finley. Of the Southern Railway who
was one of the rincipal speakers de-
voted his remarks entirely to the re-
1ations berween The railroads. on the
one hand. and he people and the
state and national governments, on the
other hand. Without referring to any
specific action .b;' congress or the
slate legislatures M. Finely indicated
his belief that the present trend or
legislation eDdange"s the prosperity
of the railrodx and the country alike.
Mr. Finley said it had always been
the desire Of the railways TO maintain
cordial relations with the people along
their lines and that the railways must
cultivate the good VIII and co-Opela-
ton Of the public by the adoption and
pronunciation of economically and
commercially sound principles in the
conduot Of their business. Mr.. Finley
reviewst the progress of the south and
said that its pressing need today is
for better and more extensive trans
portation facilities.
If the railways are to secure the
large amoupts of new capital to ena-
ho11 to hn 1iH
ing demand for their services" he said
their credit must be such as to as
sure investors OF Il reasonable return
upon their mGney. The south now
has rates that enable southern pro-
dueers to market their products in
widely separated home and foreign
markets on such terms that they can
compete successfully with similar pro-
ducts from other localities, but it
has not the means of moving those
products to market as promptly as
is desirable. Every shipper wants
low rates, but when rates are so low
as to enable him to reach competi-
tive markets on terms at least as fav-
orabIe as those Of his competitors,
prompt and efficient service becom2s
of more importance than rate reduc-
tion. The imperative need Of the
south today is improved transpOrta-
tion service. ] am sure that the intel
ligent business men Of this section will
agree with me that the improved fac
ilities are more urgently needed than
any reduction in charges.
After referring to the public aid
given to railway construction in the
early days, Mr.. Finley said the great
need in the ecomic Mtuation in the
south today is that the entire people
of that section should realize that the
period of railroad construction has not
passed and that there is now as much
need of encouragement, not financial,
but of moral favor and support of the
public as ever.
While approving the policy of I'M
proving rivers and harbors at public
Mr.. Finley contrasted the at
titude Of the public towards carriers
by water and by rail, pointing out
that the former pays nothing for it's
must pay heavy taxes and
improved at public expense, while the
carrier by rail must construct his own
highway must pay heavy taxse and
us subjected to increasing COVER
mental supervision and regulation.
He urged popular understanding of
the fact that rail transportation is
more important than water transpor-
tation, expressing the belief that when
the Neutrality-suspicious. Of railways and
the people is understood, the people
VIII be as reluctant to place obstacles
In the way of railway improvement
as they void be to oppose the i'm
prOVement of WATERWAYS
Expressing the belief that "there is
10 danger that legislation intended
to regulate railways may prove to he
IN obstacle to their extension and de-
velOpment and may tend to mako |
worse, instead of better, the ondi-
lions sought to be remedied," Mr..
Finley cited an illustration on leeis-
alton proposing to impose penalties
-or failure to supply cars or to per-
ofm other services, without regard
o whether such failure is the result
If willful negligence. He pointed out
hat the present demand for cars is |
beyond the capacity Of the railways
md the car builders TO supply and |
hat the imposition of car service pen
ltjeS would comnal dicc-i n, i,afiop in |
avor Of shipments wholly within the
borders of the state imposing the
enalty. 1T must be apparent" said
e, that the inevitable result of this
'il1 be TO bring about competition
{ greed and rivalry between the
ates to see which can impose the
eaviest penalties and secure the II
rgest supply of cars and the most 1t
.oa,oyt ceryice and that every nenaItv Ie