The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-11

terror commerce. nor. by itself. for
coastwise or foreign commerce. No
community would for a moment OPP
pose the policy of improving it's water
transportation, yet 10 would be just
as logical to do so as for IL to array
itself against the railways and to ia
vor policies that would impair and
cripple them. Railway extension and
Improvement should be supported by
public sentiment just as is the i'm
proVement of waterways. Otherwise
1t Will be impossible for. the railways
to keep pace with the constantly
growing demands for transportation.
To keen pace with these demands in
the SOUTH viii require the expendi-
ture Of many millions Of dollars In the
immediate future. This money can be
obtained only If the credit Of the COM
panies can be preserved. The credit
of the railways and their ability to
expand. depend very largely upon the
attitude toward them or the people OF
the States. as expressed through their
legislative representatives. IT the
transportation companiescan be assur-
ed of fair and just treatment. the con-
fidence of investors in railway securf-
ties will be restored and IT will be
possible to obtain the funds needed
for improvements and extensions. I'm
less the roads can have this assurance,
their policy of betterment and i'm
proyement must be hampered, IL not
DESTROYED.
After speaking of the identity of the
interests Of a railway with those of
said: In the efforts / have been
making to bring about a better under
standing between the people and the
railroads. have been met in some
quarters by the charge that am
speaking mere platitudes to the peo-
pie. It is said that l am announcing
fair and just principles, but my sin
certify must be subject to the test Of
they ask. In other words. the SUI
preme test sought to be applied by
those holding this view is that 1 am
insincere unless the company does
lust what these particular people
think that it should do. in the way
of rates. or in the way of facilities.
1t must be apparent to any reasonable
mind that such a test is in no way
fair. In matters so vast and so in
tricate as the management of a trans
portation company and it's relations to
the public, there may frequently be
honest ground for difference of opn-
Ion. Each locality and its advocates
can. in the nature of things. be ex-
pected only to see and to appreciate
the exgencies Of their immediate sur
rroundings., The railway manager, on
the other hand. must embrace in his
view the whole section which he
serves; must take into fair consdera-
tion every interest involved; must
make an honest estimate of the ia
cilities at his disposal, ana must en-
deavor to adopt policy which will be
just to the whole public He cannot
undertake to concede the demands of
every every locality a. ana or every special in.
Judgment may be upon their merits.
All that can in justice be expected of
him is to meet such demands in a
spirit of fairness and justice. and to
try In every way to arrive at a con-
clusion which will be fair to every
interest. He cannot be condemned,
nor can his sincerity be justly ques-
toned. If he does not at once concede
every demand that is made upon him.
If he meets the situation in a spirit
of Justice. then. whether he comedies
the demand or declines it, he is entitled
to the respect and just consideration
of the public. He is not only entitled
to exercise, but it is his imperative
duty to exercise, a business discretion
In respect to the propositions which
may be presented to him. , He must
take fairly into consideration every
fact and every argument that may be
offered: but II. after fair consideration
and conference. there remains a diff
Terence between the two interests, this
difterepce must be accepted by both
as fair and honorable and as based
upon honest motives. and must be sub
mitted to those tribunals which are
constituted by the laws of the land
for their determination. cannot,
therefore. accept the test of my sin
certify which is thus sought to be
imposed upon me, and 1 must ask at
the hands of the public its support in
the just and fair policy of considering
each situation upon its merits, and Of
determining 1t as best 1 can, with the
! lights before me-"
Mr.. Finley quoted Commissioner
Storey Of the Texas Railroad Commits
sion in support of his conviction that
! IL Is impossible Sor 1.-THE railways to
| provide better service unless they are
permitted to receive reasonable COM
/ pensation.
In conclusion he said: Tho carriers
OF the South are engaged in great
and useful work. By furnishing a
way to market. they are stimulating
the industry and encouraging the
productive capacity of the people
more than they can get transported
! to. the markets of the world To set
q limit upon the capacity of the car
/ rlers. Is TO set limit upon the energy
and productive capacity of the people
whom they serve, No two interests
more Identical. They should stand
shoulder to shoulder in the great bat
! tie for industrial supremacy. where
section against section and country
against country contend; for it must
| be recognized as an immItable truth
supreme which cripples it's carriers
and has inferior ways to market. The
section with nar-2w and a hurtfu
| policy towards It's railways must
abandon the hope of commercial SUI
premacy. l Relieve that the states.
manship of the South will realize the
soundness OF these principles. and, by
a broad and enlightened noucy of pro-
lection to just rights wiz Justify the
expectation that here among our owr
| people and in Southern sen .inent will
pc round the bulwark Of conservatism