The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-05-30

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means that the ationals Government
must be given full and effective power
81. supervision and control. But the
interests q those who build, who man
age, and who invest in the railroads
must be no less scrupulously guarded
than the interests OF the public. ills
urgently necessary at the present
time, in order to relieve the. existing
congestion Of business and to do away
with the paralysis which threatens
our expanding industries, because Of
limited and inefficient means Of dis.
trlbution, that Our railway facilities
should be SO Increased as 10 meet the
imperative demands OF our internal
commerce. The want can be met only
by private capital, and The vast ex.
penditnre necessary for such purpose
will not be incurred unless private
capital Is afforded reasonable incen.
Tive and protection. 1t Is therefore a
prime necessity to allow investments
/
ln railway properties to earn, a liberal
profit to cover oil risks. We can not get
an Improved service unless the carriers
OF the country can sell their securf.
ties; and therefore nothing should be
done unwarrantedly to impair their
credit nor to decrease the value of
their outstanding obligations.
| emphatically believe that positive
restraint should be imposed upon raft.
way corporations, and that they should
be required to meet positive ohliga.
lions ip the interest Of the general
public. ] no less empbatically believe
that In thus regulating and controlling
the affairs OF the railways It Is neces.
sary TO recognize the need OF an i'm.
mense outlay Of money from private
sources, and the certainty that this
viii mol. be net without the assurance
OF sufficient reward 10 induce the nee.
essary investment. 1t Is plainly mad.
p'sable for the Government to under.
take TO direct the physical operation
of the railways, save In wholly excep.
tfonai cases: and the supervision and
control 1t exercises should be both
entirely adequate 10 secure It's ends
and yet no more harassing than is nee.
cssary 10 secure these. ends.
] believe that the railroad men Of
the United States are coming to more
perfect sense of the responsibility of
the relation which they bear to til,
public, and of the dignity of that rc.
latlon. They are public servants In
the highest and fullest sense. Indeed
there Is not brakeman nor a switch.
man upon the most remote road In ,lt,
land who does not FIJI public func
ton and render service of large pull,
nc usefulness. We begrudge neither
honor nor reward to these men ia
whom we entrust our lives and our
property, Behind these active workers
In the railroad field are those who
have the determination Of railroad
policies. These men are entitled Ia
great rewards; and In return public
opinion Is right in holding them to n
rigid accountability for the way they
perform their public duties. For sew.
eral months past some. II not all, of
ddt' roads have been in n condition of
extreme congestion. Doubtless this
Is mainly due to the fact that the
country has outgrown its railroads,
that Our prosperity has Increased at
such n rate that the most sanguIne
and optimistic railroads have been I'm.
able to keep pace with It's growth,
But 1t Is also true that ordinary meth.
DDS of operation, which hold good in
n placid time of steady and regular
movement. should at time Of crisis
yield to the imperative necessities Of
public need.
The experience Of the past winter
proves how great is OR dependence
on the railroads and how serious the
responsibility Of those who undertake
TO care for the public In the matter OF
transportation. | believe that there Is
sufficient ingenuity and executive gen,
ils in the operating officials Of the
roads greatly to diminish the troubles
complained Of. The most effective
way to lessen demands for unreasona.
bic legislation Is for the railroads act.
Ing Individually and collectively to
remedy as many as possible of the
abuses and shortcomings for which