Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-01


on the subject except the railroad men
themselves. Occasionally in fact one
of them is heard from. but usually his
views are too biased-to put it mildly
Ito be of value. This week, however.
President Melville E. Ingalls, of the
board of directors of the Big Four sys-
tenn delivered an address in Pittsburg
which from its fairness, its breadth of
view and the authority with which it
| was delivered makes it a welcome and
valuable contribution to the discussion.
Mr.. ingalls,, as probably our readers
recall, is native of Maine who has
won wealth and power in the middle
| West. His home is in Cincinnati
where his benefactions and philan-
| thropies have made him much loved
| citizen. He is n conservative Demo-
crat and has frequently been men
| toned within the past decade as a
presidential possibility. AS one of
the most prominent railroad men of
| the country his scholarly and practical
| address. which is given in full in the
Pittsburg papers. is attracting wide in
terest.
The speaker showed how the evils in
the railroad business grew up. how
they were almost inevitable. how men
who were not bad men were almost
forced into them, and how natural it
was for railroad men to look on rail-
roads as merely private property. Fur
for years no one thought that rebating
was wrong-no one. indeed, thought
much about it at all. Nor can it be
denied that the sudden withdrawal of
passes antagonized certain classes of
politicians, and that many shippers
who had grown fat on rebates were
outraged when the roads quit rebat-
ing. Probably these influences pro-
voked a radical spirit that ought to
have no place in any such important
reform. No one now defends rebates,
and yet there is much criticism of the
railroads on this score that is mani
testify insincere.
And yet all iris is but the basis for
very timely sermon to the railroad men
themselves. Mr.. ingalls, told them that
the old days had forever passed, that
the government was certain to exercise
a closer control. that the people have
a vital interest in the case, and that it
would have to be acknowledged that
railroads were great public institutions.
So he turned to the future which after
all is more interesting than the past
The roads must he said, obey the law.
Their managers and owners must sub
nit to the will of the people. and
must decide and Indicate that your
railways shall be managed according
to law" And Wall street must learn
from bitter experience that 1.-THE rail-
ways are not playthings-that their Sc
curities are not counters in the game
Of speculation. and that they are en-
titled to legitimate dividends" Mr..
ingalls, declared that the Interstate
Commerce Commission ought to be
strengthened enlarged and better paid.
and that 1t should be composed of the
ablest men IN the country. 1t was. he
said. the duty of the railroads to act
ia harmony with the commission. and
1" show that no wrong was intended
We think that the speaker was rigbt
in urging that the roads ~ permitted
Ia make traffic agreements under the
Law. that these should be public. and
subject To the approval # the commits
sion. The address concludes:
You would think today from the
interviews emanating from Wall street
that the railways we're ruined: you
would think from the interviews of the
politicians and demagogues that rail-
way honor had departed from this
earth; you would think from the inter-
views in foreign papers. where prob
ably the wish is father to the thought.
that the day of American expansion
were unable to manage such large af-
fairs-but if you are faithful to your
trust. if you have patience. if you have
integrity, rs | believe you have. you
will outlivc all these attacks-all these
severe criticisms-and see a better day
dawn for the railway interests of the
country. and for yourselves as man
ayers of those interests. To this end
every man. whether a shipper or an
individual, every man who loves his
country. every man who loves fair
play. should join in aiding and abet-
ting
There really is no reason why these
questions should not be honestly and
fairly dealt with no reason why a
solution would not be reached that will
be satisfactory to all. The people GER
tainly want nothing more than fair,
just and equal treatment. They have
no war or the railroads simply as rail-
roads. The speech of Mr.. ingalls, is
sound 1t ought to have a good effect.