The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-05-31

Iul CO1 POIdllOAS euSdSSd III Interstate
commerce, and while doing them full
justice, exact from them in return full
justice to others. The conditions of
railroad activity, the conditions of our
immense interstate commerce ARE
such as to make IA central govern
ment alone competent to exercise full
supervision and control.
The grave abuses in individual cas-
es of railroad management in the past
represent wrongs not merely to the
general public, but above all wrongs
to fair-dealing and honest corporations
and men of wealth, because they ex-
cite popular anger and distrust which
from the very nature of the case tends
to include in the sweep of it's resent
ment good and bad alike. From the
standpoint of the public 1 can not too
earnestly say that as SOon as the ma
tural n proper resentment
by these abuses becomes indiscrimi-
nate and unwise and unfair but cal
culated to defeat the very ends which
those feeling it nave in view. There
has been plenty of dishonest work
by corporations in the past. There
will not be the slightest let-up in the
effort to hunt down and punish every
dishonest man. But the bulk of our
business is honestly done. In the na-
tural indignation the people feel over
the dishonesty, it is all essential that
they shOuld not lose their heads and
get drawn into an ildiscriminate raid
upon all corporations, all people of
wealth, whether they do well or i'll.
Out of any sue wild movement good
will not come, a not come. N new
er has come. On the contrary, h
sureSt way to invite reaction is to fol-
low the Lead of either demagogue or
y-iSiOnoru in a Curnnnin0 aCSQnlt unnn
property values and upon public con-
fidence, which would work incalcula-
BILE damage in the business world,
and would produce such distruSt of
the agitators that in the revulsion the
distrust would extend to honest men
who in sincere and same fashion, are
trying to remedy the evils.
The great 1eej of the hour, ron
the standpoint of the general public
of the producer, consumer, and ship
per alike-is the need for better tran
sportation facilities, for additional
tracks, additional terminals, and i'm
provements in the actual handling of
the railroads; and all this with h
least possible delay. Ample, safe,
and rapid transportation facilities are
even more necessary than cheap trans
portation. The prime need is for the
investment of money which will pro
vide better terminal facilities, addi-
tional tracks, and a greater number of
cars and locomotives, while at the
same time securing, if possible, better
wages and shorter hours for the en-
ployees. There must be just and re-
asonable regulation of rates, but IN
arbitrary and unthinking movement to
cut them down may be equivalent to
putting a complete stop to the effort
to provide better transportation.
There a be no question as to the
d~esirability of doing aw1ay with re-
bates or any method of favoring N
shipper at the expense of a competi-
tor, and direct dealing with Il rates
is sometimes the only method by
which this favoritism can be avoided;
but where favoritism is not alleged,
and when the question is markedly one
of getting a lower rate, it must be
remembered hat it is often possible
those demanding it may be dia-
metrically opposed in interest to those
who demand a better, safer, and more
rapid transportation service, and high
er wages and shorter hours for m
plotes. If the demand for more taxes
for higher wages, for shorter hours
for employees, and for lower rates be-
comes so excessive as to prevent am
pie and speedy transportation, and to
eat up the legitimate profits; if popu-
lar and legislative movements take a
shape so ill-directed as not only to
threaten honest investments and hon
est enterprises, but also to prevent
any effort for the betterment of trans
portation facilities, it then becomes
out of the question to secure the nee
esSary investment of capital in order
to bring about an improved service.
Rates should not be unduly high;
there should be a thorough safeguard
ing against accidents; there should
be no improper Sinking of taxes; the
shippers of the country must be sup
piled generously with ars and all
other equipments necessary to prop
erly care for our commerce, and all
this means that the National Govern
ment must be given full and effective
power of supervision and control. But
the interests of those VINO build, who
manage, aid who invest in the rail
roads must be no less s~crupulously
guarded than the interests of the pub
liz 1t is urgently necessary at the
present time, in order to relieve the
existing congestion of business and to
do away with the paralysis which