The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-05-31

Iclitles, additional tracks, and IL srcatel
number of cars and locomotives, wiiilt
at tho same time securing, IL possible
better wages and shorter hours for the
reasonable regulation Of rates, but any
arbitrary and unthiuk!ng movement to
cut them down may be eduiNa ent 10
putting a complete stop - the eiInl'
to provide better transportation.
4 The l,cbntc system.
There Gun be no question nv to thr
,icsirnbiIity of doing away with rcbntcs
or any method of favOriig one shipper
at the expense of IL cOmpctitUt.. ant III
rect dealing with the rates IL some
/ lines the only method by ,vi,ic, Tits
fnyorItisn, chn be avoided; hut. whrre
I rnvorItisn IL not alleged, ana wien thc
! question is markedly one Of getting II
lower r.ttc. 1t must lie remembered I'M
II is often possible that nose n ..0..., -,
ing II mny be Numerically opposed IN
interest to those who demand ~ bettsr'
snfcr and more rapid Transportation
service. ana higher wages ana s,'or. ~,
hours for employees. If the hehH'n ~.
more taxes. for higher wages. l"r
j .i,nrt.r hours for employees, nnd Tor
lower rates becomes 40 excessive iis !"
nr,xcpt annie md speedy tritnspor'h-
ton, and 20 ent UP the !sE'.m ."u
profits; II popular ana icH,s.ss I
movements take u shitrc y" ,..,.as,'
~ not only to threaten honest h'''
ucut. and honest enterprises. but hlsu
10 urrycnt any EFFORT for tie bcttcrh."'
-, trnnsportution facilities, II then ne
comes out Of the question ." secure '"e
,rrcssury Investment OF cnphnI III or
~, a., Ir,nr nbout nm improved service.
4 Rates should not be unduly high; tli''te
/ shnuld he n thorough satesuardlls
against accidents; there shouia oe io
Improper shirking of taxes; the snip
pers Of the country must ". p.ta,
.yenorouslv with cars and all olnei
e,tirments necessary to properly cdit
for our commerce. and all WIS il." re
tIot the national government 'ust W
riven full and effective power OF supe,,
vision and control. But inc r a,,6
,,.bo invest in the railroads must DE no
80 srr,nulouslv guarded than me III
ternsts OF the public. IT Is urScmsns
necessary at the present time, IN y ~
IN relieve the existing cohses,.,oh NO
i,nsincss and to do away Win VIZ
saI,.sis which threatens our eSpanu,
ing industries, because OF ilt'ii.eu CIV, ,,n
ne means of distribution, thal our
galway facilities should be so i le,eu,'
cd as TO meet the imperative uei'. ..,,,
of our internal corirhelrt, canitnl,
can be met only by private ea az, 't e..
- III. vast expenditure necessar! ior
s,,ch nurpose will not be incurred W,
tnss nriyate capital is afforded fcaso''-
nble incentive and protecuoh.
DON'T Impnlr Their Credit.
TT IS. THEREFORE,, PRIME
NECESSITY TO ALLOW iNNEs.
MENTs IN RAILWAY ~ ,,,,
TIES TO EARN a LIBEnAL RE-
,ri'nN. A RETURN SUFFICIENT
~ LIBERAL no COVER All.
| RISKS. WE CAN NOT GET N
IMPROVED VICE uNLEN
/ THE CARRIERS OF THE 1o.N
TIES: AND, THEREFORE,. NO.
Il nt,i%C slIOIJI.D he DONE IN
4 NARRANTEDLY TO NJ a IL
Il THEIR CREDIT NOR TO DE.
4 CREASE TIE VALUE OF TiiEi't
II OUTSTANDING OBLIGATIONS.
Il emphatically believe that posislHe
4 restraint should be imposed upon. RAJ :
II way CORPORATIONS. and that they should
he reauired to meet positive obligations
in the interest of the general pubic.
IN no less cmphatically believe tnat III
Tins regulating and controlling the az
fairs of the railways 1t is necessary
TO recognize the need OF an ittlllie !s {
outlay of money from private sources
and the certainty that this VIII not ne
met without the assurance oil suihclenl
| reward to induce the necessary invest
6 ment. 1t is plainly inadvisable Tor the
9 government to undertake to direct TIE
phvsical operation OF the railways, save
Z in wholly exceptional cases; and the
: supervision and control it exercises
should be both entirely adequate 10
! secure its ends, and yet no more harass-
. ing than IS necessary to secure THESE
ends.
Railrond View Changing.
believe that the railroad men OF
the United States are coming 20 nor
S perfect sense OF the responsibility OF
: the relation which they bear to the
t public. and of the dignity of that rea-
. lion. They are public servants in tne
/, highest and fullest sense. Indeed
, there is not a brakeman nor switch
man upon the most remote road IN we
: land who does mt fill public function
t and render service OF iarse pup nt.
!. usefulness We begrudge neither
. honor nor reward to these men &c
: whom we entrust our lives and our
property Behind these active workers
: in the railroad field are those who nav:
: the determination of railroad poilcies
f wards: and in return public opinion
r is right in holding them to a r'gi1
+, accountability for the way they per-
t form their public duties.
: Due to Our Growth.
For several months past some, If moi
all, Of our roads have been in CON
s dition of extreme congestion Donpt
2 the country has OutErown Its railroads
s that our prosperity has increased Ct
S such II rate that the most snhs,tine nn'
: optimistic railroads have been unable
[ to keep pace Win hS SroNSh' pH' >
e is also true that ordinary methods o
I operation. which hold good In piacit
. time of steady aud regular movement
/ should at 81 time of crisis yield to thu
n imperntive necessities of public need.
I The experience OF the past Wntel
: proves how great is our dependence o!
: the railroads and how serious the r.
:, sponsbility of those who undertake L
5 care for tho public in the matter o
;. transportation. I believe that there \
t sufficient ingenuity and executive gem
e us in the operating officials of tht
e roads greatly to diminish the troubles
Y complained Of. The most effective wa!
r to lessen demands for unreasonable
: legislation Is for the railroads, actin;
r individually and collectively, TO remed,
t as many as possible of the abuses ant
Il shortcomings for which there reall,
d are remedies, and for which remedia
VI laws are demanded by the shipping
], public.
Il Illegal EavOrs.
!. The admirable national Legislation o
" recent years in taking away from ~
W. railroads the power of giving illega
:, favor, has taken away from them on
. OF the Legitimate methods by Whicl
r., they used to protect themselves iron
- improper attack; and 1t Is, therefore
&c necessary that upright public servant