The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-07
TUESDAY. JANUARY Z. 1908.
Mans regeneration il not effected
IN moment, but by successive
btcps from the beginning to the end
of his life in the ,vCrld; and 1t II
continued. md perfected nftcrwnra.
R-Emanucl SwcdenbOrg.
ENGINEER ROLLING.

sSs ENGINEER BOILING.
The election OF, Charles e. Boiling as
city Engineer by practically tho unoni-
NOUS vote OF the Council is tribute
not only to the skill Of that dlstin-
Z Eilished public official, but also to his
integrity and his fidelity. :.
- As a former member of Colonel Cut
,shaw's staff, and subsequently as SUI
nerintendent of the City Water Works,
Mr.. Boiling proved his ability and his
devotion to the public service He is
In all respects worthy successor 10
The lananted cutshaw, and the AFFAIRS
81 the engineering department VIII pc
e1lciently and honestly administered
Under his supervision and direction.
s.S-3 $40 =-----------
THE PEOPLE AND THEIR KALI
ROADS.
In the report of the Interstate COM
y,sarce Commission, just issued, II is
stated that the inadequacy of trans
nortation facilities is little less thah
alarming; that its continuation may
,,,ace an arbitrary limit upon the 5fu-
fire productivity of the land, and that
the solution of the difficult hnanciai
and physical problems involved Is
worthy OF the most earnest thought ana
effort of all who believe in the fuil
development OF our country and the
largest opnortunity of its people. And
SO, Ii is, for the railroads cannot m
crease their facilities without money,
and they cannot raise money their
credit is destroyed or seriously I'M
-spaired by harsh legislation.
1.-THE people. of the United States do
J! hot wish to cripple their railroads nor
to prevent railroad extension. The
country is young, and its own best in
terests demand that the roads already
In existence shall increase their facil!'
-stiee to meet steadily increasing traf-
DC. and that new roads shall be built
into n..W~and undevelopod territory. To
ripple the railroads, therefore, is as
1ss;,,,icidal as it would be for q farmer to
starye the horses upon which lie de-
ft,tnds to make his crops. The real de-
! Sire of all sensible men is to regulate
the railroads by law in such Il way
as Ito make them best serve the public
.ntsrestfs,7id i'll, all such regulation th'
Interests ssof the railroads themselve:
must be taken into consideration.
Much Of the regulation by the Fed
eral government and by the States i
wise and fair. The railroads SHOULD
be required to give a service that !
adequate, prompt. safe and convenient
ms far as it is possible to do so. The
should also be restrained from grant
ing rebates or drawbacks, and frol
discriminating in any way for 0
y against individuals or communities.
this extent the people have clear an
undisnltsd right both legal and mora
to regulate the railroads. and the
should enforce it By legislation.
But when 1t comes to fixing rates |
the hard and fast rules OF law, TIL;
Is another proposition. There is i
doubt that the government has u
lawful right to make the rate schedule
s.for the railroads, but many men dou
the wisdom OF exercising 1t, and r
cent Developments are likely to enlar,
the number thereof. AL writers
spolitical economy agree that prices a
regulated by the law of demand 81
ssupply, fluctuating with changing co
IN t,t;ons Experience teaches US tn
10 late a
N price OF cotton, corn, tobacco, mercha
Y disc, or any commodity, by legisiati
ena ctment, and any attempt to do
d would be hooted down as an absurdi
But if such revolutionary law shoolp
be enacted, 1t would cause a panic
trade and drive many men out OF bu
ness a price that would be remune,
II tive under one condition might not &C
ttnue to be remunerative under CO
dition entirely changed. And railro
4 rates are no exception TO the genel
rIl,!s. Besides, a rate that would
rsa sonab!y profitable TO one road mig
ne rninous to another road operati
In d different territory,
That being the case--for II is /
( eese-~the exercise by The goyernm
3 lsot. the rater makiing power has d.
more than all other legislative !ena
nerts combined to injure the credit
SSthe railroads and TO hamper them
their operations. Grant that tbs ia
I II which have becp fixed by law are
nfiscatory; grant that they are !
snnAble--the mere fact that the e
sernlnsnt has asserted the right to IN
the rates has had the effect TO dep