Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-02-15
COOPERATE THROUGH
METHODS FAIR TO BOTH
Railroad Owners Must Consider
the Proposition as Business
Like Manner as They Are
Asking People 10 do is
Costing Untold Benefits

Fort Worth, Feb. 15.-Speaking be-
fore a meeting OF the Farmers union
and Texas Commercial clubs here to-
day, b. F. Yoakum. chairman of the
executive committee of the Rock Isl
and-Frisco systems, said in part:
Il am not talking In a fault-finding
manner, but it is for the people of
Texas TO consider whether or not il Is
to their interest TO treat the existing
railroads fairly, and fix laws on a
fair and equitable basis, as will invite
capital to make further railroad in
vestments in the state.
II am not trying to defend over
capitalization and never have. We all
know that in the construction of these
great properties there has been ana
yet exists securities of greater face
value than their actual cost. This is
true of every property in this grow
ing country. but their value can only
be arrived at by taking the values of
the properties as they are found to-
day, including their rights of way.
terminal facilities, etc, and not what
they cost when they were constructed
and terminals acquired, most of them
many years ago.
Il believe the people of this coun-
| try are reasonable and discerning and
will oe fair in the adjustment OF this
ilmpdakant question which Is SEow be-
| fore the whole American pebple: and
| in arriving at a solution Of this prob
| lem, the railroad owners must con-
slider the proposition in the same spirit
as they are asking the people to con-
slider 1t. namely, to adjust IL in a busi-
ness-like manner equally fair to all
| interests.
Laws Are Unjust
| Whatever motive might be charged
| against me in pleading for the future
| of Texas, / can say that i am on rec
| ord as far back as eight years as
| strongly favoring a system for control
of railroads under such rules and reg
ulations as would properly protect the
| public from abuses, injustice and ex-
| tortion. and equally as strong in favor.
| Of the abolition of all special privi-
| leges or determinations against any
| class of shippers in favor of another;
but when through agitation unjust
laws that go to the extent of obstruct-
ing the proper and natural develop
ment of a country like ours are passed
| my whole nature rebels and Is against
such restrictive measures They are
to the people whom the railroads
| serve.
THE political theory that the public
service corporations and the public
that they serve must continue n feel
ing of antagonsm instead of close CO.
operation is a false one and the great
masses of thinking people are begin
ming to realize it, ard they will soon
cooperate through methods that are
fair To both, and our public officers
will be men who realize the import
ance Of closer cooperation with Lnese
institutions, and the people and the
railroad managers will do all i'm their
power to bring around that friendly
feeling that should exist rather than
to pursue the course that a great
many nave pursued for the last few
years. which today is costing the
country and the public untold bene-
fits.
THE pendulum that marks the CEN
ter OF fairness has been gradually
pulled to one side until today il de-
parts 50 far fro mthe standard that
il is at an angle of about 40 degrees.
but it is going 10 gradually swing TO
its proper position denoting a fair and
equitable deal to all. not only in T Sas
but throughout the United States AS
the merchant realizes that his business
is slipping away from him. as the land
owner appreciates the fact that values
are being discredted, as the wage
efFner fealizes that while polite ans
are condemning all Institutions of the
country he and his family are going
without proper necessaries of life.
They are already beginning 20 ask in
what way are they being benefited
by the unjust attacks being made
upon our transportation and manu-
flrfurtup. industries