The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1908-08-29
RAILROADS HURT
BY LEGISLATION
THEODORE p. SHCNTS EXPRESS.
ES HOPE THAT ROADS WILL
BE LET ALONE.
RATES MUST Be RAISED
II Prosperity Is to Be Restored-AlI
Activity in improvements Halted
BY VenaefuI Spirit of the
Public.


| Ccnterville, Ia, Aug. 2S. We stil
have hope declared Theodore /
Shonts, president of the Glover Leaf
Chicago ana Alton and Interborough
! Metropolitan Companies, in an ad
dress on Transportation at th'
Home Coming Celebration here todav
that we are going to be let alone aHt
allowed to run our own business De
stroy that hope and we will have Il
this country an era of misery that vii
send to eternal damnation those who
are responsible for II.
Continuing he called Transportation
the hand maiden of prosperity and
said it is certainly proper to see thai
her fcct tread the right path but that
the maiden should not be loaded witt
fetters If she is TO serve her mistress
with zeal and success.
The railroads arc entitled TO a far
price for what they have to sell, which
lis transportation, Just as any other
corporation or merchant In the face
.of increased cost of operation an /
maintenance, and with widespread De.
mands for extensions and bettermeats
their rates have been gradually going
down. In the last ten years the price
of farm products have increased TWEEN
ty-five per cent and the price of food
has increased nearly nine per cert
but the average freight rate has de-
creased more than eighteen per cent
Must Raise Rates.
"fhe only answer to this problem
is that the railroads must get more for
that they have to sell, the same as
with any other business, under proper
regulations 1t does not help ST.
nation for one party to sin because an.
other party has sined, or Is thought to
have sinncd. What we want now Is
honesty and fair dealing on both sides
and | tell you frankly that there can
be no continued prosperity in any part
of the country if the transportation in
tercsts are unfairly dealt with. polit-
ical pigmies when in power, can easily
legisate money out of corporations,
but the political giants of all The
giants cannot lcgislate money into
In This period of bust
nes depression the railroads should be
for the return of industrial
activity. But not mile of now track
Is being laid, nor is any equipment be
ing purchased that is not absolutely
essential to the present needs of the
roads. Improvements involving hun
freds of millions have been abandoned
because Of the vengful spirit that has
.emporarily possessed the minds OF
men whose duty it is to carefully con
slider proposed legislation.
Dangerous Legislation.
The greatest menace today to a
of our country's growth.
lnd the influence that is doing more
han anything also to rctard the re-.
urn of prosperity is the fear on the
part of the people who own the rail.
'oads that the operation of their prop
rites will be taken out of the hands
IF the trained men who are now d.
'ecting them and turned over TO
3oards of Commissions. whether ma
ional, state, or municipal. who viii
exercise fun authority without the
lightest financial responsibility
Though ! disagree entirely with his
heories ! have respect for tine homes
socialist, just as respect an honest
Minister without regard 10 his creed
The honest socialist believing In gov
ownership and operation ~ !
he railroads and had the courage of |
lis convictions. He wants 10 buy an |
II the roads ~ a fair price and have
hem operated by officers elected by |
he people. who will be accountable /
o the people. as stockholders. But /
What shall We say of people who |
While frowninE on socialism or pro /
essing to stand in horror of it, 10. /
maud that the railroads shall be /
laced under control of commissions
.ho viii take away from The officers
{ these propertios. elected bv the
tockholders. the right 70 operate
hem2 If this proceeding. under the
uise Of Law. D. net taking away prop
rty without compensation. iu viola 4
ion Of our constitutional rights. what
5 it,
Honestly conceived laws TO compel
service that vill meet with the rea.
enable approval Of the patrons Of q
osd and prevent determinations.
tock-watering and stock jobbery ar
ight and proper. but 10 90 Ear te-
ond that and impose reasonable bur
ems and unfair restrictions looks 20 /
ie defeat cf The very purpose which 4
is sought tn attain
Result Of Pane
we have before rs an illustration