New-York tribune., 1909-11-11
PEACE WITH PUBLIC
RAILROAD MEN FOR
MORE HARMONY.
association to Promote Pleas
dnter Relations ReUie1cs
Years WOrk.


dorf last night. The association was or
ganized year ago to promote more har-
monious relations between the railroads
and the public. and that purpose was the
theme OF the speeches al the dinner last
night
Some of the best known railroad men in
the country were among the speakers:
others were seated through the room. and
sun others sent letters. All those VINO
spoke praised the object of the organization
and emphasized the need OF better under
standing between the railroads and the
public The speakers who were not railroad
men offered the railroaders advice on the
wisdom OF conciliating the public.
George A. Post. who yesterday was re-
elected president OF the association for the
ensuing year. in his brief opening address
set the pace In advising the railroad men
to treat the public kindly and try TO get
on the good side OF the people. Ex-Sen-
ator John c. Spooner. of Wisconsin. was
the principal speaker. He said:
The railroad companies for many years
held tie idea that because they had the
power 10 TX rates the state was without
the power 10 regulate those rates. For
many years the people bore with consider
able patience with that miscOnception or
the railroads of their real rights. Every
body knows that the railroads could never
have been created without the use OF the
corporate entity. Partnerships would never
have been successful in the building OF
railroads.
But the public does not understand its
relation 10 the railroads. II has been told
that they are public corporations and IL
mas been taught 10 believe that the power
OF the public over public corporations rs
supreme. But the railroad Is not a public
corporation. The Supreme Court has de-
cided that IL IS private property, and pri-
Sate property has the protection OF the
inst 2 rarrNl n--
private individuals
POWER To REGULATE.
The difference between a manufacturing
road cannot be constructed without the
power that is given 10 Il but is not given
ultimate power Of the people delegated TO
the railroads to take the land they need.
not at the price fixed by you. but the price
fixed by a jury. Therefore. as the SI-
preme Court has said the railroad is af-
fected by the public interest.
So the state has the power 10 regulate.
orbitant rates. to prevent abuses in the
management. But that doesn't mean that
the state may take the management out
OF the hands Of the owners II means
that the state may protect the public from
violations OF the railroads duty as com
mon carrier.
In these days regulation has achieved a
wider field Of operations. and IL is deemed
10 have The power not only 70 regulate
property and the management OF property
but everybody connected with It, The In
terstate Commerce Commission has come
10 stay. / am glad 10 say. There Is one
thing about the commission which places
II in fairness and fitness far above Con-
gress or any other body. i msan tnat T.
has the time 10 investigate. and legislat-
i've body. In the very nature ~ things, does
not have that time.
In speaking of the organization of the
association, Mr.. spOoner said that It came
into being one year ago at the end of a
great panic And God knows" he contin-
ued. but for the genius and strength of
J. p. Morgan. who would have stemmed
the tide Of that panic. II could not. per-
haps would not. have been stemmed."
w. C. BROWNS SOLUTION.
William c. Brown. president Of the New
York Central lines. followed ex-senator
Spooner. M Browns idea of the way
for the railroads TO make friends with the
people was by establishing agricultural
schools 10 help the farmer. He said:
l desire to suggest briefly two plans
having a common purpose and perhaps
Ffrst-The broadening and. in a way. the
specializing OF our methods Of education
In all our schools and colleges. ! would
have a first-class manual training school
attached to every high school and TO every
college and university. where young men
could be turned out good. practical. jour
HSymen blacksmiths bOileTmakers, car
penters. cabinetmakers, plumbers. or
skilled wOrkmen at some other useful
trade. 7 would make our agricultural col
leges in fact what they are in name to the
end that graduates Of these colleges should
be frst-class farmers thoroughly equipped
and vitality interested
second-I would double our rural popula-
tiOn by more than doubling the product
per acre OF the nations farms
Every scheme for the reclams tion Of arid
land by the government should be pushed
10 completion and the land opened 10 set
tlement at the earliest possible moment.
The railroads should cooperate with the
state agricultural colleges. I am going 10
which ! am connected the purchase of
farms TO be operated as experimental
farms, according 20 the most advanced
methods Of seed selection. fertilization and
cultivation. AT the expense Of the road
but under the auspices OF the agricultural
colleges OF the state in which the farm IS
adopted shall hope 10 see il followed by
q jority Of the roads OF the country.
PEOPLE FINAL ARRITERs.
f. Z. Ripley. president OF the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Re. said that the old idea
Of The public he damned had passed
out: and instead Of il the railroads had
been compelled 10 recognize that the people
were the final arbiters OF their fate In
outlining his scheme t. promoting better
relations between the public and the rail-
roads, he said;
In this country the people Tule-and in
the long run that system. that method. or
that personality that does not meet the ap-
probation OF the public cannot succeed
Acknowledging as We must that the public
IS ali powerful the question is. how may
We satisfy our masters and thus mitigate
our woes and preserve our properties.
Ffrst-We must realize. / think We all
do tafter d series OF very hard knOcksl.
that the railroads are not strictly private
property. but subject 10 regulation by the
thOrities-that the government may reduce
our earnings and Increase our expenses has
been sufficiently proved.
Second-To meet this situation We must
endeavor 10 get i'm touch with public opin-
ion Perhaps YOU viii smile when say that
for years I have read every article on rail-
road matters in each Of the pa pers pub
nshed along our ten thousand miles OF road
not an easy task for a busy man-but
while I have waded through much chan. /
am sure IL has resulted in some returns.
Third-The avoidance OF actien seriously
counter tc public opinion except for COM
DsllinE rea sons.
Fourth-The disposition 10 explain these
reasons through officers and employees Of
all grades. Generally the loudest criticisms
come from those who are not anxious 10
know the truth
Fifth-Ehorts Ia improve service in many
cases without hope OF reward and for the
deliberate purpose Of winning public ap-
provai. such as better stations. improved
heating and lighting devices, better equip
ment better terminal facilities separation
OF grades. etc.-ai with due regard 10 the
rights OF those whose money We are spend
Ing
PRESENT DIFFICULTIES
W II. Marshall. president Of the Amer
ican Locomotive Company. represented the
dealers Sn railroad supplies. He said;
During our one year Of existence as an
association We have had ample opportunity