Goldsboro semi-weekly argus., 1909-11-20


and he may rest assured that the con-
which would induce him
to invest his savings are of the same
general nature, and are based uponl
the same principles of human action
as those which influence and control i
ether people.
I'm the first place, he would ask
himself whether the proposed invest
ment is safe, and
Second, whether it would bring in |
as large return as any other invest
nent that might be open to him as
an alternative.
If he could answer both Of these
questions in the affirmative, he would
not hesitate to make the investment
If, however, he should conclude either
that the investment is unsafe, or that
he could not rely upon as good a re-
vestment, the prudent man would not
venture to make it.
1t is apparent, therefore, that those
communities which want their trans
portation to be gradually improved
and perfected, must find some means
OF convincing the investor that his in
vestment in that community will be
bring him as good returns as an in
vestment in any other line OF bust
ness.
"This is also the thing in regard to
which the railway manager who needs
funds to develop his system is all the
time trying to convince investors. To
aid in this is equally the interest ana
the duty of the public which wants
and needs increased and improved
transportation facilities.
"In order to make the investor be.
lieve that his investment is safe in
any community, it is necessary to
convince him that it is protected by a
conservative and just public opinion
'He cannot feel satisfied if one
measure of justice is, in that commun-
tty, by juries in 1itigated cases, meted
out to an individual litigant and A
different and smaller measure of JUS
tice is meted out to the corporation
in which 1t is sought to induce him to
become an investor. It is, therefore
community. to insist through the me-
dunn of an enlightened and unyie1d-
ing public sentiment, that there shall
be but one measure of justice for al
1itigants, and that railway companies
and individual litigants shall be
+nd o15 H.
that there shall be equal justice to all
and no excessive or unjust verdict.
against railroads companies.
II do not believe that there are two
opinions among candid and consider
ate men as to the injustice that is ap
to be visited upon corporation lit
gants by large verdicts.
"I have no doubt that frequently th'
jury itself is unconscious of the III
justice Of its action. 1t is difficult tt
avoid being Influenced by a feeling o
sympathy for an injured individual
It is also difficult to escape the feel
ing that a railway company is great
and powerful, and rich, and is entities
to no consideration. And yet railwa,
companies are not great or powerful
, for they have little opportunity o
making friends. In this Southern
country they are not rich, but ar
still struggling to equip themselve
!. adequately for the public service, ant
to keep pace with the wonderful com
merciaI development of our people
ment and improvements which the!
, cannot obtain from their current earn
ings, and which cannot be supplied
to them by law, but must come from
voluntary assurance of a construc
tive and helpful public sentiment, anG
Of just treatment by juries and in thu
, making Of laws.
, The fact that verdicts are in man!
instances most excessive, and tha
there is a growing tendency to make
them more SO. cannot fail to arres
tile attention and to excite the alarm
; of thoughtful and patriotic men.
1T is the desire of the railway com
bany entrusted to my management tx
settle promptly, and on reasonable
, and Just basis, all proper claims fol
personal injury, for the killing of livt
stock ana for the loss or damage O
r freight.
; 1--WE wish to settle just claims with
, out puttirg the claimants to the ne
!. cessity Of going into court, and it Il
. our effort to do SO. Where, however
3 1t is believed that claim is alto
: gether unjust, or that the amount de
: manded Is excessive, there is nothing
: fer us to do but to permit it to TAX
) the course of litigation. We ought t,
i be Permitted to do SO confident OF re
ceiving that measure of justice, an,
; that measure only, which is meted ou
r to an Individual in his controverte,
9 cases.
s'The fact that at present there is
a in a degree, one measure of justic
: for the corporation and another 70
r the individual is, think, the result o
e a certain thoughtlessness on the par
t OF the public. I am confident tha
{ the only thing necessary to correct