The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1909-02-05

country. The letter to Mr. Post is i'll
reply to his soliciting Senator ,Taylor's
influence relating to railroad and indus
trial Development in the South. In
this letter Senator Taylor expresses
what he thinks the people should do,
and what the railroads should guarantee
to do, in order to bring about the best
legislation to all concerned. The letter
| is as follows:
RESPONSE TO LETTER.
am impelled to make some re-
sponse to your letter because | find my
self SO nearly agreeing with your en-
thusiaStic endorsement of the resolu-
tions of the Southern Commercial Con-
greSs at its recent session in Washington
relating to railroad construction in the
South and counseling conservative leg
islation by the States. The statement
that the South has, and must have,
more railroads needs no enlargement,
and the further equally important state
ment that the Legislatures should safe
guard railroad investment with Just,
conservative and generous legislation,
admits of no contradiction. The rail
roads constitute the main instrumental
ity of commerce and their prosperity is
the first essential indispensable to pub
lie prosperity, and that the people who
depend upon railroads, and the railroads
that depend upon the people, in exact
mutuality, should be at enmity is a
business solecism, a civic absurdity and
a suicidal policy. Why should the an
tagonism longer exist?
As for myself, am sincerely in fa-
vor of according to the railroads the
fullest and compIetest control over their
own affairs and such liberal latitude in
rates as will insure most adequate re-
turn upon investmsnt and pay to oper-
ators, not merelyas their just right, but
to enable them to keep their own facili-
ties to the very highest notch necessary
to minister fully to the increasing de-
mand upon them as the surest means
to quicken industrial development. |
mean this in its fullest sense, and | have
an earnest desire to be useful friend |
of the railroads, provided they will meet
me half way in mutuality of concession.
The resolutions of the Southern Com
mercid Congress meet my heartiest APP
probation.
AN ADDENDA.
"And now, without going into the
obvious reasons for it, want to propose
an addenda, which, in my judgment,
involves the very crux of the situation
and the remedy, and which, if it can be
consummated, will solve the
railroad riddle and restore perfect con-
tidence between them and the people,
With all the incalculable benefits to both
hat it implies Let the railroad power
md the government, representing all
he people, enter into solemn treaty
,npact, the people on their part under
aking to guarantee the railroads:
Il. Immunity from interfering leg s
station.
2. Unhampered management o f t
heir affairs. t
3. Do by generous profit ON actual
apital invested. t
The railroads upon their part guar i
t
L. Total political abstinence.
.. Equal rates and treatment of all f
atrons.
''3. To engage in no other business
IAN common carriers.
There are two fundamentals, and if
lie railroad magnates could gettogether
/ conclave representing the principal
,ads and elaborate plan upon a basis J
like this and pass it up to q
ongress to put in legal form, and if it
done in such manner and form and :
it'll such hostages on the part Of both