The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1909-11-25


other people. fl.f
"In the first place. he woutfsE&k
himself whether the proposed i6%est
ment is safe, and
"Second, whether it would bring in
as large return as any other invest
ment that might Ec 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.
Isl. hoTeyef he should conclude either
e H. inSesthient is unSaic. or that
Not rely upon as good re-
~ go Il as from some other in
$ &t, the prudent man would not
stenture to make it.
1t Is apparent, therefore, that
those communities which want their
transportation to be gradually i'm
proved and perfected, must find some
means of convincing the investor that
his investment i'll that community will
be safe and that it will bring him as
good returns as an investment in any
other line fo business.
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 inves-
tors. To aid in this is equally the in
terest and 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 Il
conservative and just public opinion.
"He cannot feel satisfied if one
measure of justice is. in that COM
munity. by juries in litigatch eases,
meted out to an individual litigan.
and a different and smaller measure
of justice is mcted out to the corpora
tion i'll which it is sought to induce
him to become an investor. Ii is,
therefore. not only right, but il is
wise, IN any community. to insist
through the medium Of an cnli.htcn-
ed unyielding public sentiment. thai
there shall he but one measure of JUS
tlce for all litigants, and that railway
companies and individual litigants
shall be treated exactly alike-in 9th
er words, that there shall be equal
justice to all. and no excessive or un-
just verdicts against any.
81 feel. therefore, that I am MAX
ing plea, not only in behalf of the
railway that / especially represent,
but also i'll behalf of justice and the
public welfare, when I ask that
public sentiment sail be created
which will discourage the giving of
excessive and oppressive verdicts
against railroad companies.
Il do not believe that there are two
opinions among candid and consider
ate men as to the injustice that is APP.
TO be visited upon corporation liti-
gants by large verdicts.
- have no doubt that frequently
the jury itself is unconscious of the
injustice of its action. 1t is difficult
to avoid being influenced by a feeling
of sympathy for en- injured indivi-
dual. 1t is also difficult to escape the
feeling that a railway company is
great, and powerful and rich, and is
entitled to no consideration. And vet
railway companies are not great or
powerful. for they have little oppor-
tunity of making friends. In this
Southern country they are not rich,
but are still struggling to equip
themselves adequately for the public
service land. to keep pace with the
wonderful commercial development of
our people. They need money for
their development and improvements
which they cannot obtain from their
current earnings. and which canno!
be supplied TO them by law. but must
come from voluntary investors. To
get it, they must give assurance of n
constructive and helpful sentiment
and of just treatment by juries and in
the making of laws.
1.-The fact that verdicts are in
many instances most excessive. and
that there is n growing tendency to
make them more so, cannot fail to ar
rest the attention and to excite tie
alarm of thoughtful and patriotic men.
at is the desire of the railway
company entrusted TO my manage
ment to settle promptly and on q
reasonable and JUS basis. all proper
claims for personal injury, for the
killing of live stock and for loss or
damage of freight.
"We wish to settle Just claims
without putting the claimants to the
necessity of going into court. and it
is our effort to do so. Where, how
ever, it is believed that n claim is al
togther unjust, or that the amount dc.
manded is excessive, there is nothing
for us to do but to permit it to take
the course Of litigation. We ought to