The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1908-current, 1910-07-25
Judge PRINCE
Ut ON RAILROADS
RELATION TO THE PEOPLE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAIL
ROADS AND OTHER CORpO-
RATIONS DISCUSSED.
DIToR LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT:

The relation of railroads to the peo-
ple-the duties and rights of the rail-
roads and the duty and rights of the
people toward each other-are but lit
tie understood by many.
The railroad is a modern common
carrier, incorporated and built by and
for the people.
Parties who claim to own and to
operate the railroads are only in
certain sense co-partners with the
whole people, and should be holding
and using the roads for the benefit OF
all. 1t is upon this principle that rail-
roads get their charters and rights
of-way" through the states. The gov
eminent, states and people make
large donations of land, other proper
ty and right-of-way in and over their
lands
The railroads assume only the
rights of common carriers, for hire,
with the additional duty and rights
growing out of the special interest
that the people have in and to the
roads on account of the donations and
privileges granted them, which creates
trust relation on the part of the
railroad corporation to and for the
people
1t is from these common rights that
exist always between the roads and
the people that give the government
and the states the right to regulate
and fix the price for carrying passen-
gers and freight. You should get it
out of your mind that the railroads
belong absolutely to those corpora
tons, the same as your horse belong
to you.
After the road has been built and
put in operation the company can't
take the road away, for the reason
the people have an interest in the
road that cannot be taken from them.
Under the law, the railroads are fore
ed to build depots and make proper
accommodation and carry passengers
and freight, etc.
Still, in a certain sense, the rail-
roads are separate and distinct, and
are made so by the law, so as to hold
the chief beneficiaries responsible for
the proper faithful management and
operation of the roads. The roads
are allowed to sue and be sued so
they can protect their interests. The
individual is allowed to sue the roads
for any wrong and recover damages.
But for this right to sue, the roads,
with their employees, would run over,
injure, kill and damage the people, SO
they would have to be destroyed.
Railroad employees average about
as good as other people, but give any
class the power and it will be used to
Cypress the weak, and it is only
through and by the law that the weak
and law abiding are protected.
Railroads should be dealt with fair
ly, but on account of their wealth and
roads should be held to strict account,
and when one has been negligently
wronged and injured the company
| should be required to pay full and
complete damages.
| desire to note one more thing:
Our last legislature appropriated $780,
| h. dc
| the rates for carrying freights and
| passengers. The legislature went at
this matter backward. The money APP
propriated will do no good, except to
open the eyes OF the voters, and after
some years cause the right legislation.
| The $50 900 should have been appro-
priated to have the railroads survey
ed and valued at a fair cash value;
then the railroad commission could
have allowed such charges for carry
ing freight and passengers as would
give the roads fair interest on the act
ual value of the roads
am reliably informed that what is
known as the Little Rock & Fort
Smith road, is bonded at $4,000 per
mile and the st. Louis, Iron Moupn-
tain & Southern railway at $751; 900
per mile, when $4,000 per mile is
fair value.
Now, to charge such rates as to pay
interest on more than double the value
of the roads, the litigation now going
on will be in favor of the railroads.
p. H. PRINCE.
Conway, Ark, July Is.