Connecticut western news., 1910-09-01

certain to respond promptly and effi- ciently to any appeal for the public good than the Board of Directors of this cor poration, ..a.. No Autagonism Between Railroad and
 Public
 "The Board of Directors and officers of this corporation find no antagonism between their duties as trustess of the great business placed under their charge, and the interests of the public whom this railroad serves. They known that there can be no prosperity for any rail road which does not result from the prosperity of its own territory. New England is of in a corner of the country. The raw products of it's manufacture come from distance. Its finished pro- ducts find distant markets. The pros- perity of New England is dependent upon the maintenance of freight rates which are no heavier than its industries can bear. The New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Company ia all the time oontsnding for the maints- nance of such proper relations between the different portions of complicated national system of freight rates as shall justly protect New England industries against their competitors in other parts of the United States.
 "In the matter of public service, the officers of this railroad are all aware that the best, and indeed the only, way to secure for railroad the highest degree of prosperity, is to attract the greatest possible business, by giving the best pos- sible service.
 Injury to RaiIroads-Injury to Public
 ''In their turn, I think Connecticut people ought to realize clearly that any political action which materially de- creases the earnings of it's chief railroad company will injure the public even more quickly and more seriously than 1t will the investors in the securities of that company. There has never been any considerable series of years in the history of this Company during which all of the net earnings of the Company have been paid out to the holders of it's securities. It has always been the pras- tice of the Company to invest all of these net earnings over and above the expected return to investors, in the improvement of it's plant.
 "Any action by the State which les sens the earnings of the corporation will naturally tend to diminish the power of the corporation to improve it's railroad, and will result necessarily in less efficient service. Any political action which diminishss the earnings of this corpora tion will also necessarily tend to impair its ability to pay fair wages to it's em- ployees, and to give those orders for the purchase of supplies upon which the prosperity of so many citizens of Con- neotiout depends. The railroad cannot YNau ak, f.@,rx FN,. machinery or for thousand and one things unless it is allowed to earn the money with which to pay for them.
 More Specific Discussion Necessary
 "I could answer the questions of your letter more specifically, If 1 knew more specifically what the abuses are which it is desired to correct. Sometimes it happens that there are abuses which call for drastic remedies. Sometimes such abuses can be corrected by very simple remedies. It seems to me impossible to intelligently discuss the remedies, with out having definitely in mind the evils to be remedied. think the intellectual atmosphere surrounding this dusouasion would be much cleared, if there could be preliminary consideration, in de- tail, of the evils which Connecticut men ind to complain of in the conduct of their railroads.
 Specific Correction of Abuses
 I frankly avow that am not opposed to any legislation which, after such con- sideration, may seem to ba necessary for the correction of any real abuses, actual or threatened. believe that any such legislation which is really necessary would benefit the railroad as much as the public. I have no doubt that the Ell1ins Law forbidding rebates to ship pers has benefited the railroads of this country quite as much as it has the bus mess world in general l believe that the main advantageewhich has accrued to the public from Federal legislation with regard to railroads, has accrued from the Elkins Act, efficiently enforced by the Interstate Commerce Oommis. sion, rather than by the exercise of any of the drastic powers given to the Com mission by the Interstate Commerce Act. In so far as the Interstate Commerce Commission confines its activities to the correcting of abuses, in so far will it's influence be beneficial. In so far as it extends its activities beyond that sphere, it will, in my judgment, create misohiefs far outweighing any good it may seek to accomplish.
 Rational Discussion--NotP Political AgI-
 tation
 "I welcome your letter as an indica- tion that the legislation of this State is to be influenced by rational discussion, rather than by political agitation. I shall be glad to put such knowledge as I have about business conditions at your service for the purposes of this discus sion.
 Statement of Abuses Desirable
 "I respectfully ask you to invite a precise preliminary statement of the abuses which are found in tho experience of this State to need correction, in order that we may discuss intslligently the nature of the remedies to bs applied to cure the evils done or threatened.
 Not to Be Broken.
 Has your husband a strong wtllY'