The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1910-09-19
WRITES Ri {. LlE:.T|TERGTD.AlI8 4 EDITOR
Mr.. Willard Says the Fear OF Res
strietiye Legislation Hampers klla
Road as It Does All Others and In
That Way inqurless Ruslness Along
n All Lines.

n j Nv M
BALTIMORE, Nd, Sept. 1g.--In a.
communication written some weeks
ago to the editor Of the Hampshire
Review. a publication OF Romney, w.
Va, President Daniel Willard, Of tho.
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad presents
the side OF the railroads as Regarding
present.day problems confronting
them in a manner which Is bound to
attract the attention OF railroad OIL
cials the country over. 4
The communication was the result
of an article which appeared In the
West Virginia publication 81 me time
previous, dealing with railroad mat
ters. and in his letter the chief execii-
tive Of the Baltimore and Ohio en-
deavors, in the best possible way, 70
take the railroads side OF the case.
President Willard approae ehes the sub.
iect as a railroad Official. yet at the
Same time, he is Just enough to recog-
nlze that the public has rights which
must be considered when the policies
OF the roads are being shaped.
Mr.. Willard admits that 1t has been
clearly demonstrated that the people,
through their proper representatives
have the right to supervise and To- a
degree to control many OF the opera
,tions of, the railroads. and that on the
whole no great damage has been
done the railroads because of the ex-s
'ercise Of such control.
Adjustment TO Change.
ut would, Therefore. seem to be the
part OF wisdom" declared the BaitI.
more and Ohio president In his LET
Ter, "for railroad managers to adjust.
themselves to the ehanEed Condition
OF affairs. and seek, as they properly
should, to so operate the properties
under their charges to bring about q
safe and satisfactory return TO. the
'holders Of their securities, at the
same time having In mind the obliga-
tion that also rests upon the roadside
give fair and reasonable service to all.
"If the railroads are willing to accept
that position-and I believe they are
then the public, in my opinion,
should be equally fair Id Its attitude
toward the railroads and be willing to
grant them fair and reasonable re-
turn for fair and reasonable services
performed" Z, +. Z
President Willard then refers to the
agitation for greater control over rail-
road onerations, which, was aroused
some % years ago, and which ended
In the passages OF the. Interstate Com
merce law. He also mentions the re.
cent legislation broad denihg the powers
of the commission, In the matter OF
supervising the question Of rates, etc..
and declares that since legislatio has
now been procured covering I'LL tho
things originally complained Of, the
railroads Of the country should now
be given the opportunity 10 adjust
themselves to the changed order Of
things. !. y I.
To do this. he asserts that the pub
lie should allow a reasonable period
free from further legislation enact
ment in order that they may work out
the new problems conforming them.
Increased Expcnses.
The head OF the Baltimore and Ohio
then calls attention to theYast amount
of materials which the railroads Of the
country use, as we'll as the large num-
ber of men which they employ. He
mentions, too. the Increased expenses
which the roads have had to shoulder
because OF advance In wages and the
increase In the price of q inateriais
which railroads must have.
within The last three months. said
Mr.. Willard, "all the railroads east Of
Chicago have Increased the wagesSof
tcontlnued on paiia fi-fve.1