The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-09-16
RAILROAD NEWS.
F.O.MeIcher Of Rock Island Tells
OF Adverse Legislation.
Vice President Says Many Are
Wholly Impractical.
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Some Laws Provide for One Kind
of Rail Appliance.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.
SPECIAL INTERESTS

F. o. Melcher, vice president of Rock
Island Lines, in a recent speech, said,
in speaking OF legislation:
1.-The railways are constantly con-
fronted with the likelihood of a multi
tude of laws being placed upon the
statute books which will affect their
physical operation Numbers of bills
have been introduced into congress and
state legislatures having this in view.
Some OF these bills were introduced in
such form as to favor special interests.
In some cases, as drawn they were
wholly impractical, an in others wholly
and unreasonably mandatory. Others,
on the contrary, were commendable as
to the objects sought to be obtained
but introduced in such form as to pre-
vent those objects being attained
About two years ago the railways ap-
pointed committee to direct an eff
fort to place before our legislators the
exact facts as to what these bills
meant ana what effect they should
have in modifying or changing exist
ing railway practice.
THE name which was chosen for this
committee-tha special committee on
relations of railway operation to legiS-
latiOn is more suggestive of philOsO-
phical research and points more
toward enunciation of abstract princi-
pies than to the solution of any prac-
teal problems but it's duties are prac-
teal and its work frank and Open. and
it's progress marks the passing of old
time methods. The sole purpose of this
committee is to place the facts fully
and correctly, and by experienced rail-
way officers and employees. in the pos
session of those charged with respon-
sibility for legislation.
In the prosecution Of its work, the
committee encountered activities of all
kinds, both those of individuals and
those Of various associations; but in
only two ways has it come into touch
with such activities on the part of
associations or of individuals engaged
i'll the railway supply trade. The first
of these was with relation to the Rail
way Business association, of which
George A. Post is the very able and
active president. Without in any way
sacrificing the interests of it's mem
bers; nor those OF the general pubic
that association has found 1t possible
to strongly reinforce the protest against
unscientific and unsound legislation,
and contribute materially to a sane
out of the real problems pre-
senting themselves.
THE second point of contact was less
agreeable, and I trust that you will
not object to a. frank expression in
relation to one form of over Jealous
business enterprise, which at times
concerned in any way. with the effects
and results of legislation. We all ad-
mire a good salesman, but 1t is a serl-
Gus question whether it is any part or
for the purpose of making obligatory
the use of a certain appliance, or even
Of a certain type Of appliance, and it |
IS regretted that there is evidence of a |
mber of instances of legislation, |
fundamentally unsound, which as PRO |
osed provided an exclusive market |
for one device and deprived all COM |
0etitors of that device of that mar |
zet. Such cases naturally divide them |
selves into two classes: %, where the |
appliances sought to be specified have |
Tot yet been thoroughly approved by |
he consensus of engineering opinion |
and CD those where the device may |
De standard, and is satisfactory, but |
presents no material advantages over
other devices to accomplish the same
'esult.
when the first class presents itself
here is an opportunity for sympathy
With the inventor who has such
thorough belief in his own invention
hat he feels that if the railways do
lot adopt it of their own accord that
is use should be brought about by
egislation. Support of this type of
egisIation is a commercial crime. Sup
)ort of the second is open to objection
nat in the opinion Of your customers
uch a course Of procedure is poor bus
ness policy. There is little difficulty
n meeting proposed legislation en-
raced in the first class, for no intel
tultify himself by voting for a meas
re after he has been shown by ac-
experts on the subject that
IS efficiency is rather doubtful
LAS to the legislation embraced in
he second class: Opposition to it must
est upon the fundamental fact that as
etween two or more appliances, salts