The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-03
TIE RAILROADS AND THE PEOPLE.

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deal of money, and that is the immense
value of the mortgage which has been
executed by President j. j. Hit. of the
i Great Northern Railway Company. to
4 secure the indebt ednesS OF that Com
panS and OF the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy Railroad. and 10 provide a
working fund for sundry large pro-
jects the Great Northern has in view.
With this issue Of 100000, 900 OF re-
tunding bonds, tie bonds of the Great
Northern and the c., B. & O. roads will
beitaken UP ana the q, Is. & q. will be
separated from the Northern Pacific
and merged with the Great Northern,
IT being held in view of the recent de-
cision of the United States Supreme
Court such a merger will be lawful
under the rule OF reason We have no
doubt Of II, but ii would be we'll to
fully apprise the public OF ali the facts
in the case SO that the merger may he
consummated without creating any
misrepresentation az TO its benefits to
the people and lis strict compliance
with the law. There is better feeling
among the people. because there is "A
setter understanding towards the rail
roads The Chicago Breeders Gazette
speaks with hearty approval OF the
agricultural missionary Work of the
railroads" as manifested in the exploit
tation Of new regions, the stimulation
OF the production of crops, the creation
OF new markets and the encoura cement
of newer and better and less wasteful
methods in agricultural work All this
missionary work" of tile railroads has
had most happy erect upon the pub
lie thought Of the country. with the re-
suit that there has been & marked and
heelthy change in the course OF leg
'slation since the days when railroad
development was impeded b. wild cat
legislation. The nearer the railroads
ian get to the people. tie more they
take the people into their confidence.
the better for both.
Many attempts have been made by
Congress 10 put a stop to railway
mergers and combinations and to com
pei competition among railways. and
always with results that have not
been OF advantage TO the people.
speaking generally, or TO the rail-
roads Two years ago committee
was appointed by the British Board
4 OF Trade, OF which Winston Churchill
was then president to investigate the
conditions obtaining in England, and
to report what changes. II any; would
be eXpedient in the laws relating to
Z agreements among railway compa-
MES, and what general provisions, ii
any. ought 10 be embodied for the
purpose of safeguarding the various
interests affected in future Acts Of
Parliament authorizing railway ANAL
carnations and working unions This
committee held extensive hearings and
after a thorough survey OF the whole
field and finding '',ilc attitude OF the
trading and general public 10 be one
OF recognition that more perfect CO.
operation between railway companies
was Inevitable. and in most cases that
in principle il was no, TO lie con
demned," reached the decla -s,ion OF
these principles;
Railways. BY their very nature tend
toward CO. operation and amalgama.
ton.
4 Co-operation is a tendency which
no power Of legislature or court can
check. for it is Impossible to make
industries compete whose interest is
hostile 70 competition
Instead of seeking 10 force compe-
ttlion, It were better and more effec.
I'VE by making anna CANA ton ga sier
and At The same time more public.
and by guarding and protecting the
peofle, through adequate legisla ton
and penalties. 10 at one and Tho same
time promote the free course Of com ].
meFee and the safety and service 81
the public. W
The British view IS Better man The
American view.
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ovi WORKED.