Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1912-02-02

same issue on the "toll'' question,
which it has been agitating. really
eyades the real points that should, in
fairness to the public. be satisfactorily
disproved before undertaking to have
the public mind accept its position.
viz -
~ Should the Valley Turnpike be
maintained as public benefit ?
~ Ifso, then what possible plan
10 there under the law as it stands, to
provide the necessary revenues other
than by the collection of 'sto.ls."
~ 1t the road should be maintain
tained, and there is no otherway OF
DONG so under the law then by the
corrections OF tolls, then is it just to
make all persons using the road to
pay propotionately for the use of it?
IL makes no difference what the toll
9 ussom was 80 years ago. Conditions
nave changed along all lines in our
country in the last 80 years, and what
was equable and just then is not so
now In almost every line. In the
rapid growth of our country, condi-
lions change rapidly which cal! for
frequent changes in laws and customs
to meet changed conditions.
Ii, therefore, the above propositions
are true there is no excuse for the
Herdtd's continued agitation of the
question along the line it has follow
ed, as to do so will only tend to
prejudice instead of informing the
public mind.
1t the Herald is really ignorant of
the fact, I am glad to be able to in
form it that the Valley Turnpike Com-
pany makes regularly all the detailed
financial statements, as well as other
reports, required by the laws of the
State to be made by all public service
corporations, and any citizen can get
all the information by asking for it
where it is required by law to be kept
on file.
II the Herald desires information as
to to abe financial affairs of the Val
ley Turnpike Company and has it not
it is its own and not the Turnpike
iCompany's fault.
A few words though anent the long
and labored effusion of ''P. W." in
last weeks issue of the Herald:
"P. W." has gone to great pains
and labor to erect a block house to
be knocked down by himself to his
own delectation aud apparent great
Satisfaction.
The fact(?) reiterated. time and
again in his article, in substance, that
a few "pricate parties" have virtually
ousted the State from the possessio n
OF its own, and have deprived it OF
the great dividends it should have re-
lceived from the operation of tue Val
ley Turnpike while they have been
filling their own pockets out of the
large income wrongfully forced from
the pockets OF long suffering and
helpless people, has sunken deeply
into his sympathetic soul.
Pity it is that he should have work.
ed himself into such an ebullition OF
Exaggerated frenzy over a fact ~
which any II year old school boy
might have told him was not fact at
all.
No private parties have stolen the
turnpike, nor have any persons been
running it in defiance of law and
stealing the money wrongfully wr Jung
from the helpless people.
The turnpike is managed through a
board OF nine directors.
AS the State owns majority of the
stock it selects majority of the di-
rectors.
Five directors are appointed an
nually by the Sta tie Corporation Com
mission, from persons selected by
them who own no stock in the road.
The president, who ez.oticio, a di-
rector, is elected by the stockholders,
d majority of the stock 1.-THE States
stock being voted by proxies APP
pointed for the purpose annually by
the Corporation Commission. he is
not stockholder himself. Thus two
thirds of the directors are non-stock-
holders selected by the State, the re-
maing three directors are cleo ted by
the majority stockholders.
The only salaries paid are to the
president, treas urer and secretary.
The salary of the secretary is nomi
nal, and the salaries paid the presi-
dent and treasurer are about one
fifth of what would ordinarily be paid
by a corporation for the services &C.
tually being rendered by these officers.
Each of the directors is giving sew
eral hundreds of dollars in value to
him of his time annually to the affairs
Of the Turnpike Company, and alb
solutely without compensation.
1t may OO Vu6t VIC LAOuCTu UeuCH6tSt,
who sees in positions of trust only
opportunity for graft, may fail to see
how men can accept positions of trust
as matter of public DUTY, rather
than as an opportunity for plumber;
nevertheless it is to be hoped this crit
has not gone to the extent that the
mere occupancy CT position of trust,
must be accepted AS conclusive cyl.
dence of theft.
1t may be great satisfaction to
one, hiding his identity under a
couple of initials, to charge honorable
men with filing their pockets with
xaclean shekels. without even faint
suspicion much less fact) upon which
TO base his charge, but it is cowardly.
E. D. NEWMAN,
Director of Valley Turnpike.