St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-08-06

President Mcdonald Reveals His
Quality

r
of the Boston and Maine, Morris
Mcdonald. This revealing glimpse
of the character OF the new execu-
tive of the Boston and Maine came
IN a communication addressed to
the railroad commission of the state
of Maine, and relates to the recent
enactment of the Maine legislature
requiring the railroads of that state
TO issue 500 mile mileage books.
While we do not attempt in any way
to pass upon the merit of President
McDonald's contentious that his
road cannot afford to submit to this
cut in it's passenger traffic rates, we
cannot refrain from admiring the
tone and spirit or his communities
ton. There is in the communica-
zion a complete lack of the public
be d." attitude which has so effect
ually fed public desentment against
public service corporations. On the
contrary, President Mcdonald offers
in a business-like and concise fashion
his reasons for concluding the legis-
lation unfair and contiscatory in
character. He offers figures of an
understandable and explicit sort to
back up his contention, and con-
cludes with an expression of COM
plete willingness to abide by the de-
cision, after the courts have been
given a full opportunity to enquire
in the merits of the case.
This is precisely the kind of treat
ment fair-minded people want from
| the railroad. While there will al
ways be a noisy and demagOgic min
ority engaged in denunciation of
the railroads and every other pri-
vate agency employed in the public
service, no matter what policy the
latter may pursue; the great, think
ing majority of the people only want
what is fair and right in their reia-
tions with public service concerns.
This great class may be counted up
on TO oppose eXtortion and abuse of
power with great vigOr, and, rs the
New Ravens recent history shows,
with considerable effectiveness; but
at the same time they recognize that
! fairness from the railroads may
only with justice be demanded, when
the railroads themselves are treated
by the public with exact fairness.
1t boots the public little good to
insist upon concessions which the
railroads cannot afford to give and
maintain their efficiency and return
to their stockholders a reasonable
return on their investment, Just as
it profits the railroads not at all
to insist upon rates which are dis
criminatory, or excessive. Neither
policy can be successfully pursued,
or pursued at all for any length of
time.
President Mcdonald, to our no.
ton, while opposing a public de-
mand, appears in a reasonable and
admirable light as a careful and con-
scientious steward of the interests
reposing in his charge, displaying
the correct attitude toward the pub
lie whom he must serve, and the
stockholders of his road whose in
terests he must intelligently protect.
No doubt the railroad commission of
Maine will join with the railroad in
bringing the point in dispute to an
early court test, and thus secure an
early and equitable adjustment of
the differences between the state and
the railroad.-[ Manchester Union.
Is This Progression?
A young lad, whose parents are
not able to furnish him with prop
er clothing applied to the board of
education this week for a certificate
to enable him to work during va
cation. He is IA years old. The
law requirements are that no boy
can work during vacation if he has
not attended school at least 800
half days during the previous school
year The boy said he wanted to
work to earn money to buy clothes
to enable him to go to school in the
fall. The record showed that he
had been in school only 27O half
ldays during the past year, and he
cannot be granted - certificate. But
IN ho CT &c
to roam over the hills and fields, to
do damage to farmers, to learn all
the deviltry that the street can
teach him, but he cannot work.
perhaps you like law of that sort.
We do not. If you agree with us,
elect men who will have sufficient
courage to go to Concord in 191 5
and change it.
A widow has just moved into
this state. Her boy is under 16
years. He wishes to work during
vacation to help his mother. The
law says the applicant for a certi-
ficate to allow him 10 work must
furnish a birth certificate. A letter
to the clerk of the town in the dis
tant state where he was born brings
the reply that the law did not re-
quire records kept at that time.
/
he can do other things. Perhaps
you like it. We do not. What will
you do about it?
A high school boy had apportu-
nifty to act as page in the house of
representative at Concord last
year. The principal of the school
said he would learn as much of val
ne to himself in the legislature as
he would in school. Now he would
like a certificate to enable him to
work. He cannot have one because
he did not attend school 800 half
days during the last school year.
This case was referred to Surt.
Morrison with the thought that the
legislative experience would be as
: good as the high school, but evident
ly Mr.. Morrison does not have a
very high opinion of the educational
advantages in that body. In this
case the boy studied out of school,
| Dassed his examinations and will