The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-10-01

HOwARD EELxcTE, PRESIDENT NEW YORK,
HEw HAVEN AND HARTFORD RAInRoAD.
COMPANY AND CzIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE
NEW ENGLAND TRANSPORTATION LINES.
England In just as important to her fu-
tire growth to have adequate banking
facilities. adequate commercial orzanfza-
flurs and sensible sane and honest pub
Tic opinion that VII be reelected IN q gov
eminent that VIII not be sEayed by the
Whfus. prejudice fads OF the nonlnent
10 snhve Il right VIII require mach pa
etancA work and money from those both
In and cot OF the railroad serv5ca and the
problem appealed TO very mach when
some OF my friends paid me the vezy high
complainant OF asking to come here and
heip-
MaRagemsHt by Owners.
Some. on the Sifacafties and inadeua1axkes
o. the transportation machine of the Unit
cd States today ara the result of drifting,
away toosfar from the idea that 1raaspor-
tatdcn is business. yTlzAah In the kong ran
zEst Be governed AY the same great hui
man ard natural laws that sfEsct all f.4l-
man affairs IN Saying this do not wish
10 be understood as nearing that there
Ehouid Dok be supervision and regala4ioal
o. the grssat public service corporations
and Ee1at changing conditions 90 not make
Necessary changes IN method and Ia law.
But do say that care should be taken
not 60 have that supervision and TeEuRe-
ton 80 50 far that IT practically takes the
real power II management away rom
those WHO have Invested their money In
the buS4nszs- So long they have their
money invested. 50 long as tksv are re-
Snnnstb1e TOR the financial rss<E4E no ling
as they give adequate. TeasOnaa5Ee and
gross eArn2ngs sufficient to pay expenses
taxes. interest debts, take care al
oepreciatiOn and Onscsescence and pay
reasonable rsturn TO the owners, they
must have the right to decide many inn
portant questions. particularly those re-
la4ing to the details Of service. The or
gan4EaE1d1 Of the staff and the rules and
regulations under which the starr and
eInp.oyees must work to produce the
greatest e9nciency and SAFETY
Regulation and OvvspersF1fz,.
DIrtnE the last I'VE years I f.sr1a srsAa
throughout the west 10 present the railroad
side OF tse transportation question F3z,t 7
also had ia mind much broader Question
namely that the country cannot attain
It's best growth unless the people car, he
made % see thaz adequate ana safe
rrEDzDOFsEt9on is absolutely necessary
Drt~Et0 ownership unless, under honest
nsznaeAEEanG- enough money Is earned TO
Day approximately the same return to the
lrlvsSoor as Is recefved by investors In
other cfa=ses of business in the sarne
territory. and in addscion lay up a fuT,d
90 Provide for bad tfrne@wElen earnings
are poor
The policy OF the sovernrnerst-n
ard ssafs-1lz1ng the last tve4rtv-fIve
years seems to have been TO decide rate
cHesetogsS n the great majority of cases
IN such way that rates were rarely atI
vazsced and generally were reduced and
10 fntrcUrpce rules regulations and meth
ever. want TO make a plea that co1tr,1e ed
WIN resrEfut and control there should
- pro4s-tlon 20 the owners OF the Sc
c1F4ffes- The comm Sss1ons = both sta q
and nsksonaz-TatnFsIly feel the great
pressure Of the millions of users of the
railroads. for reduced rates and Increased
facilities But II the rates continue TO
dsciire, on even rsn1zin' the prsse at
Aewel. and z expenses SIRE Increased by
higher wages aKEc cost Of materials, and
o. the Introduction Of different appliances
and faciitttss more rapidly than the roads
can obtain money then there is bat one
result for some OF the railroads of the
United 5tates-ard that is bankruptcy
believe the commission ers-vvao have such
great powsrs-reatfse their responsibility
TO the owners OF the properties as well
an TO the users. and hope earnestly that
they Will give practical evidence of their
realization by permitting some advances
m rates
Should the conmtSSiors-federal and
state-Euake a positive declaration that
rates may be advanced as to permit
ehe properties to meet All OF their obliga-
tons pay fair return to stockholders
and leave a balance for improvements
tl1sT viii do much for the entire country
Hzd- naEstcnIsrly for New EnElRpd. Such