The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-30
President Bush of Missouri
Pacific Discusses Problems.
Says Railways of This Country
Must Have Protection.
FAIR RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Improvements Depend on Com
pensatiOn Allowed.
How Roads Are to Obtain
Money Is Real Question.

New York April 3o.-The annual
election of the Economic club of New
York last night was preceded by a
notable dinner given in the new Hotel
Astor. The guest of honor was the
newly appointed ambassador to Great
Britain, William H. Page. An infor-
NAL reception to him preceded the
feast.
James speyer, the banker, president
of the organization, was toastmaster at
the banquet. The subject for discussion
was Are Our Railroads Fairly Treat
ed?" Four men were selected to speak
on this subject. They were Benjamin
Franklin Bush of ST. Louis president
of the Missouri Pacific railroad; w. c.
Brown, president of the New York Cen
tral & Hudson River railroad; A. B.
Garretson, president of the Order Of
Railroad Conductors, and Prof William
u. Ripley, professor of political econ
omy in Harvard university the author
of Railroads, Rates and Regulations"
Considerable interest attached to the
address of Mr.. Bush. He said in part:
"A careful and impartial analysis of
the railroad situation as it exists today
irreSiStibly forces the conclusion that
there is no subject before the people,
no policy engaging the attention of the
government that in it's future economic
aspect foreshadows more dangers, both
to the commerce of this country and to
our institutions, than does that of rail-
road transportation; therefore, that it
be solved rightly it should receive the
most scrupulous consideration.
How Can Railroads Obtain Money.
As to how the railroads can obtain
the money necessary to make the i'm
provements and extensions to efficient
ly provide for the carriage of the ex-
listing and increasing traffic, so that all
lines of industry may develop and
operate to full advantage and our vast
tide of commerce still further expand
and flow unrestricted to it's final haven,
is The Railroad Problem
LAS the conditions are today by rea-
son of not having the means at their
command, the railroads cannot give
proper movement to the large volume
of existing traffic. The Transportation
facilities are not Keeping pace with
the increasing traffic requirements.
"A railroad to obtain money for ex-
provement of existing lines like a mer-
chant, must have an established credit
considering what the railroads have
done through the investment of private
capital-in upbuilding and developing
the country, improving the conditions
of living, uplifting the people and add
ing to all the comforts and conven-
fences of life, they certainly are entitled
to that necessary protection which will
enable them to continue in their voca-
ton and elevate to a still higher plane
the social, commercial Industrial and
agricultural conditions of our people.
IF the railroads are not allowed to
charge a compensation for their serv-
ices that will enable them to make a
fair return on the investment with a
reasonable surplus for betterments, i'm
provements and the establishment of
their credit, the task on their part of
the situation will be hopeless"