Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-30
OPENLETTER To
RAILROAD HEADS
Expert Shows How Public May
Be Enlisted on Their Side
for Fair Play.
nv 3. c. FORBES.

BY 3. c. FORBES.
Railroad and investment conditions call
for this OPEN LETTER TO
THE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTORS
OF EVERY RAILROAD IN The
UNITED STATES, AND
THE TRUSTEES. DIRECTORS AND
OFFICERS or ALL SAVINGS BANKS,
INSURANCE COMPANIES, TRUST
COMPANIES, UNIVERSITIES, HOS
PITFALLS AND OTHER EMoSYNARV
INSTITUTIONS,
Fjrst-oentlemen Responsible for Safe
auardlnq Railroad Properties;
You declare that you are being SO ham
nered bV the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. by the Federal Government, by
state legislatures, by state railroad and
public service commissions, by taxing au-
4horitles in general, and BY labor eomei-
nations that you are powerless properly
90 protect the vast properties intrusted TO
your charge, and that conditions are
drifting toward disaster.
You declare that various authorities ire
amposing burdens and eNactions which
you can not continue 70 meet, and at the
same time safeguard the billions Of dol
lars committed to you for investment by
individuals and Institutions.
You declare that you are becoming
aravely alarmed over the growing ten
deney to pass such costly and, In your
udgment. unnecessary and ruinous legIs-
latlon as full crew bills, and bills enforc-
ing the hasty removal Of all grade cross
anss.
You declare that your taxes are being
Increased most GENEROUSLY and that you
are compelled 20 advance wages unrea-
souably.
You declare that Il is becoming eN-
4remely difficult TO induce investors 10
provide the billion dollars (or more) nee
essary 70 supply adequate transportation
facilities, and that you are obliged to pay
unprecedented rates for all your capital
requirements.
You declare that lstterly there has been
g disquleting tendency 70 order one rail-
road to open its terminal facilities, con-
peived with foresight and constructed at
ereat cost. 70 other railroads having no
claim whatever upon these facilities.
You declare that the present Erdman
act Is an entirely unsuitable instrument
Tor the settlement Of labor disputes affect
np large numbers Of railroads, and that
you will be az the mercy Of labor eombI-
nations until proper arbitration law Is
passed.
You declare that when Il refused 20
arant your application for permits ion 20
Increase freight rates the Interstate Com
merce Commission based lts decision on
statistics and other information which
were subsequently proved 70 be grossly
inaccurate, misleading and preIudlcisl 70
Finally. you declare that the public has
manifested Ignorance Of the true position
the FaHrnnne and that the whole
facts known and rightly appreciated,
there would be a demand that you be
given fuller measure Of fair play to the
end that you may be allowed 20 maintain
your properties IN sound physical condl-
zion, provide the extensions called for BY
the growth OF this young country build
up a fair surplus 20 meet emergeneles-
such as those now arising from Rood, fire,
tornado and other acts OF God throughout
= large part Of the Union-enabie you TO
meet al interest charges on your bonded
indebtedness, pay reasonable dividends 20
your stockholders and, last, but not least,
pay living wages TO your employees.
Your problem, you declare, is: How 20
arouse the public 10 a riqhtful apprecia-
zion Of the present railroad situation and
the grave dangers that are threatened.
Il U.s. for the purpose Of offering you a
suggestion that this Open Letter is
written.
Let the directors Of each railroad IN the
country draw up frank, truthful. lucid
explanation Of their roads position, point
9tng out harassments that ought 70 be re-
moved and suggesting a feasible method
Of relief from threatened disaster. Let
&c president and every director person
ally sign the statement and mail IL 10
every stoekhoider. bondholder and note
holder on their books, and, II need be,
have Il printed in fun IN the local news
papers.
There are perhaps four million security
holders IN this country, ably per-
sons Of intelligence, Of some standing and
Of average inhgence. ~f
" proper statements are thus dissent
mated, volume of reasonable, righteous
public opinion would be created that
neither Federal nor state authorities
could defy.
American citizens will not stand for
hnythng but fair play
AND that IS what you gentlemen declare
You want
Second Gentlemen RESPONSIBLE for
Safeguarding Benehciaries Of Savings
Banks, Insurance Companies, Trust
Companies, Universities. Hospitals
and other Eleemosynary Institutions
You are dependent for the whole or part
of your income upon your investments,
billions o. which are In railroad stocks
and bonds.
You have seen. 10 your discomfort and
6lsmay, the value Of your security hold
sings sink lower and lower
You must be prepared-if what railroad
managers aiiege be true-to witness fur
4her very serious shrinkaue IN your In
Vestments-and, ultimately. in your in
come
You can not adequately meet your re-
probabilities II your income be CrsVeiy
impaired.
You are not less interested than the
railroad managers themselves in obtain
i~c fair play for the railroads.
you believe that the demands OF the
oaos are lust-if you can honorably
osoribe g statements prepared and
lgned by theu-Wouid Il not be your
DUTY to the millions o. citizens dependent
upon you to operate with the railroads
BY obtaining supplies Of these statements
and mailing them 70 your depositors, your
benehciaries. your clients or others whose
interests are under your qusrdtanshIp7
" there are such rocks ahead as the
railroads say there are can you do less
fhs0 aid IN steering clear Of them7
eli MOpC CuTrc r-aor