The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-12-11
STATESMAN NEEDED
TO SOLVE PROBLEM
Of RAILROAD
CONTROL
Fairfax Harrison, President Of
Southern Railway Suggests
That President Wilson Is
Equal to the Job.
ADDRESS TO RAILWAY
BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
Believes the President Has
Grasp of All Sides of Cues
ton and Fairness of View.

New York. Dec. 1i-SpctKing TO
the annual dinner of the Railway
business association last night Fair
fax Harrison, president ct the south
orn railway, urging early settlement
OF the national problem of railway
regulation and control. suggested
President Wilson as the statesman OF
others now IN public life best fitted
To- find a successful solution. He said
in par
In b controversy between the
owners of railroads and the repre-
sentatives OF the public, the pendu-
lum has now swung 10 an extreme on
the side OF irresponsible ownership.
The conception Is that In the inn
position Of burdens, railroad COM
panies are public concerns and sub
ject 10 the public regulating power.
bat. ir the matter of relief, are pri-
Nate property and not entitled 90 De
considered from the standpoint, OF
their public service.
The growth of has in
jected che question OF the regulation
OF commerce into the states rights
controversy as a factor OF prime inn
portance. An undue proportion OF
the time of the manager and his as
sistants is diverted from tine duties OF
management TO the calls for eNrlana-
tions and arguments before many diff
fereut state authorities when all hat
H. necessary might be accomplished
before one central regulating body.
An efficient management Is "a large
factor in securing for. or continuing
TO. the public a low basis of Transport
tauon charges under existing condi-
lions.
Weakness Ia Delays.
one 81 the most dangerous weak
nesses In the system is It's inability 20
give prompt decisions. sc there h "a
legitimate ana pressing need for
more revenue, the power Go authorize
or 20 produce must be- capable of be-
ing brought into action az ONCE. II
economies must be Introduced. the
power ~ management must be cape
able Of responding promptly to the
need. ~ a change of policy is de-
manded in the public interest. the
power 90 pass upon the question must
be capable oi convenient and prompt
exercise.
First among the essentials b. rail-
road credit. Even a cnnuueriug army
AFfNH NAN NA NrffNtNANH We NffA 81 tHe
TEN which Will bring stability of ser
vice and credit as we'll as equality
and fairness Of treatment. Il must
be possessed OF an authority COeNist-
i've with the subject 90 be regulated.
Its powers must not be divided q
scattered along q number OF inde-
pendent regulating bodies, many OF
them responsible to a part only Of the
public whose welfare Is involved, all
" varying outlook and influence boo
their CONCLUSIONS by differing policies
and often hy ciashing and c1nnirtins
Interests.
\ SiRtc-man's Opportunity.
Like b previous stage Of ire
spoasible private control tine exist
ing system - irresponsible. rigid and
diyl4rd regulation cannot permanent
IS endure. NJ present purpose is not
ca venture Co suggest the solution nut
the source from which an acceptable
solution must come. a solution is
not likely 90 ac accepted BIZ tho sug-