Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-04-23

Sir-There are many people thai
are so contumacious they will moi
admit whenever they are in error, and
this class usually allows their minds
to become prejudiced without any
real cause. Just now this element
along with the pesslmlsts, the ITO
plan dreamers and few others thai
are irascible, are very conspicuous
by their efforts to create among theii
fellow citizens the spirit of hatred
towards the railroads in reference tC
the question of the increase of freight
rates.
These people are so susceptible they
will observe all depressions In the
business conditions of the country
but invariably will not take the nee
essary time to ascertain or determine
the real cause for such depression
1t is much more soothing to their
flaming passion, that is kindled by
too hasty conclusions" to voc1ferous-
ly proclaim, THE railroads are to
blame!'
Recently they have endeavored to
create the impression that the present
crisis is the result of manifold ar
rangements by railroad officials,
claiming these officials calculated
such conditions would be developed so
as to discredit the present admins
tration and bring about the increase
In their freight rates.
It is obvious to all that are thor
oughly familiar with the whole sit
| uation that such contentious are the
results of either careless observations
or woeful ignorance OF the conditions.
The railroad officials should not, or
cannot, be held accountable for the
actions of State and federal officials,
who are really to blame for the pres
ent deplorable state of affairs.
/ Let us not be carried away by these
| fanatics. nor by the fanciful dream
ers that are frantically advocating
government ownership of the rail-
roads az the panacea for our troubles.
! If we are later, when we wake up and
wipe the mist from our eyes, we VIII
fully realize, but it viii then be too
| late, that it was very costly 1nno-
walton.
! Whomsoever have allowed their
minds to become contaminated by the
passion of prejudice, let them for a
few brief moments cast aside tnat
unnatural sensation SO that thelf
minds will be free to examine few
cold facts, which 1 will now present
for their perusal. =.
I InGTe mas DOtD iIiNS7HAH"'
the management of some railroads,
don't you think they have been suffl-
GENTLY punished for whatever wrongs
! they may have committed why
should the several authorities be per-
mitted to continue their present tao
tics. which is merely a dilatory proc.
ess of destruction? Is 1t not true
Irregularities have occurred-"in the
same, If not in a greater degree'--in
| lii Of htIainnQS IN
| stitutions; and, even our cities, towns
and villages have been also so erect
ed. But the authorities did not seem
so energetic to hamper and prosecute
these interests; nor did they adopt
such drastic measures as they nave
against the railroads. At the time
when the Irregularities In the various
institutions were brought to the sur
face, If they did not then appear tc
you so glaringly, it was simply on ac,
count of these institutions being
small when compared to the magni'
tude of the railroads.
4 Why should all the railroads anc
their employees be made to su1el
through an inquisitorial policy anc
NV unreasonable restrictions, on &C
count of some mistakes made some
wears ago by few ofncials OF soHi'
roads? 1t would seem just as proper
to drive to the brink or pankruptcs
such stores as Wanamaker' anC
Nacy's. and Altman's, and other o.
} like soiidity, because the business o.
the Henry Siegels stores was carried
on TO some extent by illegttlmat'
transactions. A..
II appears that the railroads are tn
humping block for the present-da!
political demagogues and eccentrt
legislators. The railroad ofilciais ar
indisputably as honest as any othe
class: and. while they have been az
cused nv irresponsible persons witt
every known crime on the calendar
Il has never vet been known Wher
these officials have degraded them
selves nv stealing the paltry saving
Of their own employees to live in lux
ury. like the officers of many otne
business institutions nave pee
known to have done.
The expenses of the railroads nav
heen increased, and are stu furtne
heing Increased, due to higher rate
on loans, being compelled to borroN
: money for improvements, ETC.; l
creased wages to some employees o
r account of awards lby arbitrator
1 having to pay more money FOR taXe'
!, caused by injudicious assessments {
: properties, and by obnoxious, cumpei
some and expensive legislation
/ II
or the different legislatures you WI
i find therein such a multiplicity
II incongruous measures, introduce
II ana adopted, that you cannot hel
II hting amazed at the great wisdoi
H exercised in the framing of thes
II measures. l will cite a few laws
: (which are fair examples the
will better elucidate the character
the various laws passed.
THE State of Indiana ordered tn
pennsylvania railroad to install AT
tomato block signal The effect ha
| heen that this road has no none
left available to make the proper sis
nal installations on it's lines in Ohi'
| where traffic is much heavier, than !
Indiana. You can readily compre
bend. where trafflce is the heavies
these are the points that should
given the preference for improve
| ments, and it would only be equi'
able that such points should be de
termined by the people that was &C
ing to pay the bills; also, you wi
| note: II the railroads haven't tn
money to pay for the work the law
not only useless, but becomes ridicI
lous. which was the situation in Obi
New Jersey passed a law whic
will force the railroads to stand til
whole cost of the removal of a
grade crossings, when a portion
such cost should be borne-"commer
sllrate with the benefits received
by the different municipalities; ais
there was another law put upon tn
statute books, which will force II
railroads within one year to prote'
all grade crossings with either SAT-