The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-03-29
THINKS THAT
BUSINESS WILL
IMPROVE
Prominent Member Of the Re-
cent Legislature Says Reac-
ton Has Come in Regula-
ton Of the Railroads.

Fred O.. Blood OF Las Vegas. one
Of the most active members OF the
recent Kew Mexico legislature and a
prominent Meadow City business man,
was In AibuqucrQue yesterday for a
brief stay. returning home from a
visit 20 southern New Mexico. Mr.
Blood believes the remainder Of 1915
viii see an important business re-
vlval not only In New Mexico out
throughout the country, n he bases
his belief Of the ground that a pop
nlar reaction has come as 20 reeula-
iiOn OF the railroad corporations.
Having In mind certain legislation
sought for personal ends. for purpose
Of grand stand play and % people
honestly mistaken In their Views a.
TO railroads. AIR. Blood expressed the
belief that the people from active
support are now iined up squarely
against such anti-raiiroad legislation
and ne looks for decidedly beneficial
results TO follow.
For several years past said Mr..
Blood. there has been a united ef-
fort on the part Of The public 60 pass
laws supposedly in the interest OF the
people. Regulate the railroads. has
been the cry. Seemingly every man
elected 20 congress or state legisla-
lures. has considered u first duty TO
his constituents TO Introduce a. bill TO
regulate some corporation. In doing
this they do not take into cOnsidera-
tin both sides OF the question. They
believe that the railroads and other
corporations are rabbiag the people.
and therefore they be cur0ad;
they do rot maze allowance for the
great good these corporations are do
Ing in the communities In which they
operate. The thousands OF men, wo-
men and children being supported by
these corporations are lost sight OF In
the general scramble to regulate
something. The fact that the rail-
roads In New Mexico are supporting
5000 men and al least 20, goo citizens;
that they pas annually $1,000. 900 taxes
that they are building up cities. and
thriving little towns all over the
state; that they are assisting in eX-
plotting farming. stock raising, and
all mannc of enterprises does not
seem 10 count In their favor. when the
regulate the railroads idea strikes
the country. The idea that the rail-
road r. the enemy Of the couatry
through which II operates and Is not
vitality concerned IN lie welfare Is an
other error tho public indulges ln.
The facts are. more than any one en-
terpriEe. the railroad Is benefited or
injured By hard times or good times.
The eason for this are obvious; the
railroads holdings being 80 much
greater han any other n business
they ara 10 "A greater extent Interested
IN the development OF the country
through which thy run.
"The manipulations Of the New
Haven, Rock Island and Frisco are
responsible largely for The present
feeling against railroads. THAT there
should be laws TO govern railroads
everyone admits. The presidents and
other high officials agree oI this
point. But that congress and the
state legislatures have the right 20
deprive them of sufficient revenue 20
operate and pay n reasonable div
idend seems TO me t. be unfair. That
they are entitled TO the same fair
treatment that other business, Is In
judgment an incontrovertibie
fact. I believe the hysterical tend
ency TO unfair treatment OF railroads
for the past ten years is more than
any other the reason the cause OF
the present stagnatiOn In business.
There seems To be a decided let up On
the part OF both the national and state
governments on the Idea to down the
corporations. 4 consider il a very
healthy sign OF the times and hope TO
see an Increase In business next year.