Putnam patriot., 1923-02-09
w. E. MOSS REPLIES
TO REV. S. E. COZAD
Deplores Pastors Denunciation
of Railroads Condition.
Criticism Unwarranted
lie, Railroads Alone and Give Them
Chance"


In The Patriot Of last Friday, the
Rev. Simeon +. Cozad Of the Second
Congregational church. in letter adj
dressed TO the Editor. denounced the
poor service of the New Haven road
in no uncertain terms, claiming that
in its present chaotic condition the
road is robbing the travelling public
of its time, and that the time had ar
rived for public remonstrance. 1t
was Mr.. Cozad's opinion that public
mass meetings held in the cities and
towns along the routes of the rail-
road. protesting against the service,
would speedily bring the road to an
effort towards improvement.
Now comes the other side of the
argument. when W. f. Moss of the
Moss Electrical Company, without any
interest except a friendly one, speaks
out in defense of the road. We are
delighted 10 print Mr.. Moss's letter,
which follows
February !. 1923.
To the Editor Putnam Patriot:
Dear Sir:-In your publication of
last week the public had the pleasure
of listening to a very eloquent sermon
by the pastor of one of our city
churches. with the New Haven road as
the subject, in which we were given
a very true and interesting account
of the poor service rendered by the
said railroad. and explaining in detail
very easy remedy.
1t is very easy to see before even
getting half way through the article
that the reverend pastor has never had
the opportunity of familarizing him
self with the difficulties of manage
ment Of "A railroad. The officials Of
the New Haven railroad have for a
long time been trying to get system
out Of the chaos in which all the gov
eminent controlled organizations were
left after the war.
The writer of this letter has no
stock in the New Haven railroad. nor
is he acquainted with any of the nu-
merous officials of the New Haven
railroad, but he wonders how minis
ter of tha gospel can eonseientiously
place himself in an advisory capacity
and instruct the public how to COM
pei the New Haven railroad, "a trans
portation company hampered by the
government, harasscd by the public,
and deserted by the employees. TO give
service. which it is trying its best To
give
Il would seem to the writer more
fitting, if one must criticize, to place
that criticism in the proper place. /
fully agree with Gen. Mgr. Bardo of
the New Haven railroad that the best
help that the railroad can have is TO
be let alone There has been too much
debating by the public, employees, and
interstate commerce commissions.
Give the railroads a chance to work
out their own salvation, a salvation
that cannot come from the ministers
that occupy the pulpits of our church
es. There isn't an official of the New
Haven railroad or any other railroad
who is not trying his best to give ser
vice. against what odds The stock
holders must have dividends, and if
there is anything left after the divi-
dends are paid, the employees demand
it, and the world knows what happens
when an advance in rates is even sug-
gested
do not like TO wait three hours for
a train, nor do ! think il is for the
best interests of the public to have to
submit to such delays in Transports
ton. but | am in favor Of putting the
blame where it belongs. and that isn't
on the already overburdened shout
ders of the officials of the railroads.
| have no desire To antagonize the
reverend gentleman who sees fit to
stir up public opinion against the rail-
roads, but il svould seem to me more
ehristianlike TO enlist the sympathies
Of the public towards giving the rail
roads a real chance to render more
efficient service.
Very truly yours.
W +. MOSS