Show RAILROAD LEGISLATION S We are glad the railroad bill is settled in congress con can I gress gross and hope it will be all that the tho president expects expects ex ex- and hopes for it At the same time we wo beg to caution congress and the country that while railroads ought to be dealt with justly and where they commit abuses on ozi the public they ought to be stopped too much railroad legislation not only hurts railroads but hut it is a blow llo to business because the men who carr carry on the transportation o of a great country like this have to have their plans they have to have their theix- discipline of employees and in inthis inthis inthis this use of discipline we mean that the men have to be trained to their duties and when a law interferes in in- with customs which have been permanent then there is apt to be confusion Railroads are arc all of them as a rule in debt The They hav have to negotiate bonds then when they dispose of the bonds they have to meet the interest and to sell the bonds first and then be able from the patronage of the country to pa pay the interest and principal of th thc tha bonds they have to establish for themselves regulations regulations regula regula- a and d their their business is so intimately connected with the the- business of the whole country that there should be e no obstacles not absolutely necessary placed in in their way Besides taking care of their bonds and taking care of the bus business ness they have to keep their x- x roads in repair to be able to handle the business and theirs is a perpetual expense and that expense c has to be met as fast ast as the obligations accumulate Je A. A geI general ral in the field with a splendid arm army fighting a vigilant foe would utterly fail if hampered every day by new directions from the war val This was proven over and over in the great civil war and it was so o handled that when Gen General ral Grant was offered the full command of the army he lie a accepted d it only on the condition that he lie should not be hampered by the authorities in V Wash ash ash- ington N Now handling a railroad is a good deal like handling an all arm army no matter how skill skillful ul the general if he is every day put under new restrictions restrictions t ons h heis is s going to have trouble and hence we say that legislation on be entered upon with great eat caution and while a change in the laws is pending then the committee in ill congress which has it in charge should d every day consult with ca capable capable ca ca- ca pable railroad men that they might understand what the effect would be if proposed legislation should crystallize into law lav |