Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-11-09
From ihe burlington Sentinel.
Railroad Legislation.

Legislature Of this State last year, Gov
Royce appointed Jacob Collamcr, Daniel
Kellogg and Inland Hall, Commissioners to
report wha, legislation, if any, is necessary
on the subject of Railroads.
The above named gentlemen made Re-
port to the Governor, and appended 90 their
report Bill. which is now before the Legis-
lature.
Sec. l. Provides for the annual appoint.
ment. Ivy the Governor, of three Railroad
Commissioners.
Sec. ,. Provides for their salary, the
appointment Of a clerk, and forbids either
TO receive pay from any Railroad
Sec. g. Provides for an annual report
from the Commissioners to the Legislature,
concerning the state and management of the
Railroads generally.
Sec. l. Auihorises the Commissioners
70 make all such rules, orders aud regula-
ions for the repair conduct aud manage
ment of SAID Railroads respectively, as they
shall Judge necessary for the public safety
which, until changed by said Commission
ers, shall be binding on said several Rail
roads" and all who operate thcmi and, II
the parties operating them refuse complI-
ance with such rules, the said Commls-
sionurs are empowered 10 take ciectual
measures to enforce the same, and for that
purpose may remove the rails Of said road,
&c
Sec ;. Makes It a crime 10 impede OF
hinder the Commissioners aud officers the
same penalties to such act, as are now affixed
TO the impeding or hindering Judicial or
executive officer.
Sec. Is. Provides for specifications in
the report mentioned IN section 3.
The remaider of the Bill gives power TO
the Commissioners to enforce the attendance
of witnesses, gives them power TO compel
testimony, provides for punishment OF per
Sons giving false information. Includes
further matters ~ The annual report PROV
les for the collection of the salary Of Conn
missIonors and Clerk from the Railroad Cor
porations. aud makes the property Of any
Road liable for the injuries to property sus-
tanned thereon.
From this hasiy analysis of the bill, ID
viii be seen that 1t contemplatcs the crea-
ton of Board having supreme authority
over the almost exclusive means of transit
for persons and property. IN the State. The
Commissioners are re- ponsible TO no power,
ore accountable TO no authority. No order
from the Governor can control them--no
mandate from the Courts can stop them.
No law could be passed which would rend-
cr more inevitable a collision between the
State and the heaviest corporate interest ~
the State; for the bill IN spin; and IN let
ter. conflicts with the spirit and letter Of
every Railroad charter Each aud every
Railroad charter. we believe. gives authority
10 the Company to make such regulations
as It may deem necessary IN regard to the
r..r-tt.r .F r,.I L., enrna of tho gitar-
tiers this power is spoken Of as belonging to
10 the Company ,--ln others, as 10 the DI-
rectors. Bat DO all. the power 10 manage
their own concerns is given, and distinctly
granted with tins proyso only, that the
supreme Court may so alter the tariff of
passengers aud freight 1s t0 bring the boz
come of the r1ad 10 or below q certain rate
of net profit. Furthermore, in most, Z not
all the RaImad Charters 800 the state lhe
books and accounts Of ihc Company are 90
bcop u 10 the inspection Of Committees OF
the Legislature and the Supreme Court, and
The Directors are 10 make annual reports "a
the Legislature concerning the general,
physical and financial conditions Of their
respective roads
The cry Is. that the Railroads are re-
sponsible % no power, that they are conse-
qucnily reckless of life and property. and
that means of strict and complete supervi.
sion must be devised. II is 10 accordance
with this popular cry that this bin has been
framed. II Is 10 be supposed that the Com
missloners TO he appointed under this bin
having no interest 100 the matter and being
accountan'e TO no power will net us cor.
receive police. with any more prudence, care
and sagaci;y than the Com0aniss them.
selves, who are controlled by the fac thai
public accommodation and their private M.
terests are identical, and who are now nc
counishle 90 the Legislature ard The Courts'
II abuses have arisen Of so serious IA
. tnrc as 20 call ior the exercise &C. snch arbit
raD md despoNc ruwer in the hauds Vt
Board responsible for their doings 10 no pow
+ or on earth what has our Legislature beer
about for he past few years, having retain
+ ed 10 MS own hands the power of visitation
by Us own committees What has our Su
prone Court been about, when in every Rail
road chaHer II has been clothed with author
ny 10 inquire into the abuse Of the fran
chize:
The fact is, that feeling Of discomfort
has arisen with some stockholders who q,
not find the investment IN Railroad stock,
as good a speculation as they had hoped
and some bond holders who are dlsappoini-
ed because they do not receive their inter-
est This is the real trouble, and the start
lng point Of all the popular cutlery which
inds It's ultimate expression 10 this Bill
But the ouicry against Railroads is not a
popular one, that is. 1t does not come from
The people. If u did. would the passenger
trains grow longer from year 10 wear. and
the freight trains groan with continually IN.
creasng burdens We trust that no law
so arbitrary IN It's provisions in such dlrec
conflict with vested rights and equitable
/ privileges, will ever disgrace our Statute
/ Book
let the Legislature appoint lis committee.
If It will, aud the Supreme Court exercise It's
powers IF investigation, and if the exposure
Of existing abuses be not sufficient 70 cause
their correction, we have Court of Chan
Gerry whose particular province IT Is to dca
with abuses growing up within the sphere
of corporate action.
One other fact IN connection with the pro-
posed law we will call attention 10. Though
1t provides, in considerable detail, for a Re
port from the Railroad Commissioners, con.
corning the statistics of Railroads, yet II
makes no provision whatever for a report OF
the proceedings of the Commissioners under
the act 10 relation to the rules and regula-
tons they may make, and the summary pro-
ceedlngs they may direct and carry into eff
tect All those matters are 10 be kept from
the public. No eye can penetrate that Star
Chamber-no voice can reach il to counsel
and advise Shrouded IN their own arbiira.
~ power, the Commissioners can plan and
execute without fear of aught that men
Legislatures or Courts can say or do.
General Scott After all the talk abou
this veteran officer and his back pay, II j.
stated that the amount to be allowed bin Il
scarcely one quarter of whit he claims -
The award is about $40 500, which pay Is b,