Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1855-01-25


mitiee Of South KShgstownS has been print
ed in very large numbers and Industrious
ly circulated in all parts of the State. The
committee is one appointed at town meet
ing in South Kingstown, to inquire into the
expulsion of Rowland G. Hazard from tho
cars Of the Stonington railroad. Ii conf
mences with a statement of facts by Mr..
Hazard, the vital part Of which is certiti-
cate from John MCGOWAN, late ticket mas
ter on tho Boston railroad; ilten follows
somewhat longer statement by Mr., Haz-
ard Of his disinterestedness and public spir-
1t in pursuing this matter, together with
his hopes Of ultimate success. Next we
have Mr.. Hazards speech before the Gen.
eral Assembly denouncing the railroads and
those who do not agree with him in his
views OF their proper management, and fl
nally, at respectful distance, and in hum
bier type, the remarks of the committee
proper. A large portion of these last are
made up Of extracts from various newspa-
pers,and as the abuses which they denounce
are mainly on the Erie and Camden and
Amboy railroads, and as the General As
sembly will hardly attempt to assume ju-
risdction over these works, we need not
reply even if we had any thing to say to it.
As the conclusions of the committee, so
far as they relate to railroads in Rhode Is
land, ire based upon the certificate Of Mr..
McGowan, we will refer our readers di-
rectly to him for the explanation. Nor do
we notice ~ argument that Legislation is
needed to protect the stockholders Of the
railroads from their own officers, because il
the stockholders arc dissatisfied with their
officers, the remedy is already in their own
hands they can elect others. II the stock
holders are abused by their own servants,
over whose election they have the entire
control, they can hardly have the face to
ask the General Assembly for redress, and
will not probably thank our people for ask.
ing it for them.
In regard TO the rule that railroad tickets
shall be good only for ,be day on which
they are issued, rule which prevails on
all long routes, the committee observe:
~To say that man might buy ticket
from Providence 10 S,onington and get out
at Westerly, and then at some future time
might use The same ticket, is possible
case but not probable one, unless you as
sumo that the travelling public are all dis.
honest"
We respectfully submit that to say man
might nsc The same ticket twice is not by
any means saying shat the travelling pub
lie are all dishoncst;'' that it is a probable
case is proved by the fact that it was done
repeatedly ill the rule was established
The committee might us well say 10 man
who locked his door at night, that to sup
pose any one would break in was ia possi-
BILE case but not probable one, unless you
assume that all people are dishonest. The
argument that railroad company should
not alopt rul. to protect itself against
fraud, because by so doing it charges dis
honesty on the whole travelling public does
not strike us as being sufficiently forcible
to merit refuation. II, as the committee
say, "such oulrages as this" adop'ing n
rule which prevents a man from going
twice over a road with the same ticket "are
the natural results of giving irresponsible
power to corporntions," we think the peo-
pie will not regard it as very strong illus
tration.
The "free tickets" over the Stonington
railroad, which the report slys "are scat
tered over the length and breadth of the
State," are less ihan tortH exclusive of
railroad officers and th2ir families,as appears
by report made and sworn to by the Pre-
sident OF the company. And yet, with this
report on record, the committee 60 on to
say;
"ln one year the Stonngton road had
a400 free tickets, and the President says he
does not know how many there are now.'
"IIad," not has, say the committee. This
was len years ago, and as soon rs the fact
became known TO the stockholders, they
Immediately reduced them to 200, and sub
sequenily to less than 40. Their own in
terest prompted The remedy, and they found
no difficulty in applyingi it. They did not
need TO call upon the General Assembly.
The committee refer TO the report of the
Railroad Commissioners, but are careful
not to quote the conclusion Of the minute
and able report presented to the General
Assembly at the October session. The
Railroad Commissioners unanimously re
Jected Mr.. Hazari's bill, as impracticable,
unreasonable, and unjust. Three Of them
recommended some Legislation, but did not
say what, aud from the very general nature
Of the recommendation, il is plain that they
intended rather law to prevent possible
abuses than to correct existing ones, The
other two Commissioners went over the
whole ground, took up every complaint,
and came 10 the following conclusion.
sVe believe that, under all these circum.
stances, any legislation upon these subjects
al this time Is unnecessary and nexpediept.
Il Is unavoidable, in the immense amount
and variety OF business transacted by rail
road companies, as with other large corpor-
s,ions, that causes OF complaint should
arise. No doub, that in an equal amount Of
transaction between individuals, ut least
...,, M ,nuch d,seatisfaetion and difficultv