, 1870-12-31
SATURDAY. DECEMBER 81, 1870.
RAILWAY LEGISLATION,


::at: thai. after the interests of our State
aad e"r'e in the railway system havo be-
c'':ue more important than any other ma
t.11l or business interest in which the
State has any rights, there should still be
To state officer or officers whose duty it is
II aAsert the rights of the people iadividu-
:,i,v n..i If tb. State collectively, in regard
=, the railways. Our new constitution de-
c!a.,~ shat the railways are public high
sH,~ ht; where are our Public Superiu-
st::sis..ts or commissioners OF these high
"n,>. As 70 the railways, each Of our
,!s;::y.scven State governments. except
M:.ss4:l 1setts, ard: possibly, Ohio, is an
ss:"Eaau;zed mol. The officers in charge
OF 1!'e companies may tramp!e Upon every
Iiell. VI he stockholders, as has been done
,<dn ,tr Erie: steal md divide as profits
every asset for the payment Of the COM
\isacie> creditors. as WAS done some years
:, NO IL ihe case Of the Chicago, Alton i St
:. H:i> Esilway: form partnerships and
l">o.iEs and gambling agreements with 9TH
III ,,'n'pa.ies, for which their charters give
.,st.,u Z" warrant nor authority, as has been
..t,~ l.y ali the railroads which are coming
ri DIR he naueuce OF Vanderbilt; may form
;ti:s.,, ri officers Or crfdhs moJifier With
III saiir.ad company to eat out its profits
ty selling its labor, buildings, lands, and
ru.!irs >t~c:1. for triple their true value;
n4sy withdraw the current funds needed
to 1ay lis running expenses in order 10
sasul'ic with thcu in distant cities in its
>:ccSs -: may seriously impair its own busi-
ce>, ly preventing settlement ..on tho
l,ae Of the road, By making way freights
ard fares so much higher than through
.EeisLts and fares Is to send all new set
t:.r- l'ryond its line to the newer States and
Territories may buy corrupt legislatures
tne1,erd the terms Of lis officers without
:s1, reelection l,y the stockholders may
mike private agreements with ware
houses for the oppression Of the public:
IN shr:t. may defy every law. and tramp1e
gr every equity, without beingn,ade to feel
that either the State or its citizens have
any rights which they are bonndto respect.
Fur citizens We have Law, but for railroads
we lave only anarchy.
II Is 3 gigantic mistake to suppose that
elaborate or long -winded statutes are what
We ceed. No statute can be framed which
"A ta:l,u.d will not run a whole train
through. without SO much as saying
by year leave. unless q responsible de-
I,atiairnt OF the State government shall be
appointed whose duty it shall he to fight
:l:r iat,les Of the people. the stockholders,
ard tAe honest portion Of the railway man.
Rsers agairst the usurrers, gamblers, and
railway villains. -,---
Such commission might not neces-
sa1lly I've success. If the Governor
make, It the mere mems for finding en-
p'"yu.rrt and a salary for some needy
l.,.tt,csap. tue Board of Hallway Con1mis-
Sione.s would be nero fifth wheel to the
S,ale coach. But We believe our pres
> rnt Governor appreciates sufficiently
the supreme Importance OF this question
to the State to assure the appointment of
s1is.nterehted and able men, who appreci-
ate the merits sf the question, and are able
10 deal with it. Upon the appointment Of
suck bureau Of railways, OK department
Of transportation, or whatever it may be
styled, it will he for the officers composing
ii to investigate ninute1y the condition of
The railways of the State, and to take the
must effective action possible for the cor
src.ion OF abuses. Ne believe they
would find that half or two-thir,ls of the
value uf the aggregate stock of the rail-
ways Of the State consists in their goodwill
OF the money value Of their franchise. II,
Al ~ fL1 L =.