Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1872-01-13

HnlCu COHuuct tnlS immense business,
are derived from the laws of the State.
If these laws fail to guard adequately
the rights and interests Of our citizens,
it is the duty of the general assembly to
supply their defeats. Serious and well
grounded apprehensions are ielt that in
the management Of these companies,
which are largely controlled by non-rcsi-
dents OF Ohio, practices, not sanctioned
by the law, nor by sound morality, have
become common, which are preiudicia
TO the interests Of the great body OF the
people, and which, if continued, will
ultimately destroy the prosperity OF the
State.
Regarding railroads as the most useful
instrumentality by which intercourse is
carried on between different sections of
the country, the people do not desire the
| adoption of a narrow or uniriendly poll
cy toward them. But it should be re.
membered that these corporations were
created, and their valuable franchises
granted by the Legislature to promote
the interests of the people of the State.
No railroad company can sacrifice those
interests without violating the law of its
origin. 1t is not to be doubted that the
authority of the general assembly is COM
petent 10 correct whatever abuses have
grown up in the management of the rail-
roads of the State
The late commissioner of railroads and
telegraphs in his last able and valuable
report directs attention to large num-
Der Of what he terms "clear and palpa-
BILE violations of laws" by railroad com
panies, which are of frequent occurrence,
In relation to the rates prescribed by
law tor the transportation OF persons
and property he says; There is not
railroad operated in the State, either
under special charter of the general
law, upon which the law regulating is
not in some way violated nearly every
time regular passenger, or freight, or
mixed train paskes oyer it.
AS to the laws regulating the occupa-
:ion of streets and alleys by railroad
tracks, the speed of locomotives in town
or city, and railroad crossings, he says
that, statutes which he regards as whole
some are, ''it is notorious, wholly ignor-
ed by some companies, and only partial
lY obeyed by Others"
! lie quotes the laws forbidding railroad
officials from being interested in fast
freight, express or transportation compa-
nies, and from dealing in railroad securi-
ties, aud add, that the violation OF these
laws is believed TO be very common
among railroad officials.
The commissioner also give examples
Of the increase or watering OF stock by
railroad companies, and remarks the
| q a 4 n M ha I'll
ing III view of the fact that the stock
holders in the company have been IN re.
ceipt of regular siini-annual dividends
for several years Of from six to ten per
cent. per annum.
Tho significance of this remark of the
commissioner lies in the fact that the
rates which railroad companies may
charge for the transportation of passell-
gers and freight may be prescribed by
the general assembly, whenever the net
profits amount to ten per cent. OH the
capital actually invested.
The interests involved are of such
magnitude that all legislation ought TO
be based on the fullest and most accurate
information which q careful investigation
can furnish. | therefore recommend that
d
the railroad commissioner shall be one,
be organized, with ample powers to in.
vestigate the management of the rail-
roads of the State, their legal rights and
the rights of the State and its citizens,
and to report the information acquired,
with a recommendation of such meas
ures as the commission shall deem eYpe-
dent.
During the past year the travelling
public has enjoyed, in Ohio, remarkable
immunity from railroad accidents. Ac-
cord to the report of the railroad com
panies to the commissioner, not q single
passenger has lost life i.y the fault of
the railroads in the State, during the
year. But the number OF persons other
than passengers, and Of employees who
have lost their lives, is quite large. One
hundred and ffty-seven persons are re-
ported TO have been killed, and it is with
out doubt that many deaths have oc-
Cured which have not been reported
Many of these fatal accidents happened
in the streets of towns and cities, and at
street and roal crossings. 1t is perfect
ly practicable to protect citizens from
these dangers, by enforcing proper regu-
lations to the speed of trains, and as to
the occupancy and crossing of streets
and roads. Your special attention is
called to the subject.
MUNICIPAL CORRUPTION.
One of the most difficult and interest
ing practical problems which now en-
cages the thoughts Of the American
people, is how to maintain economy, eff
cheney, and purity iu the administration
of local affairs, and especially in the gov
ernment OF towns and cities, without a
departure from principles and methods
which are deemed essential to tree pro-
pular government. Many of the import.
ant functions of government are in the
hands of the local authorities. They are
directly charged with the expenditure OF
large sums of money, with the protec-
ton of life and property, and with the
administration of civil and criminal JUS
tice. The duties, in one way or another,
touch nearly aud constantly the interests
and feelings of every citizen. Upon
their faithful perforpance depends The
prosperity, happiness and safety OF the
J community. 1t is true, that as yet Ohio