The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-01-05

on between different sections of the Country
the peopis do not desire the adoption of .
narrow or uDfriendly policy towards them
But 1t should be remembered that these cor
porations were created by the Legislature tC
promote the interests of the people of theState
NO railroad company eau sacrifice those inter-
ests without violating the laws of its origin. It
| IS not to be doubted that the authority Of the
General Assembly is competent TO correct
Whatever abuses have grown up in the man
agement of the railroads of the State.
The late Commissioner Of Railroads and
Telegraphs, in his last able and valuable re-
| port, directs attention to large number of
what he terms "clesr and palpable violations
of law" by railroad companies, which are of
! frequent occurrence.
In relation TO the rates prescribed by law
fcr the transportation Of persons and property,
he says: "There is not q railroad operated in
/ the State, either under special charter or the
] general law, upon which the law regulating
rates is not in some way violated nearly every
time regular passenger, or freight or mixed
train passes over it."
As TO the laws regulating the occupation of
streets aud alleys by railroad tracks, the speed
OF locomotives in towns and cities, and rail-
road crossings, he says that statutes which he
regsres as Wholesome are, sit is notorious,
/ wholly ignored by some companies and only
partially obeyed by others"
He quotes the law forbidding railroad offici-
/ ais from being interested in fast freight, and
! from dealing in railroad securities, and adds,
| that "thc .,olation of those laws is believed to
be very COMMON among railroad officials
The Commissioner also gives examples Of
f'the increase OF watering of stock" by rail-
road comp nies and remarks, "the foregoing
statements ,sre the most striking in view Of the
| fact that the stockholders in the company
have been in receipt Of regular selni-annual
dividends for several years Of six to ten per
cent. per annum."
The significance of this remark of the Com
missioner, hes in the fact that the rates which
railroad companies may charge for the trans-
portation of passengers and freight may be
prescribed by the General Assembly, when
! ever the net profits amount to ten per cent on
thscapital actually invested.
The interests involved are of such magni-
| tude that all legislation ought to be based on
the most accurate information which care
full investigation can furnish. [, therefore,
recommend that a commission Of five citizens,
of which the Railroad Commissioner shall be
one be organized, with ample powers to in
vestigate the management of the railroad
companies Of the State, their legal rights, and
| the rights of the State and its citizens and 10
report the information acquired, with rec
ommendation of such measures as the COM
mission shsI deem expedient
| During the past year, the travelling public
| has enjoyed in Ohio, remarkable immunity
from railroad accidents. According to the re-
ports of the Railroad companies to the Com
missioner, not single passenger has lost life
/ by the fault CT the railroads of the State, dur
/ ing the year. But the number of persons
''other than passengers" and of "empIoyes'
who have lost their lives, is quite large. One.
| One hundred and fifty-seven persons are re-
ported to have been killed, and it is without
doubt that many deaths have occurred which
| have not been reported. Many OF these fatal
accidents happened in the streets of towns and
cities, and at street and road crossings. 1t is
perfectly practicable to protect people from
these dangers, by enforcing proper regulations
as to the speed OF trains, and as to the occu-
| pancy and crossing of streets and roads, Your
1 special attention is called to this subject.
One Of the most difficult and interesting
practical problems which now engages the
| thoughts Of the American people, is how to
maintain economy and efficiency, and purity
IN the administration of local affairs, and es-
/ peclally Ia the government of towns and cit
les, without departure from principles and
methods which are deemed essential to free
| popular governments. Many of the most i'm
portant functions of the government are in
the hands of the local authorities. They are
directly charged with the expenditure of large
sums Of money, with the protection of life
and property and with the administration of
civil and criminal justice. These duties, in
one way or another touch nearly and con-
stantly the interests and feelings of every citi-
zen. Upon their faithful performance de-
pends the prosperity, happiness, and safety OF
| the community. 1t IS true, that as vet, Ohio
is happily, in a great measure, free from the
operation of causes which in the commercial
methods Of the country recently led to such
extraordinary corruption in the government OF
that city. But those causes do not belong to
the great cities of the East. They are already
at work IN our midst, and they are steadily
and rapidly increasing in power No political
party Is altogether free from their influence
and no political party is solely responsible fol-
them. We have laws prohibiting almost every
conceivable official neglect and abuse; and pen.
altles are affixed to the violation of those laws
which cannot be regarded as Inadequate The
difficulty is to secure their enforcement
Those whose duty 1t is to detect and prosecute
are often interested in maintaining good rela.
tions with the wrong doers. The contractor
of public works and supplies, not unfrequetlJ
. have community Of interest with those whC
are the agents of the public, to let and super
intend the performance of contracts. Where
these abuses exist, there is apt to be laEgt
circle OF apparently disinterested citizens WHIT
, labor to conceal the facts, and to sup
, press investigation. What the publl
welfare demands, is practica
measures which will provide for tnorougl
and impartial investigation in every case o
suspected neglect, abuse Or fraud. Such al
investigation to be effective, must be made b,
an authority independent. if possible, Of all 10
cal influences. When abuses are discovered
, the prosecution and punishment of offender
ought to follow. But even if prosecution
, fails, in case of full exposure, public opinion
almost always aocomplIshes the object desired
{ A thorough Investigation Of official corruption
, and criminality leads with great certainty t
the needful reform. Publicity is great cor
rector of official abuses. Let it therefore, b
made the duty of the Governor, on satlsfac
tory information that the public good require
an investigation Of the affairs of any publ
r office or the conduct Of any public Officer
/ whether State or local, to appoint one or NOR
, citizens who shall have ample powers to max
, such investigation. Ii, by the investigation
violations Of law are discovered, the GoYerno
should be authorized, III his discretion to noti
r fy the Attorney General whose duty it shodl
be, on such norlce, to prosecute the offenders
The Constitution makes it the duty OF the Go
ernor to see that the laws are faithfully execu
tec." Some such measure as the one here re
t commended, is necessary to give force and ei
feet to this constitutional provision.
5 In compliance with the Constitution, tn
. last GeneralAssembly submitted to the peopl
the question OF holding Convention, ''to re
Q wise, alter, or amend" the Constitution, an
at the October election, a large majority of th
f voters of the State decided in favor of the Cor
yention. 1t Is the duty Of the General Assem-
3 bly,, at it's present session, to provide, by Law
. for the election of delegates, and the assem-
bling OF the Convention.
t Tne vote on the question Of calling the Cor
? veution which formed the present ConstiiU
: ton was taken at the October election, lS4E
r At the next session Of the General Assembly
/ an act was passed which provided for the eleC
3 | ton of delegates to the Convention, the fir,
D Moniay OF April, 1850, and the Conventio
t was convened on the first Monday OF May TO
lowing.
r In conclusion, wish to make my gratefU
9 acknowledgements to the people of Ohio, fc
5 the honorable trust they have confined to M
e and to express the hope that the harmon,
a prosperity and happiness which they now eI
f Joy IN such full measure, may under Prov
: dence, be perpetual.
j r. B. HAYES.