, 1872-10-23
GOVERNOR KoEaNER AND TIE RAILROADS

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GOVERNOR KoEaNER AND TIE RAILROADS.
The Grant papers and small orators have bsen
persstently accusing Governor Koerner with
having failed, as Rail1oad Commissioner, to
prosecute railroads for violations Of the Rail
road law of this State. When Governor Koer-
ner was appointed Commissioner, the corpora
tions of the State through large array Of coun-
sci, eudeavored to persuade him and his 1880
ciate Commissioners that the Warehouse and
Reilroad acts we're unconstitutional, and that
the Commission should not attempt to enforce
them. But Governor Koernor refused to be gov
erned by this advice, as it WAS not for him to
assume that the law under which he held
lis Office IVES invalid At first he
the railroads, acting under the advice Of counsel,
refused to make reports to the Commissioners
OF to furnish the information required of them
BY law It is due to the frmness and Tigor of
Governor Koerner and his associates that they
we're eventually compelled to doao.
In the matter Of prosecutions for damage or
injury to private persons, arising from over
charges and exsortions, the Commissioners hare
invited every person aggrieved by any offence OF
that kind to furnish the facts with the proof to
| the Commission. The law authorizes them
to prosecute only in cases where the party suf-
fering from an infraction of the law makes COM
plaint to them in writing. In every such case
suits have been instituted and have been pro-
secuted as promptly as the dockets OF
the court would permit. The cases
pending now in the courts involve the
constitutiona1ity of the law and the power OF
| the State in the premises, and we suppose one
| reagou why 80 few complaints have been made
| has been owing to the fact that decision in
| the one case will render suit in all others un-
necessary.
| While Governor Koerner has been thus op~
posed upon charge OF neglect Of duty, here is
what the Rail,cay Reuie,o, m organ Of the rail-
| Commissioner:
| Mr. Gustavus Koerner, member Of the Board OF
Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners OF Illinois,
and candidate for the Office of Governor of the State,
addressed the citizens Of Chicago few evenings snce-
He had great deal to say about the personal cailns
of the Presidential candidates. and about national
| poltics: though what all this has to do with
/ the merits Of guberuaorial canvass lS not ap-
| parent to tho ordinary comprehension There are
however, questions of considerable Importance to the
State upon which the opinions Of aspiring to be Its
Chief Executive are by no means matter Of ndifiez
euce to those who expected to furnish ballots on
election day. It matter Of great concern to verJ
many citizens to know whether in the event OF haE
election to the Governorahp candidate proposes to
adopt policies Of interference and repression as re-
spects the interests and agencies Of transportation
,Frn&%-- Cho,11I
minister the present code relating TO railway service
in the spirit in which Mr.. hoerne'
has interpreted 1t, and with the ln!en
which he has taken pains to proclaim Railroad Com
missioner many Of the leading interests of the peop;
would suffer injury very serious il not irreparaDle
is sufficiently obvious that code under which the tota
suppression and destruction Of the railwaya Of th
State contemplated and provided for, may come fa
short Of this fatal end and still work immense injury
At the same time, direct is the purpose Of the la"
and so few and simple its provisions, looking 10 IN
co7porate destruction OF TIE raiways-and on ground
and from pretezts which would scarcely justify al
ordinary injunction in litigation between mai
and man,-that it is Of moment to know ho'
far Mr, Koerucr, as Governor, proposes to employ
means Which he can scarcely use at all without abus
| ing He WILL if possible, drive the railways to III
wall; and do his best, worat, to arrest the Hood
commerce and the progress Of manufacturing indus
try that have fairly begua to build up the Common
wealth on large and deep foundations.
VIC think that Mr.. Koerner Will find, before the elet
ton OVER that these interests. and those represent
ing the have rights which he IS bound to respect
ut the baliot-bo1, If nowhere else. He will not tn
many men engaged IN pursuits Of transportation
commerce, and manufacture, who will 50 stuit'f
themselves to vote for his elevation TO the bad en-
nence to which he aspree.
Governor Koerner, as Railroad Commissioner
has discharged hia duty fairly and executed til
law fearlessly, and the question asked BY tn
) Raitzgay 7euie,o, whether he will, as Go7erno'
{ continue to enforce and execute the law, may ,
| considered as answered by his conduct rs Com
: missioner. He holds that it is not his busineE
. to declare the laws uullity, bat to en7orc
| them to their full extent, fairly, honestly an