, 1873-05-03
THE NEW RAILROAD LAW

Wo print tho now Railroad law as passed. by the
Legislature. The point in interest nnl upon
which there haa boen most controversy is tho
eighth section. This aection Directs tho Rail-
road Commissioners to mike out for cach Of the
railroad companies doing businesH in this stato
echedu1o OF maximum ratcs Of charges for tho
transportation Of passengers and freight and
cars on each OF such railroads, md such
schedule, III all Buitn brought agaiuet any such
railroad corporation upon charge of oxacting
unreasonable rates. shall bo deemed and taken
as prinaa tacio oyidonce TINT the ratoH named
thsroin are reasonable. But in tile controversy
botwoen tho two Housos Of the Legislature tnoro
was added to this proyiso that tho
scheduleB thus prepared Bhall not 10 such
1''ann Jdcte evidence until tho 18TH day
day Of January, 1874. Tho object Of this was to
furnish an cxcuso for another session Of the
Legislature next wintor. At TINT aession. tho
Legislature will, begin with tho whole matter
nfrcsh, and undertake to franc schedule Of
ratos Of Its own. In tho mcnntimo, tho previous
not Of tho Legislature standa repealed, and the
eighth section of the new ono is suspended in
definitely. Tho bill practically, therefore, abun-
dons the theory that tho Legislature, directly or
indirectly can prescribe rates for transportation,
mud places tho whole question, whore it alono oan
rost, upon the judicial determination Of what ia
and what is not reasonable rato. The rail-
roads are entitled to reasonable compensation
this they cannot be denied by any act Of the
Legislature. Tho public can 10 compelled to pay
reasonable compensation, and no net Of tho Leg
islature can authorize tho collection Of any
higher ratos. Tho act contains a number Of
most excellent provisions, ombodying what was
known as the DonHhuo bill, and for MI practical
purposes Ia as strong ifnot stronger than ii tho
eighth section was In force. There is no grioy-
ancc which Gan be imagined in the matter Of
oyercharging or discrimination Which cannot DO
prosecuted as vigorously under tho law as it
now stands as 1t could DO If thoro wao schedule
OF rateB to be charged On each road set forth in
dotail.
The persons who hayo such an abiding faith III
tho Virtue Of D scnle Of maximum rates for
transportation will, probably, WHOM they exan-
o. A'4o.0 '@lotu''y' aisco'os' as Tho
s,asa.o n'' aoao' no" al"culs " Is to
pA,A0 ''.oAs ou'o ~ tesm iasul's "hoh 'eaefe IL
f. a'l A'n' 4.''a "''eauS o1's''ng' 1ho
e' IMMUNITY ''"s'''' III 'llo 'npoaaiolity OF
"AAAo44A 'a''t ono 'o"' ~ appAeatlo
~ %@'' 1o"o' a'," 's' u iona"' o"ch ra'o' II
'"4eo o"ousn u iAcAoao a'l foads, would g'yo
''ls"." io'"'9 n'oro ''l"n saey no" exact II tho
UNIFORM rate 10 foancod 10 as to afford rem
sonap1o compensation to tho roads do
ing largo business, 1t would causo the
o'nof ano pefnaps' according to thoir
'ensth' inc larger part OF thom to suspend
ouslnees' II Is not to tho interest of this Btato
nor any portion OF lss people, to stop tho opora-
tions OF any railway 10 stop tho running Of
Trains On my roaa "oald ne to cut Oh tho
people doing ouainoHs along that route from
1ae1l3'ea Tor WHICH thoy have already expended
largo Buns anu contracted largo dobta. Tho
only thing loft III to classify the railroad compa-
hlea W Homo modo, or to conHidor tho o!rcunl-
stahces OF oaoh oompany separately, and enact
seheaalo OF r@teh Tor oach olasa or oaoh road
lHH, however, aLtuit8 tHNt thu Ht1eAk}1n Of