New-York tribune., 1874-06-23
II s. RAILROAD LEGISLATION.

REPLY OF Mr.. ADAMS TO MR.. MCRARY-TIE PROF.
LEM DEEPLY INwovEN WITH OUR SOCIAL Po-
IIrICAL AND ECONOMICAL ExIsrENCE-srUDY
AND INVESTIGATION MORE NEEDED THAN HASrY
ACTION.
The Hon. GEORGE W. McCRARY, W. O.
My DEAR SIR: | have read your letter of the
9th inst in response to my own to Senator WINDOW with
much ntere,t. perfectly agree with you that can
did and discussion" Of the transportation
question is one of the great needs OF the day. indeed
know greater, nor do know any one with whom
II would give me more satisfaction to enter upon such
debate than yourself Your letter OF the sh IN itse
affords sufficient evidence that on your side at least
would be conducted with both knowledge and temper
two essentials in all profitable discussion which nave
hitherto been sadly wanting In what may CALL lninA'
this railroad controversy
A, rho same time very much fear that my side at
onv rate of the debate would scarcely excite that
eral attention which would justify from the editorial
pont OF view the printing OF my letters Upti other
wise persuaded, must therefore decline tho challenge
In doing so however will briefly state the single point
q, difference between AS read the "McCrary bul
and the numerous other similar laws now IN force in the
Western States they all framed the suppositon
that the difficulties and inequalities which apparent
in the operation Of railroad system are well under
stood are easily formulated and with little difficulty
he redressed through legislation. This utterly deny.
thought so once myself. and fondly believed that
|
through the agency Of few potent statutes. BY de-
grees have to realize that the subject has many
sides and Is more deeply imbedded In social
,ou,,ca and political existence than once supposed
A railroad reformer5 my dear Sir, now think we nave
very long days work before US. and am disposed TO
on at IL very systematically The difficulty, therefore
which d nd with your BILL and generally with the laws
which have been enacted In the West, Is that, 30 to
.ne.k they all put the cart before the horse. They
cent defamation for proof and "resoves" for facts on
b basis they formulate grievances and then proceed
10 evolve redress through legislation. do not believe
IN iki, oeess; through it you may breed up contro-
but you will never 70 to the root OF the evil under
which we suffer know Of no legislation worthy Of a
nlace on the statute book which is deduced from
long and patient study Of individual facts; you cannot
deal with any great evil until you have carefully nves
teated the phases through which 10 makes itself mani
fest object the "McCrary bll that 1t formulates
evils before investigation and establishes remedies In
advance OF experience. would suggest exactly the
opposite road the shortest way to the desired end
would in word, put the horse before the cart Create
through commission machinery for the investiga-
ton OF concrete cases. and from tue study Of these
assure yourself Of the OF the difficulty and then
proceed a remedy Appearances are proyerbally de
ceptiye, and wholly decline 10 accept either the
utons OF county conventions or the editorials OF the
press us evidence OF the nature Of evils Of their
dies. want great deal more light before have
course to force.
This IS the only difference between We both gree
in the fact OF existing difficulty You say that Its
cause is apparent its remedy obvious and you
oueny at once proceed TO legslate IL Of existence
our tota abstinence" friends entertain the views
as TO ntemperance and for 20 years and they
been legislpting drunkenness out OF the community. l
cannot that they make any great degree OF progress.
It Will be the same regards transportation. We
may bunglo and wallow through failures TO q result
or We may reach IL through investigation aud the
Of cause aud effect In matters OF little moment 1t Is OF
trnlng consequence which pursue The quos-
ton OF transportation by rail Is not OF little mo-
ment though 80 years OF futile efforts ut dealing with IL
have failed TO convince legislators Of the fact All
mat would Low suggest to you and 70 Mr. Wndou Is