The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-10-30
Jhs 8atlaad Daily 6luhe.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1874.
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TERMS IN AnV NOE
CIRCULATION,
The average daily circulation Of DAILY GLOBE,
or the periods named below, was as follows:
LEGISLATIVE REGULATION O4
RAILROAD TARIFFS.

An open letter from Hon. S. nj. Dorr,
addressed to Hon. p. w. Hyde, appeared
in our daily issue of Wednesday morning
last, in which some aspects of the legisla-
ton proposed by Mr.. Hyde for the regula-
ton of railroad tariffs over the roads run
However plausible the objections urged by
Mr.. Dorr may appear at first sight, we
cannot agree with his conclusion that they
are SO serious AS to make the bill fatally
Objectionable.
We quite agree with Mr.. Dorr that gen
eral legislation is better than special, and,
no doubt, if Mr.. Hyde was sure that law
could be enacted at the present session
providing for state regulation of rates for
carriage of persons and freight over all
the railroads now being operated in the
state, he would prefer such law. But it
does not seem quite just TO complain of
him because be does not take the heroic at
ttude which a philosopher, defending an
abstract right, is ready to assume. Mr.
Hyde is seeking remedy for an admit ID
evil and wrong, viz: exhorbitant rates for
the carriage of freight over the railroads in
this state operated by the Delaware e.
Hudsonc anal company.
He is a producer and manufacturer of
slate, and represents other producers and
manufacturers of the same article. His
and their business is situated on the line of
these roads, and is now greatly depressed
10y reason, as he and they believe, of these
unreasonable rates. They have exhausted
entreaty, expostulniion and negotiations,
Hudson canal company to reduce the rates
of which they complained, and without
success. No remedy was left them but
legislation. They were complaining of the
rates of no other corporations on the con-
trary, all they have asked has been that
the Delaware and Hudson canal company
should be as reasonable in their charges as
other connecting roads. They had reason
to believe that special bill would meet
with less opposition than a general bill
that the first could, probably, pass, while
the last was likely to fail. They knew
that unless legislation was obtained at this
session Of our general assembly, relief
could not be had until the next biennial
session. Two years more of business de-
preston was prospect quite too ruinous,
no doubt. to be complacently contemplated
even when fortified by the consciousness
that one was fighting for principle and
for the whole race. Under such circum-
stances we hardly think Mr.. Hyde
ought to be severely condemned, or his bill
summarily dismissed, as ''cowardly." An
arrow shot at the moon may possibly have
higher flight than one sped with less
ambitious aim, but it is much less sure of
hitting the mark. Mr.. Hydes bill is a
direct attempt to accomplish what he and
Others want to accomplish, viz, the reduc-
tioD of certain freight rates Of which they
complain. Those who want more are not
hindered by it from attempting more; and
this attempt will, no doubt have his hearty
sympathy and support.
We do not think Mr.. DORIS suggestion
as to the commission unanswerable. The
commissioners are to decide after hear
ing, and whatever experienced railroad
men have to offer will no doubt he pa
tiently heard by the gentlemen named, le-
fore establishing rates. But 1t will lie in
the power of the committee or the legisla-
ture to amend the bill in that particular,
If they think commission differently con-
stituted would be more likely to do justice
to all parties.