The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-08-19

much to say that the several States
can not, acting separately, regulate
efficiently these great lines of trans
portation, in which SO many States
and communities are interested.
WHAT REGULATIONS ARE NECESSARY.
As to what regulations would be
necessary, it would be left to- the dis
cretion of Congress- subject to the re-
strictions in the Constitution, These
restrictions relate to the uniformity OF
the regulations; that is, that no ad-
vantage or preference shall be shown
to one State over another. Uniform-
ity and equal dealing with the people
of all the States are impressed upon
all the powers given by Congress, SO
that they be not used for tho oppres-
sion of one part Of the country for the
upbuilding of another. i f8,r.zs,
Cheapness and uniformity of opera
ton, speed, convenience, promptness
and safety, all point to connected !.
roads and through lines; aud these,
throughout their length, should be
governed by uniform methods and
laws The railroad interest is soyast,
and so intimately affects the business )
progress and comfort of every commu-
nifty, that it is of the utmost ImpOr
tance, not only to the people but to
| the shareholders, that it. be under the
| direction Of general laws as far as pos
siblc blended into an = harmonious
| whole. The supervision and control
Of Interstate. railroads by Congress
would, give rise to a number OF regula-
tiens looking to the safety OF passen-
gers. regularity of trains, uniformity
of operation, connections, inspection
| Of tracks, bridges aud locomotives,
:ars, etc, and in many other, partlcu-.
lars tending. to prone te the safety,
deficiency and desslopmento OF the rail
1 road system and the interests and con-
4 Yenicnce OF the people. sss eesiIig.,a,
j d COMMISSIONERS TO PREVENT ABUSES. o
1 'Fhat it is not possible for Coagress $
to enact general laws establishing uni-
: upon all Interstate railroads, is too.
clear for argument. These rates must
necessarily vary on Different roads
I and in different parts of the country
: | The cost of construction and OF keep
Ting up and operating sCme roads Is
! much greater than others, Upon
: some roads the amount Of. business TO
be done very greatly exceeds that on
others, and there are so many clrcum-
: 4 stances which would make a change
! OF rates proper and necessary, that we
may assume al once that uniform rates
a for frcights and passengers can not be
I established. But it seems to me to
:: be clearly within the power of Con
aress, and to be, practicable, to estab
!. lish boards Of railroad commissioners
i to be vested with certain powers. to
e be Governed By general regulations
e within which they shall havethe pow
y et to supervise and regulate the rates
i for ire ght and passengers upon inter
; State railroa Is. so as to prevent unjust
n Determinations between different 10
: calities or classes Of persons, to pre-
IS vent combinations between railroad
+. corporations and other persons to put
y up the prices of freights or passenger
o fares; toprevent rai!road corporations
n IRON taking advantage Of the obstruc
'e tion of lakes, rivers and canals, by
frost Or by low water, to put VI
y freights and fares beyond what wou!C
le be a reasonable, fair aud honest proft
n and, In short, to prevent extortion
10 and inlpositiOns by railroad companic
J. upon the people of the country, how
c, ever attempted to be practiced. The,
te should be required to hold the scale
IS. evenly and fairly between the peopl
of the country Oh the one hand an
the railroad companies on the other
" so that the railroad companies sha,
u have the iull enjoyment and protec
~ ton Of their property, and be above
ie to receive such rates Of COMPENSATE
H. as will make fair and reasonable re
a turns for the capital, skill, labor an
oi responsibility employed result
oy to be arrived at under such rules a
sr may be provided BY law or adopted !
%. the boards OF railroad commissioner
as for their guidance. The interests an
ny rights OF all parties should be protec
10 ed with equal care and vigilance, til
70 railroad companies to be left in th
US ! control Of their property as far as ms
ny be consistent with the public interest
Is and not to be interfcred with by the:
es' boards Of railroad commissioners e,
et cept in clear cases. E5t
'u' 1t has been decide !, by the Supren
sIe Ceurt OF The United States that raj
IN road companies are common carrier
'hs as defined by the common law, whic
-, by the common law are required
lai carry for all persons and at rcasonab
e., latcs; and the powers which pr0po
er- shall be. conferred upon these Boar
e.:' of Railroad Commissioners arc |
'ii- greater or other than those viii,
nis now belong to the courts to regula
.es and control common carriers, b
an would be. exercised in a summa
ohs manner, So as to make them efiioie
ny in controlling the conduct of tho
ln common carriers.
ing HOW FAR THE STATE CAN GO.
way Each State may regulate aud &C
'9a' 9Ia' troll commerce which is purely int,
the nal to itself, and all the railroa
ana transporting such commerce, witht
the interference by Congress, and n
IN doubtless III the absence of Congr
ore, sional legislation make regulations
LnS all commerce that passes across
wer over any part of its territory, proyid
or such regulations do not impose bv
dens upon inter State commerce, a
r. make no unjust determinations. l
all such regulations as affect int
ests State commerce, however meritori(
eral in their character or intentions, m
}. 1T yield to the legislation of Congre
hey A State cannot be restrained in
uia- legislation of commerce which is pu
by tly internal to itself. except by it's O
ines Constitution, or the prohibitions
ippi the Constitution of the United Stat
hio, The recent decision of the Gre
Their Court of the Uuited States. sittipe
VIC Wisconsin. that the provision in
Il h | Al