, 1876-03-25
CHEAP TRANSPORTATIOy.
staie Regulation Of RaiIways-LegisIa:
tion Suggested.


Ihe annual meeting Of the American Board OF
Transportation and Commerce has inst hen held IN
Chicago. There was large delegation present, IS
States and csnsdz being represented A number Of
interesting papers were read, embracing multitude
OF suggestions for the solution Of the grea; problem
OF cheap transportation. The committee on rsilruads
submitted lengthy report which closes with the
iooElng suggestions regarding the subject Of less-
lAtlon for the regulation Of railways:
The regulation Of railways by making laws n de-
tail, stating hat ra;es they shall charge and how
they SHAH transact their business Is as whole i'm
pratcto4e IL yOn attempt 20 regulate the details OK
railway management by specific euactrents before
you have carefully studied the subject Il at moment
you MI the statute hooks with mass Of laws which
cement only menrs Of the legal profession. and You
largely increase the amount Of official corruption or
what IS applicable 10 oee road is not applicable TO
aother ana II Is matter Of such delcaey and detail
that lt Is almost an uossibity to equItably regulate
| the details Of Railway management
There are. however, eertgin general laws which
are Practicable, and which every community should
enact Tor the regulation Of railroads which are e1-
clnsively within Us borders
Under tins head We may enumerats the following:
|. law providing board of railway cOmrnls-
soners, with power to prescribe uniform system y
Keeping railway aecounts and with other powers
and duties similar 10 those Possessed by the railway
commissioners Of Massachusetts While these pow
cs ate Qulte ilinite yet they re SUFFICIENT 20 fOALe
public opinion, and this power when ipteIligently
directed toward the minor defects in the nanasenent
o. railways will rarely fail TO secure reforms This
Is most important matter and the public afford
10 pay salaries which viii Command talent Of high
order Tor this purpose. If men are secured whose
characters command respect, the railway commits
sioners become efficient srb;trators IN all matters
where the interest Of the public and those Of trans
pOrtatiOn conflict.
>. law 10 prevent stock infiaons similar TO the
one now IN operation in Massachusetts,. The DrOys-
ions Of the law referred 10 are substantially that
no stock shall be issued except for specific purpose,
and when issued shall he sold at public auction. In
snort, that road, If II wants additional capital
shall go into the market and borrow it, instead Of
making the public Iay for it in the shape Of eNtor-
Infant hapspoTtatiun charges, commonly termed
surplus earnings" for which stock Is freqgeptly
is-ued and the peOple made 10 py dIvlieCs uIOn
the very capital they have themselves paid in
3. Law prohibiting officers directors of railways
from either directly or indirectly owning or becuming
interested IN eny Don-co-operatIve fast freight hne
car company, or bridge company or nom being inter
ested N any manner IN the furnishing Of supplies 10
anv company with which they may have official con-
nection.
1. 4 law prohibiting railwey companies from ac-
quring holding real estate than IS necessary
for the operation Of their roads, and prob biting rail-
way companies. Ot'ers of companies, from 6ngag-
| ing IN mining or any business other than that Of
! transportation This provision Il taken from the
new constitution Of Pennsylvania. and Is dfsGned
IN prevent the future such mOn0pOlie5 exist IN
that State, by which tie general public IS discrInina
ted against ruled out altogether IN certain kinds
I OF business
5. law providing that all common carriers shall
receipt for quantity whether It b OF grain other
commodites and to deliver the same ct its destina-
ton. This is designed particularly 10 proper
responsibility tor gram carried IN bulk 10y RAIL- re-
spOnslbility which heretofore has heen declined by
railways although reco ynizei by all other common
carriers.
6. 4 law making it a penal off nse for any public
official 10 accept the free pass OF any railway
company, and prohibiting railway companies from
granting such passes 10 any hut regular employees of
such railways he pTOpriGty Of such law u Obvl
Gus hen We reflect That such tIYOrs granted tO
public officers solely 10 place them under obligation
10 these great corporations, who are constantly IN
uur legislative halls asking Tor legislation anagOnstic
TO the public interests. free pass Is an entering
wedge ia many schemes OF legislative corruption
and the IL ueuc. # honest Legislators frequently
secured in favor Of seemingly innocent measures by
the little attention Of free pass Iffurther
are necessary 10 show the net essty Of such Law. we
may that those who pay have to helr the aGd-
OnaI burden Of those who 10 not; and asn, II legis
atOrs had 10 pay for their travelling we would prob
bly, closer attention paid 10 legislative duties ani
more hours Of work IN legislative session than we
now do when State capitals are deserted on Futly
by legislators who do not return uutl the following
TueSiav
:. \ law prohibiting representatives. Of the people
who belong the legal profession from heinG tanned
on either size IN cscs where tie public interest Is
involved.