The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-15
Railroad commissioners.

Railroad Commissioners.
An important incident OF the last meeting
Of BIanton Grange Of this city was the de-
yelopment by General BRADLEY T. JOHN
SON OF his proposition for the establishment
Of Board of Railroad Commissioners, who
shall have the general supervision OF rail-
roads in Virginia, their managementan OPP
Grafton with preference to the security and
" accommodation of the public and the COM
"pliance of the several corporations with the
"provisions Of their charters and the laws OF
"the Commonwealth"
The Dispatch contained few days ago
synopsis OF this bill, and Saturday in the
report OF the proceedings OF the Grange
there was synopsis Of the address OF Gen
eral JOHNSON.
Years ago we declared that the Board OF
Public Works of Virginia was a useless
body because it was composed OF Off
GERS of the government who had the
duties CT their offices to discharge, and
could not be expected to discharge them
faithfully when their attention was divided
between those duties and others for which
they received no compensation. The duties
that ought to be performed by Board OF
Public Works were quite sufficient to take
I'D great deal OF time, and they were OF
such importance that the State should have
felt itself justified in paying well for their
faithful performance. while there was no
mode OF securing such faithfulness save by
paying TOR 1t.
1t was niggardly thing in the State to
impose such responsibilities upon gentle
men who had enough to do already in at
tending to the regular business OF their
offices. We think the impolicy Of such
ricketty institution, 30 indicative of public
parsimony as we'll as impracticability, has
been clear and emphatic.
General JOHNSON has struck upon very
practicable idea. His railroad board is de-
manded by the public interests. Virginia
has generously and lavishly aided public
Improvements, and now has parted with
nearly all control over them. AS General
JOHNSON says, it has grown to be question
whether the State shall govern the railroads
or the railroads shall govern the State. In
deed, since the war we have seer rail-
road corporations absolutely governing
Virginia. What with lobbying and
bribing we have seen the repre-
sentatives Of the people absolutely bestow-
ing favors, or refusing to do acts sensible
and just to the people under the influence
OF the persuasive appliances OF railway
corporations. 1t has not required great
amount Of forecast to see how large cor
poration may control the government OF a
State by inducing the public representa-
tives to be recreant to their constituents
and superserviceable to corporations who
could reward their services more literally
than could the State.
General JoHNsoN's scheme is to have a
board OF commissioners, who shall be rea-
sonably compensated, and who shall look
into the railroads with view Of compel
ling them to perform the obligations of their
charters, and, moreover, do that justice in
the way of reasonable charges for freights
and all proper things for public accoumoda-
ton. The State, which acts for the people,
has conferred great advantages upon rail-
way corporations, and parted with some
power for their advantage, and asSuredly
there should be some such public representa-
tiyes as this Board Of Commissioners to see
that in return for what those corporations
have received they should afford just and
proper accommodation to the public.
General JOHNSON assumed that on these
railways competition did not protect the
public against excessive charges on trans
portation. He is correct. Through freightS
are often put up by combinations, and soay
treights have always been at the mercy Of
the roads, not being susceptible of protec-
ton by competition.
Every consideration shows the necessity
Of some supervision by officers appointed
to protect the public against railroad
wrongs, and we earnestly hope that
board of commissioners for this pur-
pose may be established by the Legis-
lature. General JOHNSON is very practi-
cal man, and his craftsmanship is compre-
hensive. He is striking out line very
different from that SO long pursued by
the very gifted politicians Of Virginia who
looked only to politics and constitutional
construction, neglecting, unfortunately, the
local interests Of the State. He is opening
some very important measures that we trust
will be developed into matters OF value and
benefit to the State. 5,.t3 'a<.! +.
X. 49, : y 81 . MA. j. : sr.., g .