The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-02-22
railroad LeslsIation.

Perhaps no State in the Union has made
so much real progress in railroad legisla-
ton as Massachusetts,. For several years
they have had railroad commission in
existence. whose special duty it has been
to exercise functions, both prosecutive
and judicial in their character in respect
TO the complaints of the public against rail-
roads in that State. The only actual pow
er possessed by the Commissioners is that
of Investigation, and their sole appeal
is to public opinion. In consequence
the Commissioners were forced to mas
ter the questions presented by continued
examination and study. The results have
been, on the whole, unusually gratifying.
Gradually the powers of. the Commission
ers were enlarged, but only i'll the direc
ton of making investigation, and the con-
sequent publicity was more thorough and
certain. The'railroad companies, instead of
evincing stubbornuess, sought to cooper
ate with the Commissioners as soon as it
was seen that the latter were bent on pur-
suing an intelligent and conscientious
course. Not infrequently the Commits
sioners were obliged by Il sense of duty to
decide disputed points i'll favor of the rail-
road companies, but in all cases, whether
for or against the corporations, they were
compelled to make good their opinions
and rulings under the fierce sunlight of
popular criticism. The work of the Com
missioners has contributed in an eminent
degree to allay friction between railway
companies and to secure fair play for the
business public. In the words of Mr..
Adams, the Commissioners have acted Gas
n sort of lens, by means OF which the other
wise scattered rays OF public opinion could
be concentrated to focus and brought to
bear upon given point" 1t was found
to be the part of wisdom, in the effort to
secure justice, to rely on the eventual SUI
premacy OF an enlightened public opinion.
In 1876 the Commissioners were author
lied to devise a new and uniform system
of accounts, to be kept by the several
corporations under tic direct supervision
of the Board. Nothing more was needed.
The roads readily adopted the system OF
book keeping proposed. This plan went to
the root of the matter, and brought to light
all the dark places.
The Massachusetts legislation was based
on the just principle that the Iaw-makins
power has the right, and is i'll duty bound,
to enforce the fullest publicity concerning
the salient features of railroad manage
mcnt. The effective working OF tire Mass
achusetts law has been due i'll special
manner to the fact that the condition OF
political sentiment in that State is such as
to permit the continuance of the same
Commissioners in office for Il series of
years. This feeling, OF course, gained
strength as the Commissioners came to be
regarded as experts in railway matters.
We have not sought to direct attention
to the successful work of Massachusetts
in dealing with this pcrplcxing subject by
way of suggesting that this State should
enter upon similar policy. The time
has not, perhaps, come for that in the his
tory of West Virginia, but nevertheless,
the principle Of such an intelligent and
pains-taking policy in dealing with the
railroad problems OF the age is Il matter
that cannot fail to interest the attention
of any Legislator vino wants 10 do his duty
when called on to deal with this question.