Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-12-25
force these regulations and compel these

practices2
Judge Reagan-Congress, under the
Constitution, can invest those wronged
with every desirable right, and provide
remedies in law and equity. Managers
and servants Of the roads can be forced
to testify even when parties to these
suits. They can be compelled to pro-
duce their books and papers. Courts
and juries of the country, rather than a
grand commission at Washington, may
be relied upon to protect the people.
Nothing but proper Federal law is
wanting. A grand high joint commits.
sion OF doubtful efficiency and of worse
than doubtful utility, in a country like
this, can be we'll and cheaply dispensed
with.
Correspondent-Is there no rule by
which railway rates may be limited!
Judge Reagan-I can only say that
the law, as we'll as common sense. de-
clares that rates must be ,easonaJie and
based upon cost OF ser,ice. The law would
not suffer railways TO charge all that the
commodity will bear. This would au-
thorize the deprivation OF farmers, mer-
chants and manufacturers OF all the pro.
fits of toll. Popular industry would be
paralyzed by corporations, creatures OF
the State, and the State would inter.
vene. The State can not well suffer its
corporations TO become the masters and
des,royers of the people.
Reforms Demanded.
The several States might well fix q
maximum for railway profits. This IS
easier of enforcement than the absolute
regulation Of freight and passenger rates.
Popular industry should not be taxed 20
pay profits on stock representing i'm.
proyements made with surplus earnings.
The contribution OF money by railways
to control elections should ba rigorous.
~ punished by the forfeiture OF charters
in the several States, and like punish
ment should be meted out when char
ters containing unusual powers and con-
cessions are secured from corrupt or in
capable law givers. Unjust discrimina-
tions and exactions affecting freight
or passen gers. the employment
OF subordinate corporation and rings TO
control transportation, the use OF So
called construction companies" the
watering OF stocks that pretexts may
exist Tor enormous eIactiOns upon COM
merce, have done more to arouse preju.
dices OF labor against capital and Of the
people against railways than all other
causes combined.
The rich aud powerful need not pra-
tend to dread the South az anarchica!.
when strengthening and consolidating
('ansrn f,nyarnplanf uN,an thaN
really dread the people wrongcd and
robbed by the rich aud powerful! corpor'
a,ions. Rather let these railway owners
make voluntary the concessions now
demanded, and Pittsburgh and other
rio:a will be no more, ard saudIottsm
aud sansculo.tism will be si!cncej for
hall century.
Railway interests arc great, powerful,
aii-pervading they grow hourly. /,
they remain as to-day, uncontrolled and
unrestricted by laws, just alike 10 them
and 10 the people, operative abuses and
this disregard of right and fairness vii
steadily intensity prejudices against the
corposstions and a2ains. the rich, and
the very title to al property becomesi in
secur.. Ii the Jaw do not intervene to
prevent these confessed wrongs. prac.
ticed hy & terrible monopoly and des?Ot-
ism upor the people. the time will soon
come wren these monopolists will be
forced 10 appeal 10 The conservatism of
the country, against 1t, agrarianism, TO
protect the corporations against the
nreiulr and mad fury o. the rcpu.
lace.
No man cntertains more exalted esti-
mate than OF the value Of railways.
They are wo:th to civilization Infinitely
more than they coat. ] would sustain
them in tie right with all the ardOr man
ifested in preventing their wrongdoing
to the peop!" and to themselves. Rivers
and lakes are open highways, free TO
all Competition is unrestrained and
hurtinl combinations almost impOssble;
but hen the Constitution was framed
Tor the very purpose Of regulating com
mcrce between the States, preventing
imposition upon those Of the ipterior by
States along the ocean shore, AMI when
laws OF trade are rescirded BY corpora
iions AMI those Of robbery substituted,
must confess that the law should in
tervene.