Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-02-13
AND pnn RAILROADS.

WV - nog - ~ - . 80
Our. surmises heretofore expressed in
regard othe fate OF the measures lot
railroad regulation now pending in Con-
sress are being sbundantly verified.
The fairest oithe measures, the Rea-
gan bill, has already been squeiched IN
comnittee. II had twice passed the
House, and was fxsorably regarded by
the leading journals OF the country.
But as soon as some of the railroad ex-
perts were heard by the committee
men who had practical experience IN
the complicated business OF railroad
mansgement--the committee concluded
that the Reagan bill was not so wise a
measure after all, ii, indeed, 1t was not
entirely impracticable. 1t was the same
experience over again which the Legis-
lature Of West Virginia had upon the
subject last winter.
The REAGAN bill provides almost the
same measures that were concocted by
our legislative committee, OF which
Senator DAS. Johnson was chairman.
1t provides, in short, against discnmina.
ton by railroads among shippers, and
prohibits a road from giving large
shipper better rates for transportation
than are given to a small shipper. 1t
prohibits man who sends carload a
thousand miles receiving any less rate
per mile than is charged another man
who only ships twenty miles. In other
words, the bill prohibits wholesale rail-
reading, special contracts, rebates and
all the devices which are known to
the transportation business and make
it an advantage To ship large .quantl-
ties. Under this bill all especial rates
are published and every person Is re-
quired to pay alike per mile per hun
dred weight. After it was reported It
was recalled by the committee in order
that the advocates and opponents OF the
bill might have a chance to argue over
il, and for two weeks or more the COM
mittee has been listening to the views
of some Of the most accomplished ex-
perts in the transportation line in the
country. The result OF the discussion
was feeling on the part OF most OF the
committee that REAGAN's bill should be
changed in some particulars.
When the special committee came to
change il they reported bill built en-
tirely upon a new plan, and which con
tains very lew OF the features OF the
REAGAN bill. tits, in our opinion. the
only practicable basis upon which the
delicate task OF regulating railroad cor
porations can be accomplished. That
is, the establishment OF a national rail
road commission or court which
shall have some discretionary
powers and enforce system
upon certain general principles, and
not be bound by inflexibic rules that
pretend to meet all contingencies, There
Is no business even that OF rail
road-that can be put into caSt-iron
frame and made to III it Tor all time and
under all circumstances. And tor the
same reason it is impossible to fraWe an
indexible statute that will regulate all
the details of the business of a railroad.
Therefore, a commission with discretion
AIRY powers, seems To bc the only proper
solution OF the problem.
The committee is now discussing a bill
for the appointment of such commits
sion, more for the purpose OF obtaining
information upon which to base intelii-
gent legislation. THIS measure provides
for national hoard OF railroad commits
sioners, whose duty shall be to exercise
a general supervision over all railroads
that cross State lines and do not
lie wholly within the boundaries Of
a single State, and shall have power to
examine the books and business of these
roads; to see that all laws relating to
them are enforced: to examine into
afethods aud systems Of transportation,
and report to Congress the necessary
data for the passage OF an Intelligent
system of railroad legislation. This
commission shall hear and investigate
complaints Of ill-treatment 10y railroad
corporations, and when they shall find
that any road does not conduct Itself IN
a manner promoliye OF the public inter
esls they shall report the same To Con-
gress in order that the abuse found ia
exist may be corrected and prevented
by legislation. When the commission
find that the law is violated they are re-
auircd To report at once To the Attor-
ney-General. The board is given the
power To call for persons and papers
and take evidence. The bill also pro-
hibits any railroad company changing
one person more than another Tor the
same services and from directly or IN
directly afouling one person better
facilities than another.