Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-16
Railroad Legislation.

The American people, when they get
an idea In their heads, too frequently
run It to the verge of craziness, and this
has never been more decidedly shown
than in the present craze pervading the
land for railway legislation. That rail.
roads should be held in due check so as
to prevent them from becoming oppres-
sors of the people is proposition that
no one viii deny, but the same is true of
every other corporation, and, indeed, of
every other business. Telegraph COM
panies, insurance companies and vari
Gus other companies are con-
stantly being chartered for the
public veal, yet comparatively little
is said regarding the necessity for regu-
lating them, because the whole attention
of the public is sought to be directed
against those "terrible monopolies, :
railroads. To such an extent, indeed,
has this mania for legislating against
notwithstanding the fact that
they have done far more towards devel-
oping and making prosperous the coun-
try than has any other one agency-been
carried, that we have even but recently
seen Democrat from the South in Con-
gress, forgetful of State rights and the
great danger into which the country is
drifting through nationalism, eagerly ad-
vocating that the General Government
be invested with absolute control Of our
iron highways.
We have herein, as always here
tofore, admitted that railways should
be kept in proper check by
equitable and lawful legislation,
but such legislation should be eminently
wise, conservative and just. lest the evils
intended to be corrected should be rather
intensified. Evidence of this is given in
numerous instances, and we have before
US at this moment prominent cases where
railway legislation has proven far more
injurious than beneficial. We read that
in New York the passenger rates on the
Central Road are fixed by law. In con-
sequence they have not been changed on
that road for years, and so little or no
change has taken place in passenger
rates on any of the great through lines.
With freight charges it is different; the
companies have had these TO settle them
selves, and in consequence of competi-
ton the rate per ton per mile has steadi-
ly decreased on this same New York
Central Road from 157 in 1878 to 0.87
in 1880. If greater evidence is asked for
to prove the ineficiency of legislation in
such matters. it is furnished by the Bos-
ton and Providence Road, which man
ages its own rates, and which, while the
New York Central has maintained two
cent. rate, has steadily decreased the
passenger rate from 232 in 1875 to $50
in 1879
These figures conclusively show that
proper freedom Of action to railroads as
to other corporations is necessary, and
is productive of more good eventually
than unjust restraint can effect. The
great trouble is that politicians too fire.
quently take hold of leading idea and
are led into indulging in thoughtless and
reckless legislation from hopes of advanc-
ing their own political prospects, rather
than from consideration for the public
good. No more important problem
than that of regulating railways can
come before any Legislature, for it is a
subject in which the State and every
class of her citizens are vitality inter-
ested, and no subject demands more
urgently that legislative bodies, when
considering it, should determine to make
haste slowly.