The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1881-07-23
The Humphrirs Railr0ad Bill.


Believing in the doctrine of the
Democratic party, as frequently enun-
ciated In State and National platforms,
that monopolies, like individuals,
should be subject to control by State
and National legislation, especially
to curb and restrain the growing
power of the enormous capital that
is being concentrated and controlled
by a few persons under chartered
rights and acts of incorporation, which
being the creatures of legislation and
entitled to protection, should also be
subject to legislative control which
could be enacted to guard the legit-
innate rights of corporations, and at
the same time protect the individual
members of the government against
extortion and oppression, and holding
TO the theory that the general ten
dency towards Capitalization of power,
either in corporations, indi viduals or
government officials, will eventually
prove detrimental To, if not destruc-
tive of many of the rights and liber-
ties of the people. In consequence of
this, l see no good reason why some
of our State papers, who seemingly
hold to the same doctrine, are con-
tinually earnestly insisting that the
Humphries" Railroad Bill should
have been approved by the Chief Ex-
ecutive. On examination of one see
ton of that bill, it will he seen that
an attempt is made to create (by an
election by the Legislature IA railroad
commissioner whose term of office
shall commence on the first Monday
of May next after the adjournment of
the Legislature, and continue In Office
for two years, and invests him with
unlimited authority to regulate the
rates of charges of all railroads in the
state. This proposition, If carried
into effect, would centralize the
power of u number of corporations,
and place ii under the control of
single person, which il occurs to me
would have greater tendency to cen
tralize power, and extinguish compc-
tition, than exists rs the matter now
stands, and competition sometimes
has a tendency to reduce rates very
materially.
The commissioner would have no
restraint thrown around him. So far
as charges are concerned, he would
be Monarch of all he surveyed" and
it would be optionary with him alone
rs to whether he raised or lowered the
rates, and from his decision there
would be no appeal, and on this sub
ject his edict would be the law of the
land whether ID was satisfactory TO
the people or the corporations, and
there being no unity of action on the
part of the people, they would offer
no inducements or suggestions to reg
ulate rates in accordance with their
own views or interests.
Said bill further provides, that for
certain failures to discharge his duty,
the Commissioner shall be removed
from Office, but does not confer the
power ON any one by whom he shall
be removed, whether by the Governor,
Justice of the Peace or a courtmar-
tial, and should tho Legislature re-
main in session under deadlock"
or from some other cause, until after
the first Monday of May after COM
missioner had been elected, there
would necessarily be an interregnum
until the first Monday of the succeed
ing May.
While favor some judiclous legis-
lation that would insure a uniform
rate Of charges, am opposed to this
attempt to thrust so much power upon
a single Individual, who might some
times he Of that class who would ac-
cept an offer in the nature of an in
ducement To regulate rates 10 suit
the parties offering the greatest
inducement. And II would seem that
the authority attempted to be delegat-
cd, should be exercised by the Legisla-
ture after they they shall have been
fully advised In some way, Of an
average rate of charges for transpor-
tation and fare, that would not he
oncrous TO tho people and at the same
time remunerative to railroad corpo-
rations.
Another method Of reducing rates
would be for the Legislature 10 encour-
age competition, by donating the labor
of number Of convicts TO COMPANIES
organized, proposing to bu,ld other
roads.
The censures and reflections hurled
at the Chief Executive, on account Of
the course pursued by him In regard
TO this bill, strike other objects-in the
persons Of Legislators, who are consti-
tutionally invested with authority 10
enact laws, the veto power to the con-
trary notwithstanding. Thisbill that
is being continually discussed and dee
canted upon, after its introduction in
the Senate was unfavorably reported
BY the Judiciary Committee, on which
committee were some able attorneys
and II they found objections 10 the bill,
some Of the censure (were II just that
is attempted to be heaped upon Gov.
Stone would fall equally az heavily on
them, especially II they were azpirants
for an Office.
The bill was subsequently referred
10 special committee, who also re-
ported on the bill and Substitute that
they do not pass" In these reports I
the Governor is backed by the judi
ciary and special committees. The
blII however, passed the senate by
vote Of nineteen 10 nine-seven being
absent and two having psired- Aftsr
Its passage, Judge Oowsn. tl.s able |
and distinguished Senator from War
rem county, oHred the following very |
appropriate amendment 70 the title, |
to-uif. aAn set 10 expe riment ON fhe /