Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-14
In6ra Hood.. nscision.

Judge weeds Decision
II tie Augusta Eoeasas Esrs OF
Friday last appears the following para
gzph: The Savannah EEws Is loud in
IL deuunciation Of the decision Of Judge
Woods IN tie Railroad COunizzioa
czse-"
We % uos know what or Aug1Eta
contemporary regards q denuDcist1ons
but re ere very sure that If Judge
Woods himself shall do us the honor 70
scan tie article which appeared in the
NEWS when information vas first TeceiE-
ed Of his decision in the case Of
TiIley " the Ssvzonsh, Florida and
Western Railway, be viii entirely agree
with Is that nothing therein contained
iuEtifes the charge that We denounced
his decision To the contrary we Implied
the belief thst Judge Woods Was entirely
correct Il his views. and that Il a sp-
pal Ehould b taken By Mr. TiIley to the
Supreme Court Of the United States,
the Judge would Be sustained,
and the constitutioazlity OF the
Railway Commission lsT maintained.
We did say, however, that notwith-
Standing Judge Woods decision, the
principle Of opposition TO the hT-on
account Of its manifest ineQuity and in
justice in placing three men In
despoic control over vast and
important interests, representing NIL
lions Of dollars belonging 10 private
Individuals. citizens Of Georgia, and
which they were led 10 invest IN rail
roads By inducements held out 10 them
By the Stzte-Ess unimpzired, and We
are Of that sane opinion still
We contend, moreover, that we s-e
justified in holding 70 this opinion By
Judge Woods himself. In his decision
be uses the following language
The act Of the legislature If consti-
tiOnsI may Be considered unEiss or even
oppressive, but even If il Is, the remedy
Is not with the court but with the Legs
Isture. II the General Assembly il its
passage were acting within the scope Of
is constitutional power, no matter how
cruel and unjust the law may be, the
court cannot apply the remedy.
Here the learned Judge plainly admits
that there Is a possibility that the law
may be cruel and unjust, and that il may
be considered unEise and oppressive.
but since il Is in accordance with the
organic law Of the State, the remedy Is
not with the courts.
Here sgsin We are afforded ground for
the petition we have always taken re-
gsrdlng this law. Never have We made
warfare upon the gentlemen composing
the Commission, but We have maintained
that il was unjust, unwise and oppres-
sive that unlimited power over such
important interests IS those Of our rail
roads should be given into their hands
We believe them to be men Of integrity
and capacity, but no matter how
honest and capable they may be, we do
not believe that they, OF any other three
disinterested, and, for the most part, in
experienced individuals, are able 70 sue
cessfuIly manage q vast railway system
which requires for its successful man
szement the lifetime Of careful study
and devotion to its welfare Of not three
nor four nor a dozen officials, but Of
a whole corps Of men Nor Is
this al 10 be considered, but it
shoald be borne in mind that the
fact that the present Commission IL
honest and capable is no guarantee
that its various successors viii be. II
needs no special detail Of what evils
might be worked 70 the railways, their
bondholders aud stockholders, and to
the best interests Of the whole people Of
Georgia, should such plenary and arbi-
trary power ever, by any misfortune,
pass into the hands Of an unscruDulous,
incompetent or narrow minded Commits
SION.
Tie whole subject has now been trans
ferred from the courts to the Legislature
No doubt it viii come up for discussion
! IN July before that body. whose mem
bers will then have had a better oppor-
tunity to see By experience the operation
Of the law, and will better understand
| lis defects. We have no doubt they will
address themselves conscientiously to
] porfecting the measure, and TO removing
therefrom 81 that justly may be con
sidered unwisc or even oppressive