Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-12
The Railway Problem In Congress.
Nashville american

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Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, has at last
reached and got before the House his
railway transportation bill, and, with
less opposition than 1t once had, there is
a chance that it may pass. In view of
the tremendous interests involved it is
not too much to say that this is the most
important business subject ever before
the House. The entire growth of this
country is dependent upon the railways.
They are in condition of daily life
and business as essential as atmosphere
to life. The problem is so full of diff
culties, of dangers of injustice in the
effort to attain justice. of iladvised
measures which under the motive
of Justice to the public, shall only do
wrong to both roads and public, that it
Is impossible in the present state of
knowledge on the subject to hope for
anything beyond experimental policies.
Mr. Reagan has, perhaps, attained the
general principle on which such general
control of transportation should finally
rest. The power of the government to
protect the citizen from extortion,
wrought either by selfish rapacity or by
the conditions which environ the roads
as well as the public, is not to be denied.
Either the States or the National Gov
eminent have this power, and, as to
commerce between the States, it seems
to be very generally admitted that the
National Government has full jurisdic-
ton, and the only remaining question
is as to the propriety of exer-
cising the power, and as to
the manner in which it shall be
done. Two leading methods have
their advocates. The creation Of COM
mission to take charge and regulate
rates has been proposed. This method
has been tried with various amendments
and notifications in England for the
past eight or ten years. The system has
not been a success and is yet only an ex-
pertinent in small area with one system
of railroads under one government.
Here it would have to be applied to con-
ditions vastly more complex-comple
enough in England, but far more so
where there are practically thirty-eight
jurisdictions and as many systems.
While something has been accomplished
in England, it is admitted that
the new system does not answer
the expectations of its projectors.
AS to the details of that system we know
nothing about them, and our statesmen
seem to have been singularly remiss in
not having studied the progress of the
experiment Mr. Reagan has admitted
that he knew very little about it and we
have never heard of one who was
willing to say he did. Mr. Reagan's bill.
at least for the beginning of an expert
ment, appears to have been based upon
the correct principle. Without any com
mission, bureau or central board, he pro-
poses to simply pass a general law requir-
ing the roads to fix uniform rates and
to publish them, TO prepare all the con-
ditions to secure uniformity and justice,
and then to leave the injured party to
his action in the courts as in all other
cases. This seems to US a common sense
way of reaching the end. If it does not
prove successful in practical working it
will throw light on the subject, and from
this it will be easy to amend, to modify,
perfect, or, if necessary, to adopt an en-
tirely new system based on another prin-
cIple. That it will be a solution of
such complex problem we do not begin
to hope, bvt it may prove not only an
important step toward a solution, but a
step in the right direction. If it is
found hereafter that commission is
necessary, this system will not be
in the way of adopting that method.