The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-03-03
State and National.
They not only

State and National. They not only
have the right, but it IS a duty they
severally owe their constituency,
Rhich they should hasten to perform.
The legislatures gaze them being, and
invested them with all the powers
they possess, among which is the para
mount right OF Sovereignty, the right
to take private property for the pur-
pose of constructing their lines. They
are the creatures Of the law, bat-tlley
would now have Us believe they are
above the law-tiiat their rights are
so sacred that they must not be made
amciIabe to the ruIes Of conducEgov-
erning eth 7 public institutions-th
creature not subject to be controlled
by the creator. Attorneys are ! u5lic
officers and ut The same time private
citizens, yet they have no right to
t'lIaEge more than reasonable compen-
sation for their services. It might as
well be argued that the legislature has
no right to cut lowu the fees of clerks.
sheriffs, and other public officers dun
ing their terms of office, upon the idea
that they have vested right in the
emoluments Of their offices. No one
ever doubted the power of the legisla-
ture TO compel turnpikes, ferries, and
other public highways to ella ge only
reasonable tolls. An Of these public
institutions emanate from the same
source and are subject to the same linn
itations and restrictions in their deal
ings with the public. The universal
ra!e as 10 charges made by them is
that they shall be reasonable and just.
4 law auth; rizing more than reason
able compensation is absolutely null
and void And further, a cont'act
for more than is rea sonable is null and
void, and will not be enforced BY the
courts. No good reason can be given
why railroad and telegraph companie:
should not be bound by this rule. "a
law to restrain them within reasonable
limits, as Judge Black says, ''is nc
violation Of the contract between them
and the States" Justice and fan
dealing demand that the charges Of
these companies be reduced by law, SC
that their nett earnings will not ex-
coed say 6 per cent. upon the capital
invested. stead of IS or % per cent,
as theyunow realize These companies
have rights which must be respected
! but it is no violation Of their constitu-
tional rights to restrain them within
reasonable and proper limits. Compel
the railroads to deal justly by he pee
pie Of this State. and they will save
enough ina few years TO pay the del t
oflthe State Of Tennessee, dollar / l
Fdollar. Do this, and the cry Of repu-
Z d ltion Will be heard no more. And
while our legislature is settling the
State debt (Which they should do upon
terms acceptable to. the creditors ard
honorable to the State), it behoo5. E
them to see that the taxes laid by
these corporations upon our industrics
fare diminished, in order that We may
be able to meet the increased rate OF
taxation to be levied b. the State to
meet the interest and retire the prin-
cipal of the State debt, after settle
ment of same is effected. The unjust
taxes wrung from our people, year by
year, by these corporations VIII pay all
1 of our Just obligations as State. That
is the way to "save the honor al
fereoit of the State The people are
becoming thoroughly aroused upon
thisa question, and their pablo men
will be held responsible if thoy neglect
this for other less important matters.
7. LEX.