Lexington weekly intelligencer., 1881-02-12
REGULATING THE RAILROADS OF
MISSOURI.

REGULATING THE RAlLRUAUS VI
MISSOURI.
Mr.. Anthony. OF Madison county, has
introduced in the lower house bill to
regulate freights on railroads and TO
abolish the railroad commission. To
the last proposition we are utterly op-
posed. No law will be operative
against the roads without the commits
sion. 1t secured the reduction in pas
senger rates, which has saved to the
state many times the cost of maintain
ing it since its existence. 1t secured re.
ductions and adjustments of freight
rates for non-competlng points, which it
would have taken years for the mer-
chants, unaided. to have obtained even
with a law. It is. valuable beyond
computation in money in its exam
ination of the condition of bridges
and tracks with view to their safety
for lite aud limb.
The railroads and their attorneys
all want the commission abolished-the
very best indication that it should be
retained.
The present legislature might distin-
guish itself by the passage of q good
railroad law, but we see no reason to
think that it will. To do so we'll con-
sidered bill should be prepared which
would really protect the people. 1t
should not only retain the commission.
but make it effective by increasing its
duties and its powers. 1t should then
regulate, fairly to all interests. the rates
of freight and passage. This Mr.. An
thongs bill does to certain extent. If
properly worded to mako the rates set
the maximum price, a. in the present
law, the reductions are as tollows:-
For carrying passengers On main lines, or
class 4. from 8 cents to2 cents per mile; on
branch lines from T. cents. AL roads more
than 10 miles In length are placed In class A.
The reductions in freight: are Is follews: Class
D, grain in carloads. from to cents per 100
pounds fer first Is miles; for second Is miles.
from to cents; these are the only changes in
class D. Glass e. nour and lime, 10 changed
- follows: For first 2S miles, from IL to 10 cents
per barrel; second Is miles, from to ssnts
per barrel; each additional Is miles, from to
cents. Glass II. salt from Is TO II cents per bar
rel Tor the rst IS miles; second Is miles, cents
each additional 25 miles, from SK to cents.
Class G. lumber from % to $e per car Tor hrst
Is miles; from e5 to ~ for second Is miles; %
for each additional IS miles; but II fraction is
less than Is miles from 81 80 to $l. Class h,
live stock in oar-losds. from 80 to % for first
35 miles; sesond Is miles from 81 to %; ~ for
each additional 9S miles; but il fraction II less
than 13 milss frem % to d. Glass I, agricul-
tural implements. furniture, So. from I'll 10
80 for hrst IS miles; from % to e5 fer second
Is miles; e3 for each additional Is miles; frem
sl 50 to d If fraction is less than IL miles.
Class j, csal. stone, wood, ties. etc., from % to
s6 fer irst Is miles, s8 to - for second IS miles;
each additional IS miles from - 80 to o.; from
sl to 20 cents II traction is less thsn Is miles.
The penalty for violation OF tho law
is raised from 5000, as now, to 81 900.
and the plaintiff is allowed q reasonable
attorneys fee.
So far so good. but it is too PLAIN to
nssd demonstration that individuals will
not vindlcate their rights. II to do so
they must engage in litigation with rich
and powerful corporations. England
recognizes this fact in having railroad
commission with extraordinary powers; ;
so do Illinois and Massachusetts.
We are deeply imbued with the ne
cessity OF regulating railroads. We
fully believe that the decisions OF the
United States supreme court on the
subject are the law. We appreciate
the growing power of corporations. and
We desire above all to see legislatures,
both state and national, assert Them
selves, that their powers may no lon
ger be questioned from non-use. With
these views we should like to see prop
er legislation, but without very materi-
al amendment, we must hope that Mr..
Anthony's bill will tail.
The telegraph consolidation scheme
was ratified.a few days ago,by the Wes-
tern Union, American Union and Central
Construction companies. The terms OF
the amalgamatlon are as follows -
Of the new stock of $50 ,000. 900 the
Western Union stockholders will receive
$15, ,0ee, 600 of a stock dividend; then
the present American Union securities
can be exchanged for new Western Un-
ion stock. $15, ,O00, 900 OF the former for
an equal amount of the latter, after
which the Atlantic & Pacific stockh old
ers will receive o., ,Oo0 900 of the new
stock, or at the rate of three shares of
the Western Union for five shares of the
Atlantic & Pacific.
The adoption by the committee OF the
whole house at Jefferson of the provis.
ion to set apart third instead OF a
fourth of the revenue for schools, 10
wrong. Not that we would not like to
see the schools have ten times as much
money, bat the revenue Is not now ex-
cessiVe Tor other purposes, and the tax
cannot constitutienally be increased, 90
that confusion and embarrassment will
ensue should such provision become
law. The state must be honest, before
it is liberal even to the schools.
Maj. Thomas w. Park has retired
from the Landmark. that paper having
been consolidated with the Advocate,
the former name being retained by the
now paper. We are sorry to lose genial
Tem Park from journalism. Warm
hearted, loyal to democracy, and always
true to his friends, he has the COED
wishes OF every newspaper man in the
state, for prosperous future in what.
ever field he may enter.
The yacht Carrie exploded her boilers,
few nights ago, at Baltimore, killing
four men. The engineer, who had gons
ashore, leaving the fires banked and ir
charge OF the fireman, has been censured
and had his license revoked. All very
we'll as far as it goes, but that does moi
glue together and reanimats the forty
'leven pieces into which the four poo
fellows were rended.
Wiley Embry. OF Benton county. KY.
his wife and one daughter were sleeping
down stairs six children slept up stairs