Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-04

duutcSscu 10 the Augusta CftFOIteCtS
and CoRstituti0ndlist, to which we
invite attention, as 1t is addi-
tional evidence that popular senti-
ment is crystallizing in opposition to the
inequitable, arbitrary, impracticable and
AS we firmly believe-really unconsti-
tutional law at present on our statute
books. Our Augusta contemporary itself
also furnishes an additional evidence of
this change of sentiment. for in the
same issue in which it publishes this let
ter, it contains an editorial article strong
" favoring a modification of the law.
In taking this position it quotes from
the report of Railway Commissioner
Rochester, of Kentucky, against chang
ing the board Of that State-which is
merely an advisory board-into an spbi-
trary body such as we have in Gsorgi
as follows:
1.-THE result would be as in Wisconsin
years ago. The attempt was there
virtually made to run the railroads by
the State. through a commission adopted
by the Legislature The plan resulted
in complete and disastrous failure, and
the same constituency which clamored
so loudly for a Commission with extra
ordinary and arbitrary power, was out
spoken for repeal of the law"
And then, after endorsing the wisdom
of the views of Mr. Robertson, it further
quotes and endorses an extract explain
ing the provisions of the Railway Com
mission bill now before the Legislature
of New York, and likely to be passed
by that body as follows:
THE bill provides for the appoint
meut Of three Railroad Commissioners,
and defines their duties. These are con
fined almost exclusively to investigating.
recommending and reporting. In other
words. the principal function of the pro-
posed Commission is to bring the work
ing Of the railroad companies into
the full light of publicity, to ascertain
the ground of complaints, to endeavor to
secure a remedy for grievances by making
representations to the corporations, to
examine into the facts and report them,
10 promote the enforcement of laws by
bringing their violation to light, and
furnishing the Attorney General with
basis of legal proceedings when necssa-
~. and TO prevent, from time to time,
such suggestions in regard to legislation
as observation and experience may pro-
duce. The necessary power for obtain
ing evidence and making thorough in
quirF are conferred upon the Commits
siOners, but they have no coercive au-
thority Of their own"
Our Augusta contemporary, in thus
advocating the modification of our
Georgia law so that it shall conform to
the provisions of the proposed railway
law OF New York, does not think the
Georgia law has yet proven thorough
failure, and expresses the greatest conf
dence in the gentlemen composing our
Commission. 1t admits, however, that
the growing sentiment against the scope
Of the Jurisdiction and the breadth of
the authority Of the Commission, is con-
vincing proof that the experiences of
this State will but repeat and confirm
the verdict in other sections, and says:
THE State should not delegate such ar
bitrary power to any body of men"
In expressing these views, the Ctr0ni.
cls and CoHstituti0naList, it is needless to
state. plants itself squarely upon the po-
sition assumed by the News on this sub
ject from the very first. When the Com
mission law was before the Legislature,
even before its passage by that body, we
opposed it as undemocratic, unre-
publican. and wholly inequitable
and unjust. But, while We have
always steadily held to this opinion,
we have never lad one word to say
against the capacity and good intentions
Of the gentlemen composing the Com
mission. We have always given them
full credit for their well recognized abili-
ties aud honesty of purpose, but we have
always expressed the belief that no three
disinterested individuals, no matter who
they are, could satisfactorily manage
our vast and complicated railway sys-
TEN, when it required an army of trained
officials to do so successfully.
At the time that we assumed this
position we stood almost, if not entirely,
alone Our contemporaries throughout
the State were either passive on the sub
ject or arrsyed themselves in direct OPP
position to us. Notably among these
latter were the Albany Nesos and Ad0er-
ttser, the Americas Sumter Republican
and, we believe also, our Augusta con
temporary. All three of these have now
declared in favor of a modification
of the existing law, while those
papers that had nothing to say at
first are rapidly adopting the same views.
This change of popular sentiment is,
therefore, very gratifying, and we hope
it will continue to grow until the Legis-
lature meets in July, and that then that
body may see the wisdom of a mOdifca-
ton of our present arbitrary law, and
promptly act accordingly.