Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-03-17
Another Advocate Of Modified Rail-
road Commission Law.

Another Advocate Of a Modified Rail-
road Commission Law.
We have already noted the fact that
the Albany NeIss and AdUsrtiser, hereto
fore staunch supporter of the present
Railway Commission law of Georgia, has
recently changed its base, and-having
come to the conclusion that said law is in
equitable, unjust, and fraught with dan
ger to the best interests of the Stste-is
now an earnest supporter of an advisory
commission, which viii be an umpire
between the roads on one side and the
people on the other. We are now called
upon to note another and significant in
stance Of a similar change Of opinion.
The Americas Sumter Republican,
which, from the first, has been one of
the most ultra advocates Of the present
law. has also seen the error of its ways.
In its issue Of Saturday last, that paper
still AYERS its decided friendship for q
commission. but expresses the opinion
that the present law is too arbitrary and
that l. should be modified. 1t says:
"The first objection to the present bill
is the unlimited discre ionary power
vested in the Commissioners, virtually
and practically taking the management
Of railroads out of hands appointed by
stockholders, and placing it in hands
Of State officials. The bill is now work
ing admirably, and could we always have
such men as now fill these responsible
offices, no objection could be urged, but
as they are not continuous, we must pro-
vide for the contingency OF having cor
Tupt and incompetent men in Office. If
such provision is not made, and this
absolute power allowed to remain in the
hands of State officials, how can we rea-
sOnably expect capital to have confidence
IN our railway investments. 1t can have
but one result-to drive capital from US.
No new roads will be built, and our vast
resources undeveloped will remain so. .
This change of opinion Of our Ameri-
Gus contemporary is specially worthy Of
note. 1t was Americas more than any
other city in the State which first com.
planned of unjust determinations to its
prejudice by the Central Railroad; it was
a member of the Legislature from Ameri
Gus who was prominently active in favor.
ing and securing the passage of the Rail
road Commission act, and the Sumter
Republican, during the time that act
was being considered by the Legislature,
as well as after its passage was, as we
have said, most strenuous advocate and
supporter of the measure.
We are convinced that a large ma
jority of our State exchanges will, il
they examine into the matter closely and
dispassionatelY, follow the example oi
our Albany and Americas contempora
ries, and acquiesce in the views which
the News has always expressed on thi:
subject The glazing injustice of Law
which permits the management of pri
vate property, valued at millions
of dollars, to be taken from it:
owners and vested in three disinter
ested officials; the almost absurdity
of the proposition that any three
men, no matter who they are, can sue
cessfully manage vast and complicat
ed system of railways when even al
army of trained officials find it difficult
to do so, and the great danger, amount
ing almost to a certainty, that such {
law must effectually crush out all rail
way enterprise in the State, cannot but
have legitimate effect both upon the
press and people of Georgia.
The Sumter Republican, in giving it
adherence to the passage of a law re
pealing the present and establishing an
advisory commission similar to that re
Gently established in Alabama after ma
ture reflection on the subject by the
Legislature of that State, appropriately
cites the case of Massachusetts, where
an advisory commission has long beer
in force, and where there is but one com
missioner, Mr.. Charles Francis Adams
There the law has been found to work tC
the satisfaction of all concerned, and
Mr.. Adams says in no instance has &
railroad ever refused to comply with q
recommendation of the commission
Give Georgia a similar law and there
would be no further complaints, eithel
from the roads or the people