Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-02-19
RAILROAD COMPANIES.

JNO. THOS. GIBSON.
RAILROAD COMPANIES.
They Are Creatures of the State and as
Fully Subject 10 Supervision and Con-
troll as any Other COrporations-Wha
Their Managers viii Do ii They Are
Wise.
TO the Editors Of the Evening Post:-I
have been deeply interested in the rail-
road question US stated by Judge Black,
George w. Curtis, Leland Stanford and
+. Il. Thurber. | agree perfectly with
Mr.. Stanford when he says: This ques-
ton Transportation is of an Importance
that prevents its being settled excepting
upon just and correct principles" For
that reason the problem should he COR
rectly stated.
In the first place, nearly all parties con-
tend over legal problems, as though
there was a divinity so hedged about
railroad king that laws Of man, although
sufficient Tor said kings creation, have
no power for his destruction. Certainly
the rights of property in railroads are no
more sacred than are the rights of prop
erty in any other form. The state says to
the real estate owner "pay your tax or
YOUR property will be sold" To the
money lender it says "you shall take but
six per centum interest, and If more IS
charged you shall forfeit all claims to IN
teresI." These illustrations are sufficient
to show that all property IL held ana USED
subject to the control, in some degree, OF
the government which protects 1t ana es-
tabllshcs the code Of laws which renders
legal ownership possible. \ vested rig:lt
is an absolute right; an absolute riShI
cannot exist under the control OF power
that can abridge it.
Governments are instituted to secure
the people in their right to life, in the re-
suits of their LABOR and to give protection
10 the weak-thc poor and uneducaetd-
against the oppression Ofthc strong-the
rich aid educated sharper. Government
should perform its functions with justice
TO every interest under its care. Ii has no
right 10 superiEtend one class of corpora
tiOns, to inspect their accounts ana AZ
minister uDon their business affairs, rs 1t
does with banking and insurance, and
omit to do the same with corporations
like railroads, which have more to DO
with the lives and property of people than
have either banking reinsurance ipora-
tions. Ii has no right to make laws reg
ulariug the discounts made by banks, the
reserves TO be carried by insurance COM
pauies, and at the same time allow rail-
road corporations To be the sole judge OF
the amount of tax which they Will I'M
bose upon the commerce and inter course
of the country.
If railroad corporations are so much
above the law that ii cannot bring them
under its supervision, then 1t is clear that
the state should at once withdraw It's
pro, ection from all railroad property, and
cease to guard that which It's owners
claim the law cannot control.
Corporations are the creation OF the
state. Even railroad managers admit
that RAILROADS are corporations formed
under general corporation laws" II the
state makes people amendable to it's laws,
it has no right to create power superior
TO the sovereign citizen. Are dollars
more sacred than men? Corporations
are created that they may serve the public
in a way which individuals cannot do.
They are combinations of individuals and
of the wealth of individuals; therefore
they are stronger than individuals ana
can only be controlled by the superior
power of the state, which exists for the
protection of individuals. That the cltl-
zen may Judge intel,igcntly us to wheth-
er the slate is performing this function
when it creates corporation, 1t is the
first duty Of the state 10 give to its clu-
zenS full and trustworthy information
regarding the corporations 1t creates. III
there is 10 injustice done to any citizen
by any corporation, Why should corpora
tions object TO All annual certificate, from
the state, of good character, honest deal
ing and economical management. III the
owners of corporations were wise, they
would see the signs of the times, and
would seek such protection against the
unwarranted assertions of their assiil-
ants.
In all this discussion the rights OF prop
erty are ingeniously kept i'll the fore
ground, and the rights Of tho people COW
cred out of sight by it. The true problem
is not how railroads come to exist, not
what is or has been legal rcgardingthem,
but what ought to be legal. Every rail-
road corporation in the country should
take notice that the people intend TO
change the laws relating to them. III
legislative action has been unwise In any
particular in the past, as the people THINK
it has, it becomes the interest ana the
duty Of every citizen, and the paramount
duty of every representative OF the peo-
pie, to obtain correct Information upon
The subject, that no mistakes may be
made in the future. In what better way
can such information be gained than
through the official reports of commits
siouers appointed and clothed with au-
thority to investigate every detail OF the
subject, in the interests of the people.
The good sense, honesty and business OF
the people of this country cannot be I'M
peached. Railroad managers, who claim
that they will suffer injustice at the hands
of the people OF this country if their cor
porationS are brought under government
al supervision, do not credit their hearers
with the intelligence they possess. The
London Times of December 5, 1880. says,
in financial article:
1.-The finances of The United States may
excite the envy, not only OF England,
but of Europe. The unprecedented rate
of redemption is having its natural effect
in raising the credit OF the United States
10 Il level with the most staid and best
paving communities of the old world.
in reaching that level the United States
will only attain the rightful position Of
country which is 50 faithful to its en-
gagements.'
If the people of this country have so
respected their own honor and recognized
their obligations to those who bought
bonds at enormous discounts during the
war. and be it remembered, those who
are not portion of the people, who are
never seen by the people, who have no
voice in shaping the course ofour legisla-
ton, will the intelligent world coubt
that such people will be honorable and
will recognize their just obligations TO
those who are developing the resources
of the country by giving it superior
transportation facilities? More especial
ly so, as the persons so employed are a
part of the people, come in daily contact
with them and have it i'll their power to