Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-24
Proposed Railway Commission In
Alabama.

opinions pro auu con nave D6Sn eA-
pressed through the medium of the
press, and the main question of interest
now is whether the proposed commits
sion shall be invested with arbitrary
powers, as is the case in Georgia, or
whether it shall be made an advisory
board to act as umpire ia all matters at
issue between the roads and the people
of the State.
In Mondays issue of the Montgomery
Advertiser a long and very interesting
letter on this subject, from the pen of
Captain w. G. Raoul. Vice President of
the Georgia Central Road, is published,
the Central being largely interested
in railway property in Alabama,
and having under consideration the
propriety of extending some of its lines.
In his letter Captain Raoul expresses
himself strongly in favor OF commits
sion. He takes the ground that the
railroads are very DESTROYS that the peo-
pie should understand fully all the diff
culties with which they have to contend
in a satisfactory adjustment of rates,
feeling assured that when these Difficult
ties are more fully understood by the
people there will be very much less
complaint, and he is of the opinion
very decidedly that this desirable under
standing can be arrived at through
commission more readily than through
any other medium But while he favors
commission he desires one which can
accomplish all the good possible. and,
while protecting the people, Eat the
same time protect the roads against an
iniudicious exercise of arbitrary power"
and hence he favors an advisory COM
mission.
He proceeds in his letter to justify his
position by strong line of argument.
He contends that the passage of law
investing a commission with absolute
power over the roads would be injurious
in many respects to the best interests OF
the State. Such a law must necessarily
have the effect of preventing further
construction of lines, both because it is
possible that its execution might fall
into the hands of men unfit for the posi-
ton of commissioners, and who might
work great damage to railroad in
ves.ments, and also because of the I'M
certainty what policy the State, through
its commission, might pursue in inter-
fering with railroad management. Both
of these facts would certainly deter CAPT
tai from being invested in enterprises so
hampered and restrained by an lnjudici-
ops law, for, as Captain RaOul well says,
e'it is pretty generally settled fact that
those who control money in large sums
are reasonably prudent" An illiberal
policy, therefore, towards the roads
would certainly put an end to railway
construction in Alabama, at least until
the test of time and the verdict of expe-
rience had been fully obtained upon the
operation of the law, and this may con-
sumo some years."
This is the main argument used by
Captain Raoul in support of the estab-
lishment of a commission in Alabama,
which shall be a board of arbitrators
between the people and the roads. The
remainder of his letter is devoted to sug
gestions as to the proper personnel of the
commission. If it is to be arbitrary,
be thinks it will be necessary, for the
proper protection of the roads, that
one OF its members should be 9
railroad man" Not that he might
influence the action of the board, but
that the roads might have their side fifty
presented when grave questions are I'M
der elaboration, and which, under an
arbitrary commission, are likely to be
decided without the full hearing that
would be had under the operation of an
advisory commission. Should the board
be advisory, however, he thinks the ap-
pointments should all be made by the
State, because then it would be more
likely to have the confidence of the pub
lie. On this point he says:
1.-THE whole basis Of success OF an advise ry
commission wi in rest in the personal ability of
the members, and the confidence they can
| command Of the public and any voice of the
railways in their appointment would. to
| great extent, weaken public confidence: III
| this commission does its full duty. twill be
| called upon to decide as often against the pub
| JIG as against the roads, and perhaps even Of
tener; and for the public TO bs satisfied with
/ their findings the Commission must possess
! better feeling between the public and
| themselves. and SO soon as the public
| have an easy means Of securing redress fer
grieVances-reai or imaBinary-a step viii
have been made in the proper direction. This
means will be frequently resorted to, and
both sides viii be heard, and evidence pro-
duced and questions disc used, and the decis-
ions Of the board will be written out with the
| reasons to support them. etc. All this will
aid in informing the public upon detail OF
transportation management o. which they
have heretofore had no knowledge, and this
education will disptl all prejudice resulting
from misunderstanding Of facts"
Lack of space prevents us from giving
Captain Raoul's letter in full, but we
have, in this synopsis, endeavored
to present very clear outline of his
views on subject OF as vital interest to
Georgia as it is to Alabama. Since Judge
Woods recent decision, the right of a
State to control railroads within her
limits has been settled beyond dispute,
but it is still question open for discus
sion and worthy of careful consideration
how that right should wisely be exer-
cised. The views we have expressed
from time to time in these columns
on this subject COINCIDE fully With
those of Captain Raoul. An arbitrary
commission, such as we have at present
in Georgia. is certainly liable to work
serious injury to the best interests of the
railways, and. by checking all railway
enterprise, to the entire State. An adj
visory commission, however, empowered
to hear and determine all grievances, !
either OF TIC public or the railways,
would fully maintain the right Of the
State to supervise the roads, and would
work satisfactorily to all parties con-
cerned.
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The ':.higher civilization" of Massa
chlsetts 10 entirely too high. 1t is 50
very high that it does not REACH dgwn 70
that oloco of the raonIe who most need