Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-07
The Railroad Commission.
.Annllsta Chronicle. 81.

augusta Chronicle, 9th.
There was a highly sensational and sour
rilous article republished in the Chronicle
Yesterday from the Chicago Tribune. The
object of the Tribule'S article is to defsme
and bring into contempt with the people of
the State Col. L. n. Trammell, who has been
recently appointed by Governor Colquitt TO
a place on the Railroad Commission, to
succeed Col. Samuel Barnett, who, it is said,
declined a reapp0intment. The article also
reflects upon Senator Brown and Governor
Colquitt.
Editors and correspondents are entirely
too free with their Shiny and venOmous
animadversions upon public men. There
are proper bounds within which the acts Of
public men can be discussed. Just and
temperate criticism of the official acts Of our
public men is always legitimate and com
mendable. But when criticism becomes
malicious and vindictive-when the object
of it is to defame an appointment proper
in itself to be made-to prejudice and
bring into disrepute an official, as is evil
IDENTIFY intended in this case-criticism de-
generates into license that is highly repre-
hensible.
The mistake of Governor Colquitt's ad-
ministration has been In appointing men to
office who we're not only Indifferent to the
success OF his administration, but who really
in their hearts wished for his political down
fall. In the appointment Of Colonel Tram
nell as Commissioner, Governor Colquitt
has appointed man of known fidelity to
his political success in the last campaign.
If Colonel Trammell was either corrupt or
Incompetent to discharge the duties of
Commissioner, then Governor Colquitt
should be denounced for his appointment.
Believing that Colonel Trammell is neither,
his appointment is proper to be made. All
other things being equal, Governor Colquitt
should stand by his friends rather than by
his enemies in appointments 10 Office.
We do not know what irtiaence was
necessary for Senator Brown to use to in
duce Governor Colquitt to appoint Colonel
Trammell. We do not believe that Senator
Brown owns Governor Colquitt. We do not
believe that Senator Brown could Influence
Governor Colquitt to do an act that his own
judgment did not approve. In the appoint
ment of Colonel Trsmmell 1t is certain that
he followed the bent Of his own mind with
out any pressure from Governor Brown or
others.
We do not see why any hue or cry should
be raised against Colonel Trammell. When
the Democracy were flushed with victory
when they were still in hot pursuit OF the
political enemy for malfeasance in office
he was elected President Of the Georgia
Senate. And to his credit be 1t said that he
was one of the best presiding officers the
Senate ever had. Colonel Trammell has sub
sequently been honOred by the party In
convention. He has been elected President
of our State Convention. II he has been
an attorney to present any interest before
the Legislature it is to be hoped that he re-
ceived pay for his services. II there was
ANYTHING criminal In such services, then
there are many distinguished attorneys in
all portions Of Georgia who have presented
the interests of clients before the Legisls-
ture. This was before we had cOnstitC-
tional prohibition against lobbying, but we
know Of no law which should prevents citi-
zen from protecting his interests before the
Legislature, either in person or by proxy.
Colonel Trammell was very much opposed
to granting Colonel Cele's road a charter to
compete with the State Road. Ia person
snd ny letter he appealed to members of the
Legislature to vote against the charter. We
90 not know that Senator Brown and Gov
COlQuitr were In favor OF the Cole charter,
because they did not apprehend any very
serious damage TO the States property.
Besides, they went upon the broad princi-
PIE that the State, while encouraging com
petition in all the business of life, should
not set itself up as a huge monopoly and
thus suppress the development OF the rail-
road aud other material interests of the
State. This is stated to show that Colonel
Trammeli is not and cannot be a mere tool
IN the hands of either Governor Colquitt or
Senator Brown. He has his own convic-
tions as well IS the courage to maintain
them.
There is an unfortunate idea In this State.
It should not be encouraged. II is not
alarming at present, but may become so by
the agitation of demagOgues. We refer to
the idea that the railroads of Georgia be.
long to the Statc-to the people-that they
are something in commOn-not the prop
ertY Of the people who paid their money to
build them, or Of those who own the stock.
Now this Is mOnstrOUs proposition. It is
agrarianism. Ii is communism.
Oar present bungllng Constitution may
be responsible for this idea. Our Legisla-
ture may be responsible for it, and
our Railroad Commission may be re-
sponsible for it. To these three causes
we attribute the idea that the railroads Of
the State do not really belong to the stock
hOlders-to the people who paid their
money for them-but TO The State, which is
to run them and ruin them, If necessary, for
the dear people. This is the line of the
demagogue who appeals to the prejudices
of the people by denounclng the very cor
porations without whose presence Georgia
would be a wilderness. The politician who
is impecunious-Whoh has the thirst for Of
fice-denounces the railroads as soulless
nOuOpOIl6S, WHICH are O6VOuTlnR the SUD-
stance of the people. And yet the railroads
are doing more to-day to the development
Of the great and varied interests of Geor-
gia than any other industry. Our State has
nothing to fear from its railroads. The de-
velopment Of our railroad interest means
the development of every other interest of
the State. 1t means the development of our
factories and mines. 1t means the increase
of our population. 1t means the increase of
our industries Of every kind. 1t means that
which we most need, and that is a speedy
enhancement of the value of our landed
property.
Col. Trammell is said to be favorable
to the railroads. We do not know this
We should be sorry, however. for his APP
pointment IL he were not. If Col. Tram
NELL cannot do justice to the Railroads.&c.
he has not the virtue to protect the vast
interest committed in part to his keeping
we shall be very much disappointed in the
man. We believe the appointment proper
one, and so believing we do not hesitate to
commend Governor Colquitt, and to con-
graduate Col. Trammell In being a member
of a Commission entrusted with such re-
sponsible and vast powers.
The very idea that the Commissioners
must be hostile to the railroads is mon
strous The Commissioners should be, and
we believe they are, impartial in their deli
cate and important trust. They are appoint
ed not to Cypress the roads by the imposi-
tion of arbitrary and unremunerative rates,
but to enforce such tariff as will be re-
munerative to the railroads and just to the
people. Believing this to be the purpose of
Governor Colquitt, we do not hesitate to
commend Colonel Trammell's appointment.
The Chronicle has the courage of its convic-
lions. It will approve what it believes to
be right and condemn what it believes to be
wrong.
The Mayor of PIttsburg vetoes every
ordinance granting telegraph companies