The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-16
REGULATING RAILWAYS -
LITTLE TOO MUCH FED
ERALISM.

Governor Roberts, in his call for
an extra session of the legislatures
writes himself down positively in
favor Of railway leglslation-to re-
qulre that railroads be kept in good
condition, $50 as to render travel
and transportation ON them safe
andexpeditious, and to prevent
abuses and unjust determinations; to
regulate freights and passenger
tariffs, and to provide a practicable
remedy for the enforcement of such
laws, not only on the companies, but
on the officers who manage and con-
troll said railways" 1t will be seen,
therefore, that the scope for railway
legislation is large; that the whole
field for regulation is covered
by the governor, but at an
extra session OF the legislature,
from which so much will be de-
manded, it is next to unreasonable
to presume that such work can be
accomplished in a manner best
suited to public requirement. Dur
ing the last session of the legisla-
ture two railway bills consumed
much of the time of the two houses,
and yet nothing definite was
reached. At that time much argu-
ment was used against the constitu-
ticnality of a state railway commits
sion, and while bill providing for
such a commission was being coll
sidered, one in the nature of its dis
troyer was introduced, and neither,
of course, became a law.
This second bill proposed
to create the Office of
state engineer, sort of one man
power-who would regulate rail-
ways by his reports to the gov
eror, and subsequent procedure in
the courts-a plan that would raise
questions which could not be set
tied in years. 1t was
urged in the nature of
arresting action on the other bill
that commission would be uncon-
stitutional; that the question of
constitutionality regarding the
Georgia commission, was pending
in the U. S. supreme court, and that
this would destroy that commission
that a commission was in the nature
of court, not contemplated
under our system of government,
and great deal of other stuff in
favor of stopping consideration in
the premises. The railroads had,
sure enough, raised the question of
cOnstitutionality upon the action of
the Georgia commission, and soon
after this the cause was decided
for the commission. 1t is
known now that the railroads
of Georgia lave never been so har-
mOniously conducted as under the
commission. There has been no cut
ting in rates among the Georgia
railroads, and the people have been
perfectly satisfied with the tariff
rates, while the rail ways have made
money and their stocks have ad-
vanced from forty to sixty per cent.
The system has worked so well
there that Alabama, whose roads
are intimately connected with those
of Georgia, has organized a COM
mission, while some of the other
states have done likewise. The
commission appears to have this ad-
vantage over otLer means of regula-
ton. 1t is, in reality, a court, but it
is court which acts Immediately
ani wisely upon questions
presented, and acting more
iEtelligibly on railway matters than
the ordinary courts of the country
could possibly act. The decisions
of the commission are mutually re-
spected by railway managers and
the people. Mr.. Charles Francis
Adams, the oldest railway commits
sioner in the United States, who
has acted as commissioner in Massa-
chusetts for many years, where the
commission was first tried
in this country, is in
favor of a railway commission
to be organized by the federal gov
ernment, and he has formulated
plan which he thinks will suit the
emergencies of the entire country.
He does not approve of Mr.. Rea-
gan's Interstate commerce bill, be-
cause he thinks that measure would
result in crippling the railroads and
impairing their usefulness. He is
in favor, however, of the govern
ment exerting general supervision
over railroads, but insists that such
supervision should be intelligent
and impartial. He proposes three
commissioners to form a bureau of
the department of the interior, to
be appointed by the president, to
hold Office for five years, and re-
ceive salary of $4,000 year each.
This board is to be invested with
the supervision of that portion of
the business of railroads passing
| from one state to another: sEbut
such supervision shall be limited
to questions of commerce be-
tween the states and the methods
of operating their roads by rail-
roads as affecting said commerce."
1t shall investigate all complaints
of discrimination and other abuses
on the part of the roads when en-
dorsed by an incorporated board of
trade or chamber of commerce, or
state, or city government it shall
conduct the inquiry in the place
where the complaint originated,
and shall have power to inspect the
books and papers of railroad COM
panies. If the complaints are found
to be reasonable and well founded,
a special report on them shall be
forwarded to the party or parties
making them, and, whenever it shall
appear that railroad has violated
or failed to perform its duties, or