The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-06-21

The Committee on Commerce in tht
House Of Representatives, have agreed
to report for the appointment Of Ma
tional Railway Commission in obedience
to the popular demand for measure
designed to correct the abuses which
have made some measure of the kind
necessary. The Commissioners are te
be appointed by the President and con
frmed by the Senate. The report ae
companying the bill says that the com
mittee have considered no less than thir
teen bills for the regulation of inter
State commerce, about one half ofwhich
provided directly for statutory regula
ton of railroads, and the balance proyi
ded for commissioners, who should have
control of the subject. The committee
are of the opinion that the 100, 900 mile;
of completed railroad in the United
States, which have cost their owners
81, 800, 900, 900, is too important sub
ieet to be dealt with hastily, but that q
vast amount of preliminary work must
be done before the necessary data will
be collected and information obtained tc
enable Congress to act intelligently, and
to do justice to all concerned. The rail
roads carried more than $50, 600, 00C
tons Of freight last year, and gave EN-
ployment to APO, 900 persons. The bill
makes it the duty of Commissioners tt
collect testimony in regard to high rates
overcharges, and determinations, an6
submit them to Congress, and eollate
facts in regard to the roads, by which
Congress may be enabled to prepare
such additional legislation as necessity
may demand. It provides that any and
either of the Commissioners shall have
| power, in any investigation, to summon
witnesses, administer oaths, take testi
mony, and direct the production o.
books, papers, and contracts relating tC
the subject Of complaint; and Judges
Of the United States District and Cir
I cult Courts are directed, either in OF
out of term, to compel the attendance
of witnesses before the Commission
The bill provides that the board shall
have power to call on the common car
riers for reports of all rates and charges
and shall report to Congress all cases Q.
excessive rates, charges, and discrimi
nations that may come within its knowl
edge
| The corporations have an able anC
thoroughly organized corps of lobbyist:
attending Congress at high salaries
who use all the arts they are capable O.
to prevent legislation, and it is doubtful
if the bill can be passed the present
session but the agitation will continue
until the main object is accomplished
Commenting upon the proposed measure
the New York Herald, which is certain
| ly an able and uncorruplible Independent
journal, says that "as beginning this
is probably the best thing that can be
done. Fourteen of the States now have
boards or commissions which exercise
jurisdiction over their steam transpor-
tation lines. Great Britain controls her
railroads in the interest Of the people,
and nearly all the Continental Powers
pursue the same policy. Our form OF
government is different, and there is a
strong and well founded objection to
embarking in such an enterprise. There
are, however, worse evils than the I'M
limited control of the great industries
of the country by the government. All
our experience goes to show that great
corporations are in these modern days
worse than Congresses and cabinets, and
we must take the lesser of two evils.
If the people do not control the roads
the roads will control the people. This
is the problem which demands solution. :"
The following is the compulsory re-
tirement clause of the Army Appro-
priation bill as it has passed the House:
That on and after the passage of this act,
when an officer has served thirty-five years,
either as officer or soldier, in the regular or
volunteer service, he shall, if he make APP
plication therefor to the President, be re-
tired from active service and placed on the
retired list, and when an officer has served
for forty years, either as an officer or soldier,
in the regular or volunteer service, or is
81 years of age, he shall be retired from &C.
tive service and placed on the retired list
and no act now in force shall be so con-
strued as to limit or restrict retirement as
herein provided for.
The Senate's amendments make the
retirement optional, instead of compul-
sorry, after forty years's service ex,
empt from retirement the; professors of
the military academy, and provide that
the General Of the Army shall be re-
tired without reduction in his current
pay and allowances.
Hon. A. r. BoTELER, of West Vir-
ginia, has been appointed on the Tariff
to fill a vacancy. He has
not been in public life since his defeat
for the Confederate Congress, after
a service of one term, by Mr..
Halliday, late Governor Of Virginia.
In the Q. S. Congress he was known
IS man of moderate calibre and
negative qualities. and with those who
know him, the wonder viii be why the
President appointed him. He has put