Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-07
mR. ADAMS ON RAILROAD REGULATION.


fed from long observation that this knowl-
edge could not be obtained in any of the
ways hitherto tried. His opinion of the
legislative remedies thus far proposed was
very depreciatory. We were, he said, pro-
ceeding obstinately in wrong directions,
mainly because the politicians had got it
into their heads that every i'll under the
sun can be cured by statute, and also be-
cause it was impossible to obtain the only
kind of legislation which would do any
good, without procuring much more in
formation on the subject than any
legislative body could in the nature of
things possess. La order to show what
was needed he quoted the remarks Of
Robert Stephenson, the celebrated en-
gineer and son Of George Stephenson, the
father of the railway system, and who
said, as long ago as 1856: 'What we
''need is a tribunal upon these subjects,
competent to judge, and willingto devote
sits attention to railway subjects only. We
''do not impute to Parliament that it is
dishonest, but we impute that it is in
competent. Neither its practical expert
''ence, nor its time, nor its system of pro-
"cedure, is adapted for railway legislation.
"What we ask is knowledge. Give US,
''we say a tribunal competent to form
''' sound opinion. Commit to that tribu-
'"nal, with any restrictions you think
:" necessary, the whole of the great ques-
"tions appertaining to our system. Let
'it protect private interests apart from
railways delegate to it the power OF
''' enforcing such regulations and restric-
''' tions as may be thought needful, to Sc
"t cure the rights of private persons, or of
"' the public; devolve on it the duty of
| GO consolidating, if possible, the railway
"flaws, and of making such amend.
'"ments therein as the public interests
and the property now depending on the
"'system may require give it full dele
"tgated power over US in any way you
'"please; all we ask is that it shall be
ga tribunal that is impartial and that
az is thoroughly informed; and if impair
"' TALLY and intelligence are secured, we
&C do not fear for the result.
Mr.. Adams said that he had, after many
years of thought on the subject, drafted a
bill based On Robert Stephenson's recon-
mendations, and this bill he then pro-
ceeded to read 1t is very brief, consisting
in fact of no more than four sections. 1t
establishes Board of Commissioners of
Interstate Commerce, as a Bureau of the
Interior Department, to consist of three
Commissioners, to be appointed by the
President. They are to receive a salary
OF Sl0,0 year each, and to hold office
for five years. This Board is to exercise
ga supervision over that portion Of the
business of all railroads which pass
"from one State or Territory into OF
through one or more States or Terrific
"ries, or to or from any foreign country !;
" but such supervision shall be limited to
questions of commerce between the
estates, and the methods of operating
these roads by railroad corporations as
affecting such commerce. The Board
is to investigate all complaints which may
be forwarded to it, of discrimination or
other abuses, and such investigation may
be made on the spot where such causes of
complaint originated. The Board is to
have power to summon witnesses and to
call for papers AID books. The Board is d.
rectsd in all ways to g endeavor to procure
" the data necessary to the gradual enact
"ment of an intelligent system of national
Legislation regulating interstate railroad
" commerce, and shall make an annual
"report Of their doings to the Secretary
"of the Interior on or before the lst day
"of November of each year." These are
the principal provisions of the proposed
bill, the rest relating to the preparation of
special reports OF investigations, etc.
Mr.. Adams said that the Commissioners
ought to be chosen for their special qualif-
cations. One of them should possess a
thorough knowledge of constitutional and
other law, and be qualified to draft diff.
cult statutes another should be trained
railroad man and the third should be
"a specialist of a peculiar kind which is
wanted now-one trained to trace cause
"and effect, to handle statistics, to be sure
"that the remedy proposed will meet the
''evil complained Of !" And he was pre-
pared to suggest three persons who, in his
opinion, would meet the requirements of
the case. For the lawyer he would pro-
pose Judge Cooley, of Michigan for the
railroad manager, Robert Harris, Vice
President of the Erie Railway and for
the statistician, Francis A. Walker, ex.
Superintendent of the Census. These gen.
tlemen he could vouch for as being abso.
lutely impartial and thoroughly capable.
AS for himself, be said he had done his
last work IN connection with either public
or private commissions. This statement
it is to be hoped is not to be regarded as
final, however, for it is unquestionable that
Mr.. Adams himself understands the whole
railroad question more thoroughly than
any other man in the country, and his
services would be invaluable to any such
Board as he has sketched the outline of in
his speech.
His scheme is. as was to have been ex-
pecsed, em;nently practical and intelligent.
1t is IL fact possible solution of the prob
lem, whereas all the Congressional plans
thus far introduced have been impossible
solutions Their fatal defect is that they
could not bring about any sort of settle
ment which would stand, because they all
propose to adjudicate intricate questions
without proper preparation. Congress, in
short, has only initiated the State Legisla.
lures, and they have only made blind
dashes at the subject, resulting every time
in disappointment and confusion. Suffi.
Gent experience has now been had to make