Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-09-27
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION AGAIN.

A certain journal of this State which seems
to be an especial apologist for the Railroad
Commission seems to think that its ''country
exchanges" in criticising the work Of said
board, don't know what they are talking
about. We take it to ourself only our part
of this modest hint. In the criticisms Ue
have made we were guided by complaints
made in three different localities Of the
State, widely eparated-IorkVille, Cam
den and Pendleton. The Commission,
through it's Secretary, officially admitted
the complaint from the first named place to
be well founded. AS to the other two places
the said board has so far neither admitted
nor denied the justice of the allegations.
AS it is fair to cOnstrue silence into an adj
mission we must conclude that the COM
plants and allegations from all three of the
localities named are we'll founded and true.
We did not and do not criticise the work
of the Commission merely for the sake OF
criticism. We did so because we thought
the schedule of freight charges had failed to
give the people that relief they had been
led to expect. The task was regarded a
difficult one, it is true, but gentlemen had
been selected who were believed to be COM
petent They took their time. After the
Lapse of eight months the labors of the Com
mission were given to the public. While
the local rates fixed were lower in some
instances than they had been formerly
perhaps too low to be 'JuSt and reasonable"
to the railroad companies-there was Sc
rious lack of consistency, as in other in
stances the rates were from 10 to ID per cent.
higher than they were before the creation of
the Commission. Is it a matter of surprise
then that there should be dissatisfaction?
Is it strange, under these circumstances,
that even country exchanges" should pre-
sumo to make ''criticisms?"
We have not word to say against the
faithful eXertions and unbiased intentions
of the gentlemen composing the Commits
sion. We have no doubt but they tried to
adjust fair and equitable schedule. But
did they do it? If they did not, why not?
We suppose they can correct their errors,
and we are told they stand ready and will
ling to entertain any complaint when prop
erly presented; but are the people to wait
three months, or four months longer for the
Commission to amend and correct its work?
There is one serious objection to the Rail-
road Law for which the Commissioners are
said law requiring the several railroads to
pay the salaries and expenses of the Com
missioners. While we should seriously OBJ
ject to these expenses being paid out Of the
State Treasury, we think it unjust to require
the railroads to pay eight or nine thousand
dollars to officers appointed to serve the
State. This is the law as it now stands, but
is it equity?-LowvnsriWe Herald.
SWEEPING CHANGES IN THE RICHMOND
AND observation-disclosures anticipated changes
in the Richmond and Danville Railroad, of
an important character, are to be made by
the new managers. Mr.. George +. Scott,
one of the new managers, gave reporter of
the New York World authority to say that
the affairs of the road are to be put in a
more satisfactory condition: The amount
of the floating debt is sl,O25, 600, and it is
hoped that bV retrenchment this will be
paid off in two years. Among other items
there is to be saving of s7S, 600 in office ex-
penses, and it is intended to abolish the New
York office. The company hold valuable
securities ofauxiliary and other corporations
for large sum, and it Will receive over
$4,000 from these companies in year.
\ meeting of the new directors is soon to
be held