Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-20
iIEMPWS APPEAL
m ESOAY. FEBGvlRY 20, 1855

RA--t I.oADs AaD THE PEoPLE.
II il earnestly .Lqued the Teuucsse Leg
islature, during the presens geek vii pass
bill settling the State debt qDesiio0.
We see nothing in the recent eaucuses
which have been held to justify the fear ex
pressed by the people that the Democrats
vii again Eplil 90 this question, snd that il
ia to be made an issue in future elections.
1t is better to have these discussions and
sirifes in caucus than 10 The Legislature.
1t will be found in the end that they
have facilitated rather than imp ded the
object in view. The final caucus, which
il to be held in Nashville to-day by the
Democratic members Of the Legislature,
will no doubt agree upon satisfactory basis
Of settlement, and the bill will be hurried
through the Legislature without renewal of
the debate that has already been mad in eau
cue. The State debt question finally and
forever settled, the Legislature will proceed
at once to legislate sgainst railroad discrim-
ination by the passage Of a bill creating
railroad commission for that purpose. 1t il
hoped the Legislature will meet the issue in
a spirit of fairness-deal justly to the rail-
roads and to the people. The question OF
the regulation Of fares and freighis has
become great living issue in nearly
every State in the Union, and no postpone.
meut of its solution to a future time will
prove satisfactory to the people. There is
surely something radically wrong in the
management Of railroads when the States
that have prospered most by their consruc-
lion are The fret 10 advocate a railroad COM
mission with powers to prevent railroad dis
examinations. This question is now before
the Pennsylvania Legislature, and Mr.
F. 3. Gowen, member OF the
House, and a railroad president, has in
troduced a bill 10 prevent railroad discrim-
nations. He knows how ii is himself. 10
a speech on Friday last he showed that the
road over which he presided and the coun-
try through which it passed were ruined by
the Determinations Of the Pennsylvania Gen.
trail. To show how his road was treated when
it applied for transportation, Mr.. Gowen
read letters 10 the Chester Oil Refining Com.
pany from Agent Wilson. OF the PhiIadel-
phis, Wilmington and Baltimore railroad,
one of the lines controlled by the Pennsyl-
vsnia railroad. 10 one instance the oil COM
pany we're informed that ii would be charged
ten cents barrel for oil from Thurlow, a
short distance below Chester, TO Washington,
I25 miles, while Mr.. Gowen said not more
han that was charged for the 300 miles
from Pitlsburg to Washington, by way OF
Harrisburg and Baltimore. Another let
Ter from Mr. Wilson told the COM
pany that the railroad would carry oil
from Thurlow to Lockhaven for twenty. FIVE
cents per 100 pounds, but would not allow
empty cars to be brought for the oil. Mr..
GoWen's npxt cornoIsir' was that aItboEgh
the Reading was Zoe largest owner of authra-
cite coal laudr, yet none OF its coal would be
transported over the Pennsylvania unless
sold to one or more Of three certain parties.
Only these three were given such low rates
the Reading was not going 10 throw off thirty
or forty cents a ton to make that arrange
meut work. Mr.. Gowen took the position
that damages was no remedy, because COM
psny would often pay damages rather than
do what the public good required. If a
company did not move freight except for its
own chosen friends, il must be compelled by
a mandamus of court TO move it and be pun
ished for disobedience He took the fur
Their position, however, that Legislatures and
railroad commissions could not make tolls,
tecsnie Ii cost, in some cases, three times as
: mnch-to- transp0-. -s--;sbt up Asonniaip
grades as down the Other side. The Reading
cannot deliver coal as chssply in tue heart
of the city, where single cars must
be shifted around, as it can at Port Rich
mond The Pennsylvania railroad, carrying
fuils train aoass Of coal 200 p;l@4-,sial.Alai a
break, can make more money at IS ton in
moving single car loads. This is no doubt
true, but it is question which the railroad
commission will tske-into- consideration
while preventing injurious determinations.
We are told that there will be an end to
railroad building if there be a check placed
upon the right of railroads to do as they
please. This threat will not brighten the
people. Capitalists do not construct rail.
roads from motives OF benevolence or patri-
otism. They build them TO make money.
They can make money without unjust Dis
examinations. There should be no unjust or
unnecessary war made on railroad corpora
tons, because they are not only vital ele-
ment of modern civilization, but because SIS
private property it is entitled to the same
protection ard consideration as the property
OF individual citizens. But they can no
longer oppress the people by threatening 10
withdraw their patronage, and to construct
no new roads if the States interfere with
their DETERMINATIONS by creating railroad
commissions.