The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-06-20
The Ialae Of Railroad Commissions.

Cooley, Chief Justice supreme Court
Of Michigan
Few things are more evident 10 the
casual observer than the jealousy with
which the railroad interest is regarded
by the general public. Some Of the rea-
sons for this are as obvious as the fact.
The enormous wealth which that inter-
est represents, the rapidity Of it, growth,
the vast numbers and the great ability
it summons TO it, service, and its i'm
mense probabilities for evil As well as for
good, cannot fail most powerfully 10
effect the Imagination, and TO cause no
little apprehension for the future even
in the most thoughtful and well-bal-
anccd minds. The fact, too, that the
managers of great lines or systems of
competing roads are found agreeing upon
rates, and perhaps upon apportionment
Of business, and thus apparently put
ting an end to competition, has the APP
pearancc of organizing those who should
be competitors with one or more great
monOpolies, with which the public IS
| compelled 10 deal on their own terms ;
and these terms will p5imo taoie be taken
to be unreasonable and offensive, for the
reason that they are dictated exclusive
" NV ono If tho nortio. oonoo.naI
ro.noctivo of oon.n.r;,,, ,n;I - A..
other The railway intcroyt boiro ,b,,.
pcr.onifed ne a ,oononoIu ali inJ;r;d
nal interests q. thov cn,no IN con p;nt
with IT, Seem to he nI,cod o, oroo+ 1;.-
ADVANTAGE mona If tbon, ro.oico. anal
di,bur.e. .nch vast sp,o. If ,ooo,,.
none Of tbem has 80 ,,oov d..i,,l,a
place. nj lis di.po.gl. mona of thor
without loss "a it.o,c CON ,,r,nt ~, NAM,
favor. nopo of tbo,, boy..o ,.,o,,,. ,.,.,,,
of afertinr d,l,. or .,,J,I,. l.,I..;r.
ton of the country. So GREAT . rovo,
is certain to be more or less abused and
when ii is welded. a. sometime. il will
be, by men who are arrogant. oydrbcar-
ing and reckless Of the rights Of others,
the public are more likely to regard the
abuse as naturally and inevitably per-
tanning to system than as execution
al.
1t is very obvious that to have the adj
ministtation Of public affairs thus dis
trusted is a great evil, whether the dis.
trust is well founded or not. The value
of government is largely in the content
it gives; and there cannot he co,tort
where there is want If corfdo,oo T.
l. oi.o vow. ..I wa ''l'''''''
,o'3 s''"' e'Al 70 nave SO great
an" 80 variable an interest stand in APP
parent antagonism to the public The
relations of the nuhIic with i o.o.o .a..
cral. SO constant and co inti,,oto .Lsl
''' '''''' anu 80 'n'ilii"te' 'he OPP
Poftuhl nSf or mutual
accommodation and assistance are so fro
ouent thot tho n,bI;o o,o1 :..-.-..
l.. -, ~ f'''''. gnu Imperative
y ueil"i'uS lhe existence OF friendly
relations between them. Indeed, the
railroad ought to be looked unon 90 Tho
o,d ooooa,,,,a.:,t-. ~ '''
- -, .'''N' ~ o0'''i'ion"v''g servant
VI 'ne pupilc' created to do It's will; but |
the public will that is to be served ought
to be a great and q reasonable viii e.I
shop,d dnmord noth;n, ,,1:l % ", anu
800 ">.,'"''a no'ii'liS Wiiich the own
'fS Oh railroad INES had no reason to
anticipate when they invested their
money in this snocias IF rrono.4,. a,1
,vbich tr,or oa,,,,,, ~. No. ~ P'0t'e''H aAo
''N '"'. ''"no' therefore DC sald to
nave oargained for
Much OF the mutual distrust is with, |
out reason, and Is the offspring of igno-
rance OF railroad workings. Where it is
SO lt9uSht'aS iar as p!osslbleto beremoved |
10y. placing before the people the need |
lul puohc information. If railroads
are created to serve the public, the pub
nc ought to have the means of Judging
tor themselves whether the service is |
IMriy performed and given for a reason
aole compensation, and they cannot