Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1883-09-06
A Railroad Commission ths
Thina.

supervisory Legislation, instead
Of opposing it, as they have
bssn sloiug, aud try tossAop A.
they will mount II and claim to
be original simon pure friends
ofthe policy, and then they will
take care to propose precisely
such supervision ~ will not su.
pervise. They will divide tho
councils Of tho supervisionists
by muddying the waters and al
vocating all sorts of impracti
cable and Intellectual measures.
For example, they will insist on
making extoition and discrimi-
nation in favor of one locality,
or one set of persons, against
others, by common carriers. o
penal offence. But who 10 II to
decide what ia extortion, or dis.
elimination whom complaint is
madef 1t would rcsult in end
less controversy in the courts
to determine what are extortion
and discrimination, and the bat
tie must needs 10 he fought
over and over again in each
particular case. Such q law
would be fruitless in every thing
bnt fees for attorneys. perplevi-
ty for courts, and disappoint-
mepts and costs to litigants.
The experience Of other states
points tho only effectual way to
such supervision as will bs just
to the companies and to the
public. II is to establish q
Commission consisting OF capa-
BILE and honest men, a part of
whom should be versed in the
intricacies OF railroad economy,
and competent to fix tolls yield
ing reasonable compensation,
fair to all. "A Mississippi legis:
llkSSrncrtty Upcrnuons vTo:S -,
state, have prospered. Rail
roaa building has not been dls,
couraged, sU and the public ma nave :
S.sn nrotected in their rights te
NV reasonable charges only.
pit Il is urged that = RA'Iroa'
Commission will cost inc o pooR,l ~
annually in salaries, say slo,oo,
} and this sum is held up ~ q tei
Anu MN W. hnghear. It would III
' doubtedly be returned one n.a ~,
dred times over to the peop,''
: Tha expenditure would be mae
+ m in the saving to the taxpa
o ara ar which would be accomp',s,
q cd cd any second rate depot AZ
W the companies would be oenh
y ed bv tho increased amouhS
of u travel and transportation whi'
d. N tha assurance of Il just ana re
At .onsble rate Of tolls would pi
~ duce. nanh,
w If the bar will concede u
Chief Justice Cooly, OF MIC. .. l;
can. is ono of tho greatest Jur,
Of his generation. HIS MN"
ci. 81 clear "a a silver bell, and
ad reasoning ia calm and alsp
Nv ,ionate. Now here IS wnao !, /.
OF great jurist says in Il rec rec
ost ssantr;hution to a popu
monthly, of tho uses and De
fits of Commission 10 corp
nan tons and people: -, /;
''"" 0The facts above stateu !
my cate what seems to me tne 9
rec. need Of a Railroad and tho
her lie stand in apparant antagoI
10 wi rhich frtqusn tly and needle
becomes real antagonism.
en'e they ought to be in harmony arm ,
anne mutual prosperity. The Il
and nrnsrerous the railroads
tbs.r he better are they able to
~ ~ form the services for v
90 thew are created. To deny
have ,aes rass.onable compensation
cr;nnle or hamper them oy,
the ia,s and vexatious leglsli
to load them down with u
80. sonable burdens, will app'
NV impolitic from tho stanupS ',
law nubIic interest as it won
a fix, for an employer to put n
ing to want on short allom"nvJ; . II,
from compel him to carry well
lron ~. Iphor Ifon the othel
orney, i. not uncommonly be-
diator the railroad managers
their times invite unfriendiy
which ment by assuming n
where their just position
.,o Of agency, by disregard
settle bv extortion and by fsv'
the impolicy Of conduct
d the part is..squally plain and
: chin. mischievous.
ror The first and most I'm
Ich ioi dnty of a railroad comml
ing the will be, to stand as .
Q Press. nmpire between the pu
the one hand and the
Oern, n. lnteresb Sol us
, have a He should be given p
Ile pad examine into au the :
, caught railroad work, to hyes
began to cal complaints OF uuis''
q the la or determinations, OF
kindred. able managements OF
nd little, ~ aelavs of obstructio
II home, i tho immune
wed him "@y'' "'' saaao,s
Post. uoyaLce an"