The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-07-11
Railroad Supervision The Legisla.
ture.
Fayette Chronicle

n
is likely to be pretty freely discusseC
before the fall election, and as the Vicks
burg Herald has ventured the 0pinoI
that, if pressed to an issue, it would
split the Democratic party, | think /
statement Of some facts connected with
it peculiarly proper at this time. And
first Of all, let il be borne in mind: thi'
agitation is not confined to the farming
classes. 1t may be said all sorts have
taken hand at it, and none more thar
the merchants Of New York, represented
by their Board of Trade. The state
ment is now made that more than TWEEN
ty States have passed laws bearing on
the subject, but perhaps no two exactly
alike.
Now, before falling out and splitting
up about such thing, we ought to be
sure all attach the same meaning to the
words.
We know that in Texas they are de-
fined by law to mean three cents mile
for passengers and no determinations
in Georgia, commission armed with
supervisory and inquisitorial powers to
correct all abuses in every State, as it
appeared Just and equitable to the legis-
lators thereof. Nor are we utterly with
out some precedents in this State, though
of course not binding on the incoming
legislature any further than its judg-
ment may approve.
The proceedings of the last Legislature
constitute some guide for us in the de-
bates this summer, and it would be well
to be posted in regard to them.
When the Chairman OF the Committee
on Railroads made his report, he had at
his back at least two-thirds of the House,
and after consenting TO some amend
ments of an important character, 1t pass
ed that body by large majority. The
bill provided for commission OF three,
to be paid by the State with supervisory
and judicial powers, after the Georgia
plan somewhat, whose duty it was to
look after the whole business of railroads
and decide upon such cases as might
arise between them and the citizens do
ing business with them. This action of
the House caused fiutter and rally.
Gen'l John B. Gordon was sent for, and
made strong speech in favor of corpora
tons.
In the Senate the vote was so nearly a
tie il was not known for some weeks
what would be its fate. The legal point
that the bill created court, which it
was alleged the Legislature could not do,
was used with effect, and it hung fire for
long time, neither being strong enough
TO suspend the rules and take it up out
of its order.
After the lapse of month perhaps,
another and, as think, better bill was
offered in the House, accompanied with
the statement that the railroad men would |
be satisfied with it as compromise of
the whole question. 1t is known as
House Bill $50, and declares that over
charging and discriminating in railroad
tariffs shall be deemed extortion, subject
to such penalties as are therein detailed,
and requiring full statement of the as
sets, rates of charges, &C., &c, of all the
roads to be filed with the Auditor, to
be used as evidence in cases of prosecu-
ton. By it, any individual deeming
himself injured by railway was author
lied to lay his case before the district
attorney, whose duty it was made to sub
nit it to the grand jury. In case of a
true bill he was required to prosecute the
road in the name of the State, for extor
ton, receiving as his fee ten per cent of
the fine imposed, the remainder to be
divided equally between the complain
ant and the State.
The House seeing the committee Bill
hard aground on the Senate calendar,
passed this also with little show of oppo- I
sition. being anxious to secure some legis- (
lation before adjournment, and liking it
quite as well, if not better than the {
other. :
Why neither never became law is
not now the question. / simply wish to
show that the last act of a Democratic {
House on this supervisory question was {
in favor of making over-charging and /
discriminating extOrtiOn, with proper {
penalties, nor could the people do better {
than elect Legislature this fall pledged
to take up II. B. $50 and pass it, as all
the legislation needed in the matter.
Whilst it makes the State defend |
man perhaps poor and friendless against /
corporations representing millions, it is /
so manifestly Just that even the Herald
and the New Mississippian would not t
raise their potent voices against it. a
Nor is it fair to say that that House, t
which passed the measure, was unfriend- a
" to railroads. The editor of the New
Mississippian, who was also its clerk, a
will bear testimony to this. He knows n
that it passed every charter that was 4
offered, some of them of a very wildcat
complexion, and had one been proposed
to run from Ubedam to Hellgate even, /
in all likelihood it would have gore /.
through, but always with the proviso
that something must be done to place !,
the people on an equal footing with pub i
lie carriers.
Is there any danger OF dividing our
people by proposing to make overcharg- :,
ing and discriminating extOrtiOnf Or /
rather, on the other hand, as a party :
measure will the effect not be to keep =
them together, by declaring that corpora :;
tons shall be subject to the same .
penalties as individuals for a violation
of the extoTtion actG 1t is peculiarly i
the province of the Democracy to look Il
after the interests of the masses, and If I
it allows the discOrdant elements in this =
state to capture its heaviest battery, :,
why then, defeat is sure. =
w. /. HARPER. :"