Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-14
MEMPHIS APPEAL
WEDNESDAY, MARCH u. 1883
THE RAILROAD ComnIssIos BILL.

THE KAILROAD COMMIssIOS BILL.
Ne party can long retain power or COM
mand the confidence of the people unless il
honestly adheres to its pledges. President
Harrison, in his inaugural address, said that
there was a striking contrast observable in
the conduct OF candidates before and after
getting Office, as they seldom practiced when
in power what they promised while solicit
ing the sufrsges of the PEOPLE. We trust
tue Legislature of Tennessee will not furnish
another example to verify the truth of the
duplicity and improbity which President
Harrison attributed to public servants. But
the news from Nashville is not reassuriDg.
The railroad commission bill has been H.
PRODUCED, and we learn with surprise and re-
get that it will be opposed by Demo-
Gratis who 10 the last canvass boldly planted
themselves upon the Bate platform. Our
representatives should faithfully carry out
the pledges made to their constituents. They
will, no doubt, do this to-day by their pas
sage OF the bill settling the State debt ac-
cordiDg to the pledges made to the people,
and they should be equally as prompt and
punctilious in protecting the people Of Ten
n's'ee from the injurious Determinations Of
the railroad monopolists. There is general
public demand, and not without reason, for
the passage of bill creating a railroad
commission which will do equal and exact
justice between the people and the railroads.
he stn ,1Ia al
strongest terms TO such q policy, ard the
Russell convention was equally as emphatic
in its pledges. II the Democratic
majority in the Legislature fails TO re-
deem its pledges to protect the peo-
pie against the injurious methods of the
railroads, it will roll up terrible account
against the party in future elections The
Democratic party Of Tennessee must be true
10 its pledges, because the pledges it made
on the 10th of June last were right. Many
CT the States have been compelled 10 create
a railroad commission az the only means to
protect the people from railroad discrimina-
tions. South Carolina and Georgia have re-
Gently created railroad commissions, and |
while they are protecting the people from |
all wrong and injustice, and sometimes from |
destruction, they have not interfered with |
the general workings of the railroads |
or made any perceptible diminulion in
their profits or INSTRUCTED their general |
prosperity. The State Legislatures regu.
late the whisky saloons, and they |
have ths same right 10 regulate the
railroads. Certain il is that the people Of |
Tennessee, on the 7th Of November last, pro-
claimed in unmista able terms that railroad |
corporations should be prohibited from dis.
eliminating in rates in a msnner that is in |
furious TO elias ca and localities; that public |
carriers of persons and commodities shall be
forced TO submit to the common laws re-
Quirsd by the common good. This country |
was not created for the sake of railroad cor
porstions, but the railroads we're chartered
for the ben. Fl. OF the country and the nse of |
the people, and must be held to their legi,i-
mate purpose. State governments are insti-
tuted for the protection OF the people, and
not 10 enrich monopolies of any
kind. This they cannot do with
out guarding with ssdulous care the
rights and interests of the people, es-
pecially against the aggressions and greed of
capitalists and monopolies. There can be no
doubt that the railroads political managers
are hard at work TO bring about the defeat OF
the bill introduced to create railroad COM
mission. II they succeed, the victory won at
the polls in November last will be fruitless,
nj far he of mil |
declaration of popular indignation and de-
mand in the future for relief. Woe to the
members of the present Legislature if the |
people are to be cheated out of the legitim ate |
results of their verdict. II the bill creating |
a railroad comm ssion should be defeated, |
the railroad monopolies will have wrung
victory from the very jaws of defeat. Mem
bers Of the Legislature may prove recreant
to their trust, fall down before the railroad
power and submit 10 have the corpora
tion collar fastened around their necks.
But they will receive the e1ecra-
tions OF the people who were determined to
prott CT themselves against ruinous discrim-
nations. Tbs honest yeomanry Of the hills
and hollows, the valleys and the mountains,
have voted by sn overwhelming majority |
their deep sense OF The gross wrongs Inflicted
upon them. They have cent to the L.gisla-
ture men in whom they have confidence.
We believe that in most cases this trust has |
not been unworthily reposed. The Democ-
racy OF Tennessee is sgain put on trial. The |
people are eagerly Watching its conduct. II |
it disregards its sacred pledges, defeat in the |
future is inevitable. The APPEAL has no |
war to make upon railroads. They are es-
sential 10 the country, and without them bust |
ness would be paralyzsd, ard we would |
almost lapse back into barbarism. Indeed, it |
is this indispensabilily that has given so
much power and popularity TO the railroads.
But now that they have abused this power
and popularity TO enrich themselves and TO
sacrifice industries, individuals and Iocsli-
ties, they should be taught the hard lesson
that there is limit to their usurpations and
that they were chartered, not to destroy, but
TO benefit the people. We trust there will
be no retreat from The professions and pledges
made during the CANVASS. The one
thing which has tended more than
all others 10 bring politics into
disrepute is the discrepancy between
campaign promises and after election
performances. The Democracy of Tennessee
is pledged to protect the people against ruin.
Gus railroad determinations, and il the
present Legislature should fail to afford ade.
quate protection by the defeat of bill
creating the necessary commission, the peo-
pie will not hesitate TO express their indig-
nAnt condemnation. Ii is hoped the Lsgis-
lature i, composed Of men Of sufficient
courage and sagacity 10 meet this issue in
spirit of farmers, and will deal justly by the |
railroads and the people, and thus bring a
peTplexipg question 10 final ana satisfsc-
tory termination. This is vital Issue, and |
RIO postponement of it's solution to future
lime will prove satisfactory.
2@-.-.........71
FINANCE AND COMMERCE.