The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-01-18
rHE RULERS or THE ROADS.
The Scw railroad Commission Organized
Ee..cr;!.y.

COLUMBIA, January l0.-Thc Rail.
road Commission, under the recent Act
Of the General Assembly, met to-day
and organized, after taking the pre.crib-
cd oath Of office, by the election Of cx-
Governor Bonham a5 chairman. All
three Of Tie commissioners we're present,
ex.Goveruor Jcter having arrived last
evening, and Capt. Walker, the Charles
ton member, reaching Columbia this
morning. After taking the oath, the
commission met and discussed the de-
tails OF the important WORK before thcID,
but did not reach any conclusion 10 10
what plans they would adopt. The
commissioners are deeply impressed with
The immense power with which they
have been entrusted and the far reaching
consequence of their actions. 1t IS
probable tina, before deciding upon any
definite policy they will go to Atlanta
and consult the Georgia Commission as
10 the operations Of the railroad law in
that state and profit by the experience
Of the Georgians. Two OF the commits
sioners talked to me today about the
matter and said I'VE want 10 move
very cautiously and intend 10 pursue II
conservative course, doing nothing, If
We know it, that will be unfair TO the
railroads or unjust to the people. We
have not yet examined the law with suf
iicient care to say what we shal! do. 1t
will take time to work out the great
problem by which we are confronted
We certainly shall try to do wha, we
conceive to be for the highest public
good. Just yet we can't tell how we
shall proceed. II will take time and
study before our pans can be maturcd."
such is the simple, straightforward,
honest way in which these men have
gone to WORK. They do not mako any
threats, they have no axes to grind, they
mean to do the best thing in the wisest
and most conservative way, as well for
the corporations rs for the Stale There
i'd no telling when their plans will all be
perfected, certainly not for several
weeks. and until they have discussed tho
law aud the situation in every aspect.
| asked one Of the commissioners if
they expected 70 give the railroads Il
hearing. llo replied, Eve shall have
y" objection to receiving suggestions from
them. Perhaps they would only serve To
make our path palmer, but wo shall not
be governed by any advice or counsel
which We do not conceive to be conso-
nant with the public good"
The railroad commissioners are hold
ing night sessions. They have been
hard at work since half past 4 o'clock
this afternoon, and up to this hour, .
O'Clock, show no sign Of adjournment.
They have not yet selected clerk, for
which position there are many appI.
canis.
II is rumorcd to night that Col. Il. l..
Mclaughlin, Of Newberry, has resigned
the presidency of the Columbia and
Greenville Railroad. The report has
not been confirmed, but many knowing
ones believe it is true This much is
certain, that Col. Mclaughlin has had
the subject of his resignation under con.
sidcration for Il long time, and that if he
should resign it would not be owing in
any way to the establishment Of the rail
road commission, but solely to the inter
ference of his railroad duties with his
private business at Newbcrry, which is
very extensive and engrossing and really
demands all his time.