The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-03-22
THURSDAY, MARCH %, 1888
RAILROAD Commission.

Railroad Commission.
There has been some very wise
discussion upon the proposed rail
road legislation by legislators and
through the papers recently. The
matter is probed to the bottom in
its constitutional aspect and the
supporters of such legislation have
found plausible grounds to stand
upon. The difference of opinion of
men eminently qualified to pass up
on the questions discussed presages
the difficulties that will follow such
enactments. 1t will precipitate
strife nd lead to lawsuits. In the
end, doubtless, the new law will be
u held, and then we shall have the
railroads under our heels and can
force them to deal fairly, but IN
getting them down we fall with them
and our injuries will be more sorely
felt than theirs. A member said
the other day that the only argu-
ment in favor of the legislation was
that the Bate platform required it.
The Bate platform does not require
it, as matter of fact, for it goes no
further than to demand a commits.
sion to regulate freights so there
shall be no discrimination, while
these bills propose to take absolute
charge of the railroads and exercise
an inquisitorial supervision over
them. Suppose the platform did
acquire it, we do not think its dictmDl
absolute, because that the discus
sion was limited and the matter suf
cred to pass without the challenge of
Interrogation. If, therefore, upon
this the first hearing Of the ques-
ton upon its merits, it is demon
strated that the measures proposed
would be injurious and unwise,
there is no obligation resting upon
the party to inflict such legislation
upon a state just at the door of an
industrial boom.
This observation introduces US to
the very gist of this matter. The
railroads are the prime factors in
our advancement; or rather, they
constitute the prime and indispens
able means 20 that end. We must
preserve and sustain them for this
purpose, and even admitting that
their manner of discriminating
sometimes does grievous wrong t.
Individuals, their general work is
for the vast uphuilding of our whole
country, and this general result ST.
greatly overshadows the small in
jurics they inhict that they have no
weight in determining the issue.
If the acts are unconstitutional,
of course they must not pass-plat-
form or no platform. If they will
bear the constitutional test by a.
scratch, the doubt will be the oc-
casion for an appeal to the courts,
and this will generate antagonisms
and so our industries that hold up
appealing hands to the railroads for
assistance will be met with the judg-
meet: How oft would l have |
gathered We under my wings, but
We smite the hand that has power |
to bless, and now will pass We by |
and give aid to those who are not /
mine enemies" WIZ not that be
Just condemnation?
The Bate platform never imagined |
such Interpretation A moderate
law requiring equal treatment in
the matter of rates is the full extent |
of itS requirements, and to go be-
yOnd this is not only to violate the |
platform itself, but to invite calami
ty ard precipitate evil. Whenever |
an instrument treats upon a ques- |
ton the inference of law is that it
says exactly all it desires to say,
and it is as much q violation of that
instrument to add to it as it is to
take from it. When, therefore, the
platform declared tor "a commission
to prevent Discrimination it said
all that it desired to say, and to add
to il other features is even worse
than disobeying the actual require
ment, for it makes detestable even
that which was required.
If n democratic representative
plants himself behind the platform
and makes that his ultima thule in
his explorations for reasons to
justify his vote, the people should
require him to carry out his own
argument in full and do no more
than the platform calls for. If it
had wanted more, it would have
called for it, and q man has no more
right to add to than he has to take |
from it.
gGTbro,v nhvsfc IN tho dOOs', il q corn-