Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-09-21
The Railroad Commission.

Nashville american: A reporter of the
american yesterday found Col. John II.
Savage, of the Railroad Commission, at
work in the Senate chamber, and obtained
from him the following facts regarding the
commission: The three commissioners
have been travelling about the State, post
ing themselves as to freight and passenger
charges and ascertaining the views of
communities as to the justice of the same.
They have obtained some concessions
from some of the roads in favor of the
people. 1t has been the policy of the
commissioners to report grievances to the
different roads, and appeal to their sense
of what is reasonable and right. The
commission is now engaged in preparing
a general schedule of freights for all the
roads in the State. This schedule, which
involves much labor, will probably be COM
pleted in the next thirty days, and the sew
eral railroad companies will be notified in
order that they may be present by repre-
sentative to suggest any changes which they
may believe Justice demands. Col. Savage
spoke of the great labor entailed upon the
commission in the examination of the
freight schedules in particular. The law
creating the commission did not even al
low them clerk, while the railroad COM
panies had the finest legal talent as well as
the most efficient of clerks. All the rail-
roads were q unit in their desire to keep
the freights up to the highest point. When
one road was dealt with it had the support
and backing of the entire railroad interest.
Among the alleged determinations re-
ported to the commissioner is one from
shippers at Lebanon. They claim that q
carload of mules can he shipped from
Lebanon to Nashville for Sl0,l while the
freight on carload of -four from the
same place to Nashville is $50. The value
of the carload of mules is about 5000,
while that of tire carload of flour is about
500. The shippers claim that here is an
unjust discrimination, particularly in view
of the fact that in case of an accident a
number OF mules would probably be
killed, while very little, if any, -four would
be lost. Then, too, the -four is loaded and
unloaded with much greater ease than
| the live stock. Col. Savage and Gen. Cor
don are in the city. Col. Turley is at his
home in East Tennessee. The next meet
| ing of the commission will he on October
| list.
| THE COMPLAINT of THE FARMERS OF VIII
HANSON.
The Franklin (Tenn) RerietU and Jour
| nal is accredited with the following: The
| complaints of our farmers and shippers
are Increasing in volume every day against
| the iniquitous and illegal determinations
\ of the railroads in this State. They say
| plainly that if our commission can do any.
| thing in the way of relief they want II
| Immediately. They say if our law is moi
strong enough to regulate the railroads
| they are going to get up petitions to the
| Governor to call an extra session OF the
| Legislature and have the law made strong
| enough to stop these exactions. They art
terribly in earnest, and they know thai
the heart of the executive beats in unisor
with their desires on the subject W.
must have relief. Keep the ball moving:
In reference to the above Nashville
World reporter called at the Office OF thu
commissioner, where he found the secre
tary at work on "basis for local stand
ard tariff for the entire State, and asket
leave to INQUIRE whether the farmers ant
shippers referred to in the above articl
had preferred any complaint against tn
railroads. to which he replied that no for
NAL or written complaint had been mad
to the commissioner from the localit
mentioned, and added that none but
written or formal complaint could effect
iyely be taken hold of by the commission
indeed the law requires the complaint t
| be in writing and to specify the matter
complained OF, and "if it appears to tn
. commission that there is justice in tn
complaint or that the matter ought to b
investigated, the commission shall fortf
with furnish to the person or corporatio
| operating the railroads copy of the con
, plant, together with notice that, at a tim
and place stated in the notice the tariff 6
E to said items will be revised by the con
: mission. and at such time and place
e shall be the duty of the commission
hear the parties TO the controversy