Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-12-19

to bear, and she died few hours
afterward.
The Commission BiIl aud the
Railroad Injunction suit.
Nashville World.
As may be seen by reference both to
The Democratic and Republican plat
fcr=s, which have been adopted in |
Tennessee during the past ten years,
there has been universal demand from
the people of this State for legislation !
Of some kind 10 protect them from the
unjust Determinations and unWarrant>
ed extortions Of railroad companies
But from some cause, easily explained,
no doubt, by members Of the General
Assembly during those years, nothing
was ever done looking towarda practi
cal accomplishment Of the pledges
made in platforms, and the promises OF
legislators, until the last Legislature
passed the act creating a railroad com.
mission and defningits powers, II is
OF course, yet fresh IN the minds OF ell
with what opposition this effort was
met, and the extreme measures re-
sorted to in order to defeat the final pas
sage Of the bill. 1t is wholly unneces-
sary for us to recount the moves and
counter moves, the plots and counter
plots resorted to to defeat the passage
Of bill upon the subject. Ii is also
unnecessary for US now TO discuss the
relative merits OF the respective bills
then before the Legislature. 1t was,
however, generally understood, and
will aforementioned by every memberO Of
the Legislature, that the Louisville and
Nashville railroad, the largest railroad
corporation in the State, was present
by its attorneys, who appeared before
the Judiciary Committee Of the Sen
ate, and by their oral arguments and
printed briefs gave the Legislature to
understand that ii what was known as
the "Edmundson Bnl" should be
adopted it would receive their sane
ton and support, and they would as
sist in carrying out its provisions.
This occurred after the Caucus
Bill" had passed the House and was
pending in the Senate. Afterwards
the Edmundson Bill was substituted
for the Caucus Bill in the Senate and
subsequently, passed both Houses sub
stan,ially as it was first introduced,
and is now the law under which the
present Board of Commissioners is
acting.
Other railroad companies in the
State were also represented before
that committee, some Of whom urged
one objection and some another to the
: passage Of the various bills then pend.
e ing before the Legislature, all of whom
however, substantially argued that, i
0 any bill was to be passed, the Ed.
!, mundson Bill was least subject t
j criticism or objection.
e Pending the consideration Of thes,
D bills. a great deal Of feeling and bit
s terness was engendcred, and it wa
II generally believed that the substitu
It ton Of the Edmundson Bill for tn
j Caucus Bill in the Senat,
d would result in the defeat o
'e any legislation upon the subjec
IS by that Legislature, as it wa
a near the close Of the session, and
1t number OF the members OF the Hous
IS we're supposed to prefer no bill at all b
D. the Edmundson Bill, as it was though
IN to be too weak to do any good. Blu
in this. however, it seems both the ad
10 vocstes Of q stronger mandatory com
y mission and the attorneys OF tn
a Louisville and Nashville Railroar
a. Company were mistaken, as this roa
lg has now become suddenly Alarme
ID lest the Railroad Commission will d
Of something, and we're, strange 10 say
ID the first to enjoin the commission be
or fore they even attempted to establis
l. different rate Of tariff charges ffor
at those already adopted by the company
s. In fact, as we are informed, the com
d, missioners had asked for conferenc
D. with the general manager Of tn
m Louisville aud Nashville road upo
le the subject OF their rates OF tariff, 70
he the purpose Of seeing il basis ooul
~ not be agreed upon between the com
6, missionerg and the road.
as II thus seems that the very com
at pany which, during the session of th
IN Legislature, pretended to be mos
o anxious for the passage Of an accepta
he bic commission bill, is the first [
as object to the enforcement Of the Law
o Of course, in their effort to have III
en- Edmundson Bill substituted for tn
At Caucus Bill, tne attorneys did nc
Up thereby hope TO defeat the passage
Il. any bill upon the subject, for some
I'D the attorneys, at least, have bee
ut heard to express themselves as satil
ce fed with the action of the Legislr
b. ture since the passage Of the law.
ad The issue, however, is at last mad
at and presented no doubt in the for
re most acceptable to the interest Of Il
d people Of Tennessee. The commit
lis sioners certainly deserve great cred
~ for the cautious, conservative an
ell eminently fair course they have adop
lie ed ifthe administration Of the "a
an intrusted to their care, They Ia,
nd brought no suit, they have attempts
I'd to exercise no arbitrary powers, th,
lis have taken no important step in Il
re. enforcement OF this law without fir
ST. conierring with the railroad autho
ty. tiles most directly interested, and y
ed they are met at the very threshold
nd their lsbors by an injunction from ii
.se Federal Court, restraining them fro
lily the discharge Of their duties. ]
en- this action upon the part Of the raj
m. road companies they have plac,
Of themselves in open defiance OF h
all laws Of the laud, and have proclaim,
he their superiority to the law even b
be fore it is attempted to DO enforce
in They have thrown themselves und
an the protection OF the Federal Court
A not being willing TO intrust the dete
bill mination Of their rights to the deeisil
Of the courts Of Tennessee, who
led people, in large measure, susta
I'll. these corporations.
er, Have these pampered corporation
es rights not vouohsaied 10 the masses
as the people? The special privilee
eel they claim were granted as q free q
70, TO them 10 q great measure BY d
SEQ people OF Tennessee, and on accou
by OF which they have generously 4
In sumed the payment Of nearly fite
it, millions Of dollars. And has Il cor
vas to this that the creatures Of the Sta
vas can, with impunity, place Intensely
"a, 10 open defiance Of the laws Of 4
ON land, and the private citizen be col
at PEELED TO obeyl Upon what meat do
eh this our Caesar (the railroads) fe,
tbs that he is grown so grcat2' Age, tn
bis art shamed." Tennessee has certain
ain lost the breed of noble blood when h
rs people have been brought to this,
to they quietly submit to such an OF
ere rage.
rs Other States have passed laws ev
led more stringent than the one passed
his the last Northumberland and
ter linois, for instance and the laws 4
'he now being executed almost witho
gay opposition, and the railroads thel
ian selves prosper and the people feel N