Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-02-08
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.

Mr.. John M. Robinson, of Baltimore, who
is represented to be largely interested in
railroads in North Carolina, has recently adj
dressed letter to Col. VIM. Johnston, OF
Charlotte, deprecating State legislation for
the regulation of railroads. In this letter,
Mr.. Robinson says: "The action of the South
Carolina Legislature, and the contemplated
action of the North Carolina Legislature has
taught me a lesson. l don't think any one
with whom have connection, could be in
duced to put another dollar in Railroads,
either in North Carolina or South Carolina,
or in fact anywhere in this country without
substantial guarantee, that our rights to
property would be protected"
This was written presumably to affect the
passage of the bill for the regulation of the
railroads, now before the Legislature of
North Carolina but Notwithstanding the
implied threat Of Mr.. Robinson, the legisla-
tive committee agreed last Monday to re-
port favorably the bill creating three rail-
road commissioners for that State. With
the exception of mere verbal changes the
bill is identical with that passed at the last
session of the South Carolina Legislature,
creating railroad commission for thisState.
This bill we published in full last week. 1t
is difficult to see in what particular this law
is oppressive to the railroads. While it
steps in to protect the people from monop-
oily created and controlled by capital, at the
same time it gives these powerful corpora
tions ample privileges and latitude to con-
duct their business in a more satisfactory
manner to themselves than would be the
case if rival lines existed. In fact, the rail-
road commission, as we understand it, seeks
only to be the barrier between the people
and monopoly. AS such it should prove no
detriment to railroad interests, while it will
afford that protection to the people to be OBJ
tanned in no other manner, in the absence of
competing transportation lines. AS to the
effect State legislation will have on the pro-
posed Federal control of railroads, which
SaVOrs somewhat of Capitalization, the At
lanta Constitution says:
There seems to be no doubt that the eStab-
lishment of properly constituted State Com
missions will practically dispose of the prob
lem of Federal control of railroads. The
States may not regulate commerce between
States, but, as in the case of Georgia and
South Carolina, where they have Railroad
Commissions, the question of regulating
Interstate commerce resolves itself into a
mere matter of rate adjustments. In South
Carolina the rates of the South Carolina
Commission will apply to car load of
freight. When the car crosses the Georgia
line, the rates of the Georgia Commission
will apply. If the rates of the two Com
missions are adjusted so as to fit each other,
the problem is Solved, simply and naturally.
That it is proper solution no thoughtful
person can doubt. 1t is a solution that each
State can reach for itself, simply by estab-
fishing board of Commissioners, composed
of it's ablest men. With a properly consti-
tuted Board in each State, backed bya wise
statute, there will be no more necessity for
Federal regulation of railroads than there
will be for Federal regulation of freight
rates between Georgia and South Carolina.