Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-10
RAILROAD Commission Bills.

Railroad Commission Bllls.
The advisability Of limiting to some ex-
tent the powers Of the Railroad Commits
sion is Oceupving the attention OF the 4
Legislature. This matter is very impor-
tant. because it involves the interests OF
the railroads of the State, the interests oil
the people and the prosperity OF the oIase'
There are two bills pending-one IN the
House and the other in the Senate-Whlcn /
provide notifications in the Railroad /
Commission law. The one in the House /
is doubtless more satisfactory TO the Kali |
road Commission than the one IN the sen
ate. II provides for the publication OF
notice of any contemplated changes in
the rules, orders or schedules established
by the commission, and gives the inter-
ested parties a chance to be heard before
the proposed changes are made. If the
decision of the commission is unsatisfac-
tory al appeal may be taken to the su-
perior Court Of Fulton county and from
that court to the Supreme Court.
The bill in the Senate is favored by the
railroads. 1t takes from the commission
the power to fix and regulate the rates Of
the railroads, and makes the commission
A sort Of board Of arbitration with power
to hear complaints Of aggrieyed parties
and pass upon them. There is, however,
an appeal to the courts from its decision.
The two bills are very different.
The Legislature has a very difficult
task to perform. Its aim ought to be,
and doubtless is, to do that which will be
/ Just to the railroads, protect the interests
Of the people, and promote the welfare OF
! the State.
! The commission, of course, insists that
the interests Of the people and of the State
require that it should make the rates for
the railroads. 1t is willing to give up
part Of the arbitrary power it exercises,
| but isn't willing to yield the right to
/ practically control the business Of the
railroads. In support Of disposition that
il is better for it to exercise the power
that it has at present, it alleges that rail-
road building in the State has been far
more extensive since it came into exist
ence than during a like period imme-
diately preceding its existence.
The railroads claim that it is impOssi-
bic for any commission 70 so familiarize
itself with the business of the various
roads as TO fix rates intellIgently and
Justly, and that the effect Of the exercise
of such extensive powers as those vested
in the commission is to depreciate, and,
in some instances, ruin railroad property
ana 70 check railroad building. They
admit that more miles Of road have been
built since the commission was created
than were built during a like period pre-
ceding the commissions existence, but
| explain that about all the lines that have
been built under the commissions rule
were either begun or projected before the
commissions time, and that they were
simply completed after the commission
became an institution Of the State. If
this is the case the commissions claim
relative to railroad building, since it be-
gan to exercise authority, is without
foundation. The railroads further claim
that no money is being invested in rail-
roads in the State and that none will be
so long as the commission is clothed with
the arbitrary power it now has.
Here are two points for the Legislature
to inquire into before it acts. 1t IS GER
tain that more roads are needed in the
state. and it is certain that railroads de-
velOp the State. The development Of the
State will result in a lower rate of tax
alton. because it Will increase the amount
and value of taxable property. If the
development Of the State is checked, the
prosperity Of the roads already built must
necessarily decline. If the progress of the
State is retarded the interests of the peO-
] Enn aTeD of
arbitrary power by the commission may
bring them a temporary advantage, but
may not this advantage be more than
overbalanced in ways that are not imme-
diately apparent?
Before passing any bill relating to the
powers of the commission the Legislature
ought to sift 10 the bottom the statements
made by the commission and the rail-
roads. Ii is a fact that railroad build
ing has about ceased in Georgia, and
that capitalists refuse to invest money in
railroads here because OF the power ex-
ereised by the commission, it ought to be
known and admitted. 1t is worse than
folly to make laws blindly. If the power
| exercised by the commission is an insur-
mOuntable obstacle to that development
of the State which is produced by rail-
roads it is certainly time that it was so
limited as to be harmless, and vet be suf-
ficient to correct any wrongs complained
of by the people. 1t is noticeable that in
the most advanced States, those which
railroads have made rich and great. rail
road commissions have not the extensive
powers with which the commission in
this State is clothed.
We are in favor of Railroad Commits
sion. and We want it clothed with sufi-
cient power to prevent unjust dis
ordinations, but we don't want it
clothed with power so great as to bar
out capital and arrest railroad building.
Has the commission in this State such
power? Let the Legislature inquire and
act in accordance with the information
obtained. Let it take into consideration
that low rates are more apt to result from
competition than from the authority of
commission, and that by checking rail-
road building competition is prevented.