The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-01-30
HOUsE-EIGHTEENTH DAY.
MONDAY, January %, 1884


House met pursuant to adjournment
Leave of absence was granted to Messrs
Caldwell, Dale. Hollingsworth, Watson and
Hughston-
Mr.. Williamson, from Committee on
Railroads, reported back the bill introduced
by Mr.. Baker, an act to supervise the rail-
| road companies of this State and to create
! the Office of State Engineer and detin
lis powers and duties without recommen-
lation.
Mr.. Montgomery, of Bolivar, at request
| Of Mr. Brien, introduced a resolution deem
| ing it unwise. inexpedient and detrimental
/ to the interests of the State to pass any
/ bills at present tending to supervise rall-
roads Lies over under the rules.
| The following entitled bills were read
| twice and referred:
| Mr.. Underwood act to authorize an
| election to prohibit the sale or giving away
or otherwise disposing of for gain o.
| recompense spirituous, vinous or malt
| liquors, or any Intoxicating bitters III any
| county in this State upon the conditions
herein provided for. Temperance.
Mr.. Williams To protect physicians IN
their fees, etc Health and Quarantine
Mr.. Clemens provide for the assess
ment of money loaned in this State by non
Il
residents. judiciary.
The Joint Resolution providing for an
examination of the condition of the Cap
tai building. Adopted
The special order of the day, having ar
rived. an act to provide for the reputation
| Of freights and passenger rates on railroads
and for the taxation of the property OF
railroad companies in this State and for
other purposes.
Mr.. Williamson moved the bill be con-
siderei engrossel, read third tins ana
placed upon its final passage.
Mr.. Williamson spoke in favor OF the
MASSAGE of the bill 1t had never been
ienied. he said, that the State had rlgh'
| 10 supervise all common carriers, ana tne
railroads had to-day obtained control OF al
traffic of this nature, hence the great neces-
sity for supervision.
The present great and growing III 1nopo-
lies rendered the necessity at the PreSeh'
day for supervision tenfold what !. was
Faw wears ago. The fact of railroads being
/ 5a-s,,dent on State legislation for exist
| snee. carried with it the right to controi
/ the r;0hts granted to railroads were not toI
nrivate benefits or to benefit few indlyId-
| aaIs Int for the benefit of the public, and
! a. sueh should be under control that these
| rights might be secured to the public. ne
4 ,nestion of expediency, he looked on as bal
a subterfuge; the people had been told foi
aioht wears that the matter would be settled
! Int when the question comes up the excuse
IL made. wait little longer. Compettoh
j doas not regulate; ON the contrary,lt makes
matters worse. The speaker illustrated M:
argument By comparing two parallel Ilnes
rnnnino at ruinous rates for few me nth
a sale of franchise, a compromise, ana
rasnlt yrharein two lines do tie WORK Tor
marIx done by one, at rates to suit them
i salves There are no commercial centres
n Mississippi. hence no points to be bene
et,n5 lx eomuetition. There Is no State II
Ire Union hut what has larger commercial
centres than Mississippi. and she Is an az
ricultural state and the roads need super
vision.
After reading extracts from records re
. latino To the operation of railroads IN othe
States. and from letters alludlng % IN
q syl,iect. he relatei instances of dlscrlmIna
| son 81 ehsrres which had been called t
his notice, and concluded By alIuaing
the proposed mode OF supervision an
speaking to its merits.
Mr.. Eorrei stated there was data ehols
to make a several hoaE's speech on the sup
Jet, but be onl5 proposed to SPEAK 2 81
/ Minutes he stood t0-da9 uRoA sle -, :
grounds he did two years ago on tins sun
iect The charters Of the roads be sale
ave 10 the roads certain imm mites an
, privileges and he denied that suPervlsioo
could take away the rights vested 70 IN
roads By their charters he qroted aecls
IONS on the subjects to uphold his argu
mant ana said the Suprsms Court was be
Kind him to back him up in that OPINION
snnposinQ the Legislature did not act Q
: re question at the present time, It did nc
|, afFeet the rights Of the people TO act on
: as another time. Georgia. he said, ~ fou
vears under railroad supervision had Dslll
Int forty-two miles of railroadl While Mti
- -. kssiit over 81 hundred miles,
! REGARDING the rates proposed ~ sgpel
-;e;or. IS kad moi heard them specific.
xfssr tf'irsr years q study an cid superb
fe,,sle4,f of railroads confessed # % 1e {.
s.,ost iil.lcuit sarl Of tie business He 81
grnszzisfnn ii Geozgia had nos eeson Psas'
: y - ds-irea snd; he had read railroad =
: g, 49, 49, filel IssE two years rom stat
where supervision Pis ta..ssI - =
( 1900; -. ~ issonefs Tepozse1 snpe
1900 sssi''ss .eFfsiat5en failure ID
3 -ss,sSs'7S 81 Iiinois Wepla jump g 4
mrzirsnri relss 4Lefea ~ vac ess.'la''s g