The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-13
The Railroad Bin.


The time il now at hand for the ac-
comp1ishment of some legislation On the
question Of supervision, or the abandon
ment for an indefinite time Of the whole
subject. We trust this Legislature viii
crown itself with honors in settling the
question properly.
So much has been said and written on
the policy, the expediency AID the le-
gality of railroad commissions, and bills
for the supervision of railroad traffic,
we take it that every member of the
present Legislature has convictions Of
his own upon the subject by this time.
The question certainly has two
sides. The People are upon one
side and the Railroads are upon
the other. Either the people are wrong
and the railroads are right, or the rail
roads are wrongand the people are right,
is certain.
We shall not at this late day, and in
view of the speedy passage Of the bill
renew the discussion of the matter, but
we will say, by way of adverting to some
Of the objections raised against the pol
icy Of this kind of legislation, that it is
defensive legislation against real or imag-
mary grievances, and unless imaginary,
| it ought to become the law. And who
denies that real grievances do exist
The most ardent opponent OF
State Supervision will not deny that I'M
/ just determinations are continually be-
ing made by the railroad companies, and
every line Of railroad in Mississippi al
this time compels the local traffic to pay
fer the loss they claim is sustained OF
the through traffic. Neither can it be
denied that the railroads put on the
freight as much tariff ''as it is able tt
bear" We think this is wrong and
ought to cease.
That able and staunch journal on oul
Northern border, the Memphis Appeal
says, Railroad are, as a rule, necessari
ly monopolies, and where there il
no competition and no power
of resistance to wrong, the power mono
poly gives will, in most cases, be exer
cised for the benefit of those who hole
it regardless of the disadvantages tn
public have to endure"
i When it is said the managers of tn
railroads are doing all they can to cor
rect the evils complained of, we hav
only to say that the very agitation o
the right of the State to supervise is tn
reason for it.
1t is idle to say that the exercise 0
the sovereignty of the State will proven
the buildingof new lines of railroad with
in our borders. 1t will do no sucl
thing. State Supervision means JUS. 9u
peryision, and with able, wise and jus
men to exercise the power of the State
the men who build railroads will go o.
with the work, yielding obedience t
the same laws that govern every Othe
interest from the hand of power.
We hear it said that Constitutions
objections are in the way. At som
other time we will have something t
say to this point. We have the que:
ton now, fully approving the languag
of a distinguished American lawye
when he said "the Dartmouth Colleg
case is practically reversed with it
declaration of vested rights, and in tn
way it was applied it became it a bu
den so serious it was clearly seen tbs
l there must be either a limitation, a
explanation or a qualification of its do'
trine, or a revolution" 1t has been qua
: flied, and nothing can change the strid
of the mighty strength of public opinio
until the power of aggregate wealt
yields peaceful obedience to the law @
right.