The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-12-11
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.

Of the House of Representatives upon
the several railroad bills now before that
body, is certainly unique document.
It is clear case Of dodging the issues
presented, and was no doubt influenced
to considerable extent by the fact that
there was not now sufficient time 10 ma.
turcly consider these important measures,
if an adjournment is TO be effected
before the Christmas holidays. The
Committee begin by saying that they are
divided as to the wisdom OF the legisla
tion heretofore had upon the subject, but
lay that difference aside for the purpose
of making an experiment which they
believe to be unwise. This is tentative
legislation with vengeance Another
reason urged by the Committee is that
there are no petitions for change in the
law, and that the Commission report "less
discrimination, more stability in rates,
and fewer complaints than lave ever
heretofore existed" This is undoubtedly
true, but the reason for it does not nee.
essarily prove the wisdom of the existing
law. There is no discrimination, but
there is great difference in freights ne.
cessitated by the present law, and it
works alike injuriously to the railroads
and to certain communities. There is
stability Of rates, because when the rate
to one place is changed it has also to be
changed to every other place on the
road. There is no complaint. because
complaints can accomplish nothing. The
law is being complied with, and neither
the Commission nor the railroads can
change the rate to suit the necessities of
local exigencies. For instance, we know
that there is complaint in Anderson
about the rate on car load of live stock
to Charleston, the charge from this point
being sixty dollars, while from Green.
wood it is only thirty, and from Seneca
fifty dollars. The rates from Seneca and
from Greenwood are fixed by the competi-
tion of the Augusta and Knoxville and
the Air Line Railroads, but the Company
have no right to reduce the rate TO
Anderson without reducing every other
rate between Walhalla and Columbia
The rate has, under the law, to be greater
for longer than for shorter distance,
and must change every ten miles, 90 that
the Company cannot reduce Anderson
without also reducing all other rates.
The effect of this is that it pays shippers
to drive their cattle to Greenwood, rather
than ship from Anderson. The Compa.
ny, therefore, loses in freights by this.
The shipper is greatly inconvenienced,
aud the price of live stock in this market
Is made perceptibly less than around
Greenwood. The people here lose by it.
The same thing Is true of other lines Of
freight also.
The Committee give No an additional
reason that they want to leave the pres.
ent law to zee how the Courts will decide
certain questions ns to the powers of the
Commission as 1t now exists. This
reason appears specious 10 us, for If the
system is wrong II should not be allowed
TO stand, simply to settle speculative legal
questions: and even If it is important to
have these quentions decided, it can very
easily be done by saving clause in such
amendatory Act rs might be passed. We
cannot, therefore, perceive the great force
Of the argumen' that there are questions
of Importance now before the Court 1t
is rather an argument against than for
the system.
The Committee likewise take strange
position when they virtually admit that
the ealaries Of the Railroad Commission.
ers ought to be paid by the State. and
that at the right time they will favor
such q measure, but decline to afford the
relief which they admit ought to be
granted. They strike the keynote to
the trouble when they say action on this
matter might touch the whole system,
for they evidently fear that tho payment
of the sa:aries by the State would induce
many me mbers to vote to repeal the law.
Surely IL the system 10 not stToug enough
to permit the State to do what is admit.
ted to be right, 1t ought to go. We
know the COMMITTEE have labored under
difficulties In the present instance, but
the question, in our opinion, ought to be
squarely met, and determined upon its
merits. We believe that the law ought
to be 30 amended as TO allow railroads to
charge the same for longer as fyr shorter
distances, where their businpss would
suggest II. For by this means 90 injury
would be done TO any community, and
then the State ought 10 pay for her own
oficeEs. s
We believe that one Commissioner
with The powers given him under our
formtr Act or under the Massachusetts
Act, where all the grievances are reported
directly to the Legislature, Is the best,
the ntst conservative and the safest
system. though wo do not believe any
great injury would be done by the pres.
ent law SO amended as to permit railroads
to equalize freights along their lines and
require the State to pay tho salaries OF
her own officers. We believe one or the
other nendment to the present law
wonld prove advantageous to the people
of the State.
THE LAST RI:PuBLIcAa PRESIDENT.
The meeting az, Congress yas unattan.