The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-04-02
Railroad Supervision-The Points OF
Difference in the Bill Vetoed and
the one Approved.

EpIToRs CLARION: / am surprised to
see it stated that the Governor vetoed
his own veto" when he approved the
last railroad supervision bill. There are
several points oil difference between the
bill vetoed, and that approved.
The first bill contained no provision
making the tariff prescribed by the
Commission obligatory upon either the
railroad companies or those dealing
with them. Ii railroad should have,
in good faith, conformed its rates to the
tariff prescribed by the Commission, it
would nevertheless have been liable to a
civil suit for damages if jury should
decide tina. the tariff of the Commission
provided for more than Just and reason
able compensation. 1t was this feature
of the Tennessee bill which was es-
pecially condemned by the United States
Circuit Court.
The bill which the Governor approved
protects railroad company against all
prosecutions, civil or criminal, where II
conforms its rates to the tariff of the
Commission.
The original bill provided that if any
-a;l-and-aarapany shall violate any Of
bllE DTOf1SiUuS Vi ltiN elGb3 VI any VA tAAS
rules or regulations prescribed by the
Comm ssion, and If, after due notice OF
such violation being given to such com
pany, it shall not, within thirty days
thereafter, make full recompense for the
wrong and injury done thereby to any
person or corporation, as may be directed
by said Commissioners, such company
shall incur penalty of not less than one
thousand nor more than five thousand
dollars. In his veto message, the Gov
ernor declared that this provision VIC
lated the Bill of Rights, where it is guar.
| anteed that mo person shall be deprived
of life, liberty or property, except by
| due process of law" and section |, arti
Gle 6, of the Constitution, where it il
| provided, "That the Judicial power OF
| the State shall be vested in Supreme
/ Court" ETC., and section |, article 4, oil
| the Constitution, where it is declared
/ that, t'the legislative power of this State
shall be vested in the Legislature, etc
In Difference to the views of the Cover
nor, this Objectionable feature Of the
/ FIRST bill was omitted from the last bill
| The original bill also provided for 8
scheme of railroad taxation which oui
/ Supreme Court had condemned, ane
/ which the Governor in his veto message
declared unconstitutional. Here, again
the last bill was made to conform to thu
Governors message aud the decision O
our Supreme Court.
/ / have thus enumerated the three
i principal grounds on which the GoYernol
vetoed the first bill, and we challenge
| investigation to show that single ont
of them is found in the last bill.
The first bill contained 81 sections
this last contains only % sections. Thi
of itself would indicate materia
amendment.
The truth is, that the Governor sale
he would approve railroad supervisor.
/ bill of q certain character, with tn
objectionable and unconstitutional fea
lures of the first bill all eliminated
The Legislature took him at his word
passed bill that conformed to hi
recommendations, and he approved il
This is all there is in it, and there IS nj
ground for the charge of inconsistency
| We have good Commission and il is t,
be hoped that all things will work to
i gether for good to the people and rail
| roads. BRoAD-taAUGE.