The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-07
Bailroad supsrvision.

disagreement between our neighboT ana
ourself, but the difference between us,
and it is vital one, is that we propose
. to give some effect to the words used,
and our neighbor says that while what
J they mean is perfectly clear and no
? "sane" man can read them without a
] thorough conviction as to their meaning,
yet, within the meaning of the party
declaration as understood by it, there is
? nothing which Legislature may do.
. As we understand it the words with
in constitutional limits" add nothing to
: the declaration that Corporations are
supervisable." Corporations are super
visable or they are not superyisable.
We contend that they are superyisable,
our neighbor, that they are not. To
say that corporations are superyisable
within constitutional limits or that they
: are supervisable, simply, which means
J the same thing, and then to declare that
the Constitution protects them from su-
peryision, is triAing. We believe that
: our neighbor stands not on the platform
of the Democratic party, but on the
platform of the railroad companies, and
that the logic of its position is that
railroad can no more be supervised in
the interest of the public than can a
mechanic, printer, a merchant, or a
lawyer.
The assertion now for the first
time seriously made, that the super
vision plank in the Democratic platform
was mere notice to corporations that
the right to supervise was claimed but
was not to be exercised until some I'M
certain time in the future, is an absur-
dity. As we have said before party
platforms mean something and it is
entirely foreign to party usage to do
more than provide for present emergen-
cies-condemn existing evils and declare
and applaud principles of present and
immediate practical value.
That our contemporary doubts that
the Democratic party is committed to
supervision and that the members of the
Legislature who voted for the Commits
sion kuelp, not supposed, that they were
representing their constituencies is
amazing, for it must have been apparent
to any observant person that but for the
people at home, and the fear of their
condemnation the supervision law
would not have been passed
We are taken to task because in for
mer issue we suggested that the course
being pursued by the railroad companies
in this State was impolitic. Were we
right? Read and answer.
"In the Stateof Massachusetts this ques-
ton of supervisory governmental control |
was tested about twenty years ago. The |
commission which was established was an
exceptionally able one.
Charles Francis Adams was at the head of |
it. 1t ran along while as an experiment
tai commission having advisory powers
and in the effort to solve this problem it
proposed great many things to the rail-
roads. The railroads did not believe these
WOuIu SOLVE luO pTODleul, nor
they believe them to be wise, but In no in
stance, though the commission had no poper
other than to report to the Legislature, has the
mission recommended, no matter h0U Injurious
they might consider Il to be to the company,
financially, or hoC much 1t might be against tie
judgment of its officers And to-day the
is SO we'll settled in the State
of Massachusetts,, that there is no move
ment from any source to modify or repeal
il.
"My past twenty years have been passed
in railroad councils and railroad consulta-
tons, and of all the timidity that ever
met in my life, of all the fear and tremb-
ling that l have ever seen among men of
courage, nothing equals the timidity of a
railroad council in the face of public au-
thority
There are 1900 stock
holders of the New York Central Railroad.
Now, would feel sure that if the Wander
bilt interest should so act as TO place them
selpes IN hostility to the Legislature, and the
Legislature proceeded to punish the roads
so that it would reach the stockholders,
that before it reached them to punish, the
would be ousted. Every
railroad manager knows that he.owes his
place to keeping on good terms with the
people and public authority. There Is no
public authority that railroads ioould despise or
refuse 20 obey. They established in our
State commission. 1t has no power; it
is purely directory. . Instantly the
was created it was called upon
to assault the New York Central Railroad
Men were employed to go up and down
our line to get men to bring complaints.
The commission listened to those COM
plants, and they came to the conclusion
that on one of the branch lines the charge
was too great on one commodity, that of
milk, ard they reduced the rate. 1t was
against our opinion and our judgment ,
We did not think the rate was too great /.
However it reduced the tariff on that
one-tenth. We did not resist. !
We could not put ourselves IN aRtagonism to !.
he p0Icer Of the State as represented BE- those
hrsx men, AID II those men should impose upon {
= any measure, euen Of injustice, zoe icoad sub
nit 10 Il until tre could get relief from the Leg
stature as The higher authority though their
'Ouer Is purely advisory
Who is our authority Chauncey NJ.
Depew. Who is he? Attorney for the
Sew York Central Railroad Company,
me Of the greatest railroad corporations
N the globe. Is Mr.. Depew a good law
1er and does he understand railroad bus
ness? Yes. As lawyer ana railroad :
nan We will stake him against a car load q
f Mississippi anti-superyisionists and
ct our neighbor of the New Mississip-
ian stand on the outside and be count 2
d for good measure.
When the article suggesting that the !
'olicy being pursued by the railroads In !
was unwise, was written, we !,
iad not had the benefit Of Mr. Depew'sl J
reservations, but It was So clear to Us ( !,
hat there was something hot-headed in 5
That was going on that We doubted not
hat such distinguished support vas easy
. Be found.
Citizens Of Mississippi, why Is it that Z
d Massachusetts, the railroads, u 10
aslaaee. have refused to DO anything ?
Fhich commission wiskoaf po,s<F, has
10 muffa hoc i,g.lrioas :.
nsncially. and IN New York railroad 4
Management which would place itself Il
q hostility 60 tie Legislature and defy B
he Legislature would Be onsted, and ii 8 8
Mississippi railroad company which !. Z
efusss even to hear recommendation d
rom 4 commission and which dos place 8
lsall IN hostility 70 tie Legislature and y
los DEFY The L.esislafufe. IS apnlondsd !;
81