The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1884-01-30
LEGISLATION Ao1INSr RAN

ROADS
Ii isn't often we find in, or ex-
tracted from, the Courier-JoWrRGl
utterances of sound sense and prac-
teal worth, worthy of prominence.
in our columns, like the following
taken from one of its recent edito-
rails: aOur people are growing
restless under the growth of corpor-
ate power, and are apt to be mislsd
in their efforts to reform. What we
need TO do is to remove all the re-
strictions we have placed in the path
of competition, to annul all legisla-
ton favoring corporations, building
up one class at the expense of ano-
Their, or comforting special and ex-
elusive privileges anywhere This
is all that is necessary. These three
resolutions of Mr.. Holman are worth
all the railroad commissions in Am
erica. ri If legislatures or congress
or commissions are to fix rates, reg
ulate tolls, in effect control the rail-
roads, we shall never be able to clear
the lobbies of railroad agents. We
need TO understand this clearly and
definitely. AS soon as it is an ac-
cepted fact that the management OF
the railroads is to pass from the
hands of their owners, we will have
consolidated the corporate power of
this country as nothing else could
do. These great corporations are
naturally competitive; they are
each striving for business and for
popularity with the travelling pub
lie and the commercial world. Ev-
cry new road affects rates some
where and calls for readjustment,
and this means reduction. This
competitive power acts silently and
irresistibly. It's force is only limit
ed by legislative interference. Pool
ing does not destroy it. In fact, it
is stronger to-day and more certain
in its effects than before the pools
were formed. Pooling made the
railroad business profitable, and this
prosperity led to the construction
of two new east and west trunk
lines. The tendency of rates has
been downward for twenty years,
not because of law which the leg
islature may suspend, but cannot
enact. IL is competition which has
accomplished this work, and the
wise legislator will see that nothing
is done to impede its operation"
TtRoferring TO the following res
olutions, offered in the House on the
2lst and adopted under a suspension
of the rules by vote of yeas PSI,
nays IS, seven of the latter votes
coming from the State of Massachu-
sets
ResolCed, That i'm the judgment Of
this house all the public lands hereto
fore granted To S aies and corporations
"a aid in the cOnst uction OF railroads
so far rs the same are subject to forfeit
ture b. rraSOn Of the nOn-fultllmeni
Of the conditions on which the grants
we're made, ought TO be declared for
feited TO the United States aud restored
TO the public domain.
Res{Ded, That IL Is of the highest
public interest that the laws touching
the public lauds should be so framed
and admin. stored as to ultimately
secure free holds therein O. the greatest
number OF citizens, and TO this end
all laws facilitating speculation in the
public lands or authorizing or permit
ting the entry or purchase Their OF in
large bodies ought To be repealed and
all e the public land adapted TO agri-
culture suhjecI To bounty grants, and
those in aid Of education ought 10 be
reserved for the b, nafit OF actual and
bona fide settlers and disposed of I'M
der the provisions OF the homestead
law only.
ResOluod, That the committee on the |
pull c Ia .ds-is hereby instructed To re-
p1rt q the house bills to carry into
eT cg the views expressed in the fore |
g,i g r. solutions, and that it shall be |
TO report such bills at any
time, subject only to revenue ana |
bills, and the same shall |
be in like order entitled TO cOnsidera- |
ton.