The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1884-02-08
The Railroad Bill


The time is now at hand for the ac-
com lisbment Of some legislation on the
question Of supervision, or the abandon
n ent for an indefinite time Of the whole
subiect. We trust this Legislature will
crown itself with honors in settling the
question properly.
So much has been said and written on
the policy, the expediency ard 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 wrong and the people ere 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 adyertiag TO some
Of the objections raised against the pol
icy Of this kind Of legislation, that it is
defensive legislation against real or imng
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 un-
Just determinations are continually be
ing made by the railroad companies, and
every line Of railroad in Mississippi at
this time compels the local traffic to pay
far the loss they claim is sustained on
the through traffic. Neither can it be
denied that the railroads put on the
freight as much tariff "aa it is able to
bear" We think this is wrong and
ought to cease.
That able aud staunch journal on our
Northern border the Memphis Appeal,
says, "Railroad are, IA a rule, necessari-
ly monopolies aud where there il
no competition aud no power
Of resistance to wrong the power mono
poly gives will, in most cases, be exer.
cised for the benefit of those who hold
it regardless of the Disadvantages the
public have to endure"
When it is said the managers Of The
J railroads arc doing all they can to cor
: rect the evils complained Of, we hav,
c only to say that the very agitation o.
: the right of the State to supervise is tn,
] reason for it,
II ia idle to say that the exercise o.
the sovereignty of the State will proven
) the building Of new lines Of railroad with
in our borders. II will do no sucI
thing. State Supervision means just su
:. pervson, and with able, wise and jus
. men to exercise the power of the State
the men who build railroads will 60 OF
9 with the work. yielding obedience tt
the same laws that govern every othc
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 cues
ton now, fully approving the Language
of distinguished American iawye
when he said "the Dartmouth Colleg,
O case is practically reversed with it
@ declaration of vested rights, and in tn
f way it was applied it became it bur
den so serious it was clearly seen tina
there must be either a limitation, al
. explanation or a qualification Of its doc
q trine, or revolution" lthas been quail
@ flied, and nothing can change the strid
4 of the mighty strength of public opinion
until the power of aggregate weatI
yields peaceful obedience to the law o
O right