The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1884-02-28
INTERSTATE COMMERCE..

The readers of The Hfaslp al know that
Hos. JoHs II. REAGAN. member OF congress
from this state aud now chairman OF the
house committee OF commerce. has Tor
some years Ta.t been trying 10 push
through congress n bill for the regulation
ofinterststs commercess /, railroad tariffs.
He and the friends Of bis bill fondly hoped
that when he Was made chairman OF the
commerce committee be would meet with
no difficulty IN making favorable Tepor,
on his bill nor in It's passage, but II seems
they united without their host From
late news tom WsshIneton 1t appears that
Mr.. REAoAS him,eli isnot now sargulnc
ofthe passage. His committee Is lar IRON
being unanimous, indeed II seems thai
n majority are opposed TO II. The
committee Is divided IN to what
sort OF measure. II any, ought
TO be adopted. He has consented to the
committee 20 allow some notifications II
necessary. bu. he only counts certainly on
seven votes. Including his own, yet hopes
ne may get the eighth, eigst being a ma
joIiy VI the committee. The troutls with
most OF the members OF tho COMMITTEES
seems TO be as 10 what powers 10 give 8 com
mission for regulating freight rates, II one
be appointed. Some members think II
would be unconstitutional to clothe the
commission with judicial powers, cor tend
ing tba, the solut on OF the prof. lens should
be left to the regular courts. Mr.. OSCAR
TURHEl contends that no commission IL
nee d, at all, and that the commerce COM
N ittee ITSELF can regulate interstate COM
M cree. Those of the commi tee who favor
0 commission, Of whom Mr.. RsAsAEis not
ne, think Mr.. REAGAS's bill entirely too
o tripaent as IN initial measure. Mn BAnKs
pA II. ope.of he committee, has prepared
o bill providing for the. appointment
of six, by the president, with
power to make ressor able freight and pas
sepger rates, Tor tech interstate railroad
Mr.. PITKRs, another MEMBER OF the commit
tee, has bill for 1.-The establishment OF q
national court OF ar bitrRtioD to consist oil
CHI ief. justice and four associates, appointed
by the president, TO sit in Washington, none
OF Is, members TO be inter
ested asa stakeholder or director
in any railroad, telegraph, tele-
p hone. manufacturing or mining corpora
tion, with power TO determine the compen-
sation for skilled and unskillsd labor foI
any corporation or person whose interest
extends from one state into another, ard
TO FIX the maximum freight and pssseDg'r
rates of interstate common carriers, to d,-
eImine parlor and sleeping car rates, and
to fix the rates for telegraph and telephone
m esssges. This bill, we take II,
would be unconstitutional. There
are several other bills OF
similar in port before the committee from
Others of its members. These various biii-
all show what q diversity Of opinion on TINS
question OF the regulation Of Interstate
commerce, prevails throughout the country.
Can we not reasonably inicr aud argue
rom this that the country il not DESTROYS
of any interference by congress with the
railroads? 1t IL an admitted !Ecs that rail-
road progress. spd development in the
states and territories rs whole
arc far ahead Of the times and
necessities OF commerce ard trade
In the older stat0s there may be no
more railroad iacliies than exigencies DE-
mapd, bet in the western and southern
sta tee comparatively sparse il population
and with lin.itless inchoste resources, men
of enterprise, OF energy and OF means have
invested their capital ard their Ia
Dor in railroads trusting to immi-
grafton and TO development OF
these res7urces to make their investments
pay. These investments have given inn
petus to the advancement of these rcgior
of which.we speak. have brought immigrs-
ton and other capital In their wake for
their develop moDt and their growth and
Is 1t wise or prudent or just to hedge them
about, these railroads and other internal
Improvement. with legal enattments that
W i'll be Sc clogs to their prosperity, az
hin dIar ces to. their well beine7 The cry Of
monopoly is cheap clap trap, it is slogan,
perhaps, to make the groundliDgs roar and
howl. but 10 1t rot tho supeilative offolly
the very scme OF suicidal action to MAIN
aud wound ard cripple that which helps
III public good, which aids in the general
welfare? Water finds its level, trade event
up itself. and railroad competition within
sta Q or from one state to another, balance
M usrely, and wherefore all much ths "adt
.about nothinef"