The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-12-10
Governor Long on Interstate
Commerce.


Vermonters have long held ex-Gov-
ernor Long of Massachusetts, in high es-
timation. His magnificent speech at Chi
cago, presenting the name of Senator
Edmunds to the national republican
convention, with one accord was de-
clared to be the peerless production in
the great array of oratorical effort on
that memorable occasion. AT the OPEN
ing of congress, in debate on the in
terstate commerce bill, in a speech of
remarkable vigor and power, he has
stepped into the position of brilliant
leadership in bold and effective dis
cussion which Garfield held in the
palmy days of his career as repre-
sentative. Two measures are pro-
posed for the regulation of interstate
commerce. One, Judge Reagan's, pro-
poses, by rigid statutory limitations, pro-
hibitions and penalties, to attack the
evils of railway injustice. The other, the
committees, proposes arailway commits
sion. Governor Long supports the lat
ter measure. He attacked Mr.. Reagan
bill, says the Advertisers report, as,
with all its threats and penalties, only
a brutuna ttlmen, and declared that a
commission would be more efiicacious.
He said:
"a corporation may be as powerful as an
ancient baron. 1t may laugh at statutory
penalties, but it goes on its knees, it trem-
bles with terror at entire exposure. Moth
ing can stand the illumination of public
gaze. This has been the tendency in Massa-
chHsetts, and it Is TO be remembered that
the board there has been made up OF men
from the ordinary walks of life, so that the
success has been more in the system than in
the men who work it, important and vital
as is the choice of these. Mr.. Adams, now
a distinguished railroad authority, was
nothing of the sort when he went upon that
board. To-day one member sits upon it
who, to his credit, was promoted, as a prac-
| teal man, representing the railroad opera
tives, from the cab of the locomotive, and
that commission, OF which Judge Russell is
| now the able chairman, is q safeguard and
| protection to our people, such as mere cast
iron statutes (and we have them lying moth
eaten and forgotten ON our statute books)
could never effect. Indeed, do not recall
an instance where these statutes, with their
idle thunders, have been invoked, while the
commission is constantly called upon to ex-
press its quiet, but ever-obeyed influence.
admit that in some states commission has
not succeeded, while in more 1t has, thus
showing that in the former the conditions
and not the principle have been at fault.
also admit that in so great a sphere as the
interstate commerce of the whole country,
this system will not fulfill its work If the
best men be not selected TO constitute the
board. But in view of the vast importance
of the trust and its jurisdiction, l know, and
you know, that public sentiment will de-
mand and find such men, whoever be the
appointing power Thank God, an indie
pendent public. opinion has secured a hold
in this country that compels, in the great
business interests of the people, something
more than favoritism or partisanship. With
such choice as Adams, Cooley, Thurman,
and score of others who might be named,
this bill would furnish remedy that would
set in motion the true diagnosis and cure of
the railroad evil. Much as differ, on many
points, from the distinguished chairman Of
our committee Judge Reaganl, l would
sooner, as measure of legislative relief,
constitute him sole railroad commissioner,
responsible to congress, than merely enact
! this list of bristling and Illuminating prohibi-