The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-07

great ability it summons to its service. and it's
mense probabilities for evil well as for good eas,
not Ali most powerfully 30 affect the isnsgiraf5er
and 70 cause no little apprehension for ms fff,Ts,
even in the most thoughtful and weIi-baIznee,i
minds The fact too, that the managers of arsss
lines systems Of competing roads are found asr
ing upon rate, and perhaps upon apportionrept Of
business and thus apparently putting end TO COM
PehIen has the appearance OF organizing those who
should be competitors with one or more zrea-
lon0potes, with which the public j. compelled i,
zeal on their own terms; ami these terms viii
EtsS'9 tace ie taken 10 he unreasonable and ofen-
stFe Tor the reason that they are dictated exclusive
y oy one OF the parties concerned irrespective OF
tuiearrig viii in the other. The railway interests
being thus peTsonihed a monopoly al Individual
interests, aS may come in conflict wih IL seem 10 l.
placed at great dsaivanlage; none Of teTa receives
and disbursss such vast sums Of money none of
them has 50 many desirable places al Us disposal
none q them without loss 20 itself eau grant 70
many favnTs, none Of them has 50 many means OF
Affecting duly or unsuly the legislation OF the conn
try - ErrAt power j. certain 70 be more ar less
abused. and when il Is welded as sometimes il WfH
=. by men who are arrogant oFsrtsaTing and reck
less Of the riEhtso 81 Others the public are more ike
" to resard the abuses naturally and inevitably
pertaining 70 a system than as exceptional
The facts above stated indicate what seems to me
the chief nsea oi railroad commission The
rsrosd interests and the public stand ia spparenf
aHtag0niStu, which frequently and ueedic>sly ta-
comes resl sHtsyonisru. But they ought 10 bs iB
harmony and mutual prosperity The more pros
Porous the railroads theiheiter are they ahs
Perform the services Tor which they are created. To
hamper them by needless aud vsNailos legislation
q uad them down with unreasonable AurstrIs W5lt
appear as impoligiC from the standpoint oi public
interest s. lJ would De Tor An employer 10 tut hs
servant short allowance, or ~ compel him 10
osTTy weight At hiSlahoT- H. on the other hand
Is not uncommouiy believed, tnr rai faad in1u4e'rS
sometime invite unfrendly ynlasneut ty aSsunliia
mastery where their Just position IS one us agency.
hv disregard Of Law by ext0rJou, altd y fyortisu1
the imFoiicy of conduct ON thttt i@'t IS equally
plain and equally niSc hieNous.
The first and most important duty Of a railroad
srazan H-ra.n AIS
public on tie one hand aud The railroad lu5srt~t
serving il the other. fie should he given paver
to examine ipio all the details o railroad work. 60
inf estisste local complaints OF Unfair charge r ,its-
o. unreasonable management n trains.
or el delays, oi distraction i his aus ana Iii' IN
unmeTshie annoNanccs and dallScIe ot which tie
public has, or thinks "a has occasion @" Complain
70 examine the condition OF the road thc safety ai
bridges aud other StTuctGrc- whether rt"ier rci-
istleu uf police established ana Culurcpd a-
nrotcc ion against calamitiss and ~ should ie his
1aty TO bring Go the attention OF the raToaa issHa-
sr misconduct in which tho pUhiy would t- cau-
,eruei lie should urcuare himself tu give authorI-
atlNe and reliable Information ss basis tnr pub;c
GA railroad a1Sirs. and his impartial posi-
jen and standing should bc such ihat uis .nlJT}ua-
Ion viz De accepted without any off the suspicion
shjch l. SO likely 10 accompany that Nulch IS
furnished by the railroad c,usl .lutic> themselves.
can not admit ei doubt that 81 competent ant
ult4blc commission, occupy ng u'i~ position, could
lC of inCavulable advantage. not otN tu TINE patts
rat 20 the railroad interest.
STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
Perfection is not claimed for either
# these bills, but either Is long step
n the right direction. Ii must be re
that ne product of human
lands or human brsin Is perfect. None
,ut infinite Power and Wisdom can look
lpon His work and say; It Is finished.
.ET THE CONSTITUTION BE ENFORCED
THE RIGHTS OF THE people, BIZ MAIN
TAINED.
1t has been said that there are ire
oncilable differences between the cor
,0rations and the enormous capital they
epreseut on the one hand and the
american public on the other-the
after, for self protection, claiming their
light of control by legitimate legisla-
ion within constitutional limits; the
ormer denying and defying such con
rol. in the House OF Representatives,
N the 10th of December, 1869, the late
President James A. Garfield, then
member of this body, submitted re-
'ort containing this language;
am persuaded that the next question 90 he con-
-onted will be that Of corporations and their rca-
on 10 the interests of the people and 90 national
fe The fear is now entertained by many oI
est that the national and state Legislature OF
ne nions IN creating these vast c"FEoi ttN
,oked spirit which may escape aud defy their
,ntrol, and which may WELD power greater than
legislatures themselves. The npidlty with which
lilroad corporations have consolidated during Inc
ast year is not the least manifestation ot thi7
over.
In the light present surroundings,
hese words, uttered fifteen years ago,
cad like prophecy. If there is an
irrepressible conflict" between these
forces-I trust there is not
-hatever else shall fail, let the Constitu-
ion be enforced, let the rights of the
eople be maintained.