The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1885-10-15
THE RAILROAD BILL DEFEATED.

hAitdyt dSte o., nays -. Inc Oil
lacked five votes of the constitutional
majority of 50. Messrs. Clay and
Moon, of Cobb, voted against the
amendment, and thus aligned them
selves on the side of the people.
against the heretofore unjust dis
ordinations in railroad freight and
passenger rates.
Our idea of the establishment of
the Railroad Commission is. it was
to make rates uniform, and to pre-
vent Railroads in discriminating
against towns in freight rates, charg-
ing more for a shorter distance than
longer one. The Central Railroad
by is oppressive and ruinous charges
Disseminated against Americas, AL
bany and other towns to such an ex-
tent as to make the establishment OF
the Railroad Commission a necessity.
1t was the Central and Georgia Rail
roads that excited the indignation of
the people and saddled the Commits
sion upon all the Railroads.
We do not believe in expressing
the Railroads. On the contrary, we
think the Commissioners should see
to it that the Railroads are allowed
to make fair dividend and then
on the other hand they should see
that one town is not built up and an
other pulled down by discriminating
rates. The merchant, the farmer
and the manufacturing industries are
entitled to have an equal chance.
Competition is sharp and close in all
lines Of business and the difference
III freight rates makes or unmakes
the success OF a business or enter
prise.
The State Of Georgia has iostcred
and protected Railroads, encouraged
railroad building, afforded them man
liberal favors, granted chartered
privileges, to condemn land for the
right Of way, given State aid and the
use Of convict labor, while the PEG.
pie too have donated large subscrip
tons, given the right of way anC
many privileges to secure the Rail
roads through the different section.
OF the State, and they too are emit
tied to some consideration, as it is
their patronage that makes the Rail
roads remunerativc. We do not be
lieve in antagonizipg labor and CAPT
tai, but we think just concessions
and proper adjustment Of differences
should be made so as to insure to
both harmonious business relations
Any other spirit would work destruc.
ton and discomfort. We think il
should be the earnest desire of the
Railroad Commissioners to satisfac-
torily adjust the rates so that there
shall not be any well grounded com,
plant on either side.
1t is part Of the organic law Of the
State, embodied IN our Constitu
ton, making it an imperative duty o
the Legislature to regulate ralroa,
tariffs, and this must stand until tn,
State Constitution is changed, anC
this is not likely to be done.
The Railroads, in the amendment
, defeated, asked that they be givel
the right to appeal from the thre
Commissioners to jury OF twelv
men in each county, where the com
plant of discrimination might origi
nate, the Railroads insisting that tive
Of the Commissioners did not know
the value OF a cross tie. But for the
unnecessary litigation and increased
expense to the taxpayers, we woulC
f not object to an appeal to jury
but We cannot conceive how lively,
ordinary citizens mechanics, farmer,
and merchants, selected as a jury
would be any more competent t.
pass upon the regulation of freight
rates, than the Commissioners who
make it study. Heretofore the
Railroads have complained that when
iuues tried any case where Railroads
were sued that they almost invaria-
bly, decided against the Railroads.
What has brought about this Sudden
conversion that the Railroad corpor-
atoms should now insist in having
their cases appealed toa jury? Have
these people less prejudice than here
totore against Railroads But for
the State Constitution inhibition and
the additional and expensive litiga-
! ton it would entail, We would not be
afraid to trust a jury rendering a
verdict that would be for the best
interests Of the people. The Rail
roads, We dare say, wouldfnd just as
much complaint with the vcrdicts of
the iuries they do the regulations
Of the Commissioners, and the SUI
prcme Court Judges, who are moth
ing more than three Commissioners,
would have to pass on every case.
And if so, where would anything be
gained? 1t is only an effort Of the
Railroad monopolists to emasculate
the commission Of its powers and to
practically abolish it.