The Dawson journal., 1885-08-27
OUR RAILROADS AND THE LEGIS-
LATURE.

because of high rates of tariff in
either freight or travel. But
there had been long, loud and
continued outcry against the enor-
nous and unjust determinations
made by the railroads in their
freights. These determinations
and the contemptucus Indifference
of the railroad authorities when
appealed to to remedy them has
become a part of the history of
this section OF the State. 1t was
this injustice on the part Of the
railroads that finally placed a
clause in the constitution of Gaor-
gia giving the Legislature the right
to regulate freights and prevent
unjust determinations.
1t seemed then that such
clause in the constitution was de-
manded by the situation, and the
experience of the years following
has proved its wisdom. But we
do not believe that the widest adj
vocates of this measure in the con-
stitutional convention or its warm
est supporters in the following
Legislatures ever contemplated or
desired the destruction or injury
of railroad property or railroad
enterprises or interests. We be-
lieve that the railroad commission
has been of some benefit since its
organization, but we cannot shut
our eyes to the fact that it has
caused W ,nderful depression in
railroad circles and impeded and
retarded railroad enterprises to
the injury of the commonwealth.
Under the present system, the
branch roads in Georgia are not
able to pay the necessary expen-
ses of keeping up their lines, de-
pots and running trains, etc.
There are many of these branch
roads nee led by the people, and
have been contemplated and de-
sired by the different main lines.
They (the main lines) have de-
lined to build them because of
their known inability to pay ex-
penses, and the people, in most
instances, have been too poor to
do SO. If our people were able to
build these roads, they could af-
ford to give the money for those
local Improvements and maintain
them as we would any other luxu-
ry. But we are not able, and are
compelled to depend on foreign
capital; and that capital will not
come unless it has some assurance
OF a reasonable return for the risk
incurred and the amount expend-
ed. 1t is important, then, for us
to determine, and that quickly,
what is best to be done. On the
one side, we are not willing that
the people should be left to the
mercy Of the railroads. On the
other, we do no. think that the
railroads ought to be taken from
their owners or that the regula-
ton Of it's tariffs ought to be
placed entirely in the hands of an
arbitrary and uninterested power
We can protect the people. We
fought to protect the railroads
There are now pending before tine
Legislature several bills looking tc
the amendment Of the commission
law. Not having these bills now
before us, we cannot intelhgently
discuss their merits. We under
stand that they all tend to a mod.
itication of the powers of the com
mission. This is just. These
powers can be modified with Jus
tice to the railroads and to the in.
I terests of the State.
TIE power to make rules, or FL
! rates, or change regulations with
out notice to the roads to be affect
/ ed thereby ought to be revoked
: Whenever n change is to he made
: i'll the rules, regulations or tariff,
1 each road to be affe1ted by sale
] change ought to have ample no
= tice of the time and place of hear
ing.
Whenever n rule has been made
or tariff fixed, there ought to b,
the right of appeal to some high
er tribunal and suspension O
Indictment until said at,,,an1 ic 10