The Dawson journal., 1885-09-24
Senate Railroad Bill.

prominent features of this bill
ere: LIST, 1t delegates to the
railroads the rate-making power,
retaining in the Commission full
power and authority to correct
wrongs or errors made or done by
the railroads. So, it is i'm
possible for the corporations to
wrong the people. Cd, 1t provides
for an appeal by the patrons of
the railroads, OF by the railroads,
from unsatisfactory rulings made
by the Commission. To thor
oughly understand this matter,
we propose to briefly review the
situation, together with compar-
ison Of the mode and measure of
relief afforded to the patrons of
the loads in this State under the
present and the proposed law.
We imagine that it will be con-
ceded that the reasons for clothing
the Commission with absolute
power are not the same to-day as
they were in 1879. To controvert
this proposition would be to i'm
ply, at least, that the six years
of life of the Railroad Commits
sion of Georgia has been wasted.
Ii the Commission has done what
its friends claim for it, then rea-
sonsble and just rates are now
established on every road in
Georgia, and unjust discrimlne-
tions are no longer practiced by
any of the corporations of the
State. Under the law as it now
stands, or under the proposed
modification, the duties of the
Commission will be confined to
the hearing and determination. of
cal cases, which, as the law
nrw stands, the Commission can
hear on its own motion, or on the
complaint OF some person or per-
sons, or of some town or city,
community or corporation. The
chances are that all of the Com
missions actions will in future, be
upon complaints, whether the law
stands as it is or whether it be
modified. If the law remains as
it is, and without modification,
the Commission can determine
such complaints with or without
citing the company complained
against to appear at the hearing
If the proposed bill becomes 6
law the Commission will be com.
pelled to give the defendant, the
party complained against, notice
of the time and place Of hearing
the complaint. This cannot hurt
the complainant, and is but rea-
sonable and just to the party
complained against. AT the hear
ing, under either law, the Com
mission can only determine what
is just and reasonable, and leaves
the complainant to the courts of
the State to recover any damages
he might have sustained in the
premises. Under either law the
railroad company complained
against must conform to the rule
or decision of the Commission, OF
subject itself to the penalties
enumerated in the act of October
14th, 1879. To recover such pen.
alties either under the present, OF
or the proposed modified law, suit
must be instituted in court Of the
county of the State where such
violation of the rule or regula.
ton of the commission occur.
red. So no matter which law
is enforced, it is a matter fol
the jury to pass upon at last II
is claimed by the opponents of the
proposed modification that in the
event OF the change of the law as
proposed by the Senate, the rail
roads will put up fare to 5 cents
per mile and freights so they
will be burdonsome and oppres-
sive. It is well-known that rail.
road managers are men possessing
a reasonable amount of common
sense, and we think this fact CON-
pletely answers the charge just
quoted. We all know that even a
child which has been burnt breads
the fire which burnt him. So
with railroad managers. Their
past experience has taught them
a severe lesson which they will
not soon forget. We confidently
predict that no such results will
follow the proposed modification