Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-04

kJE. 4 elton anu Tic 4 bNSSs
1t was expected, Of course, that Or. Eel
ton would attack the press of the State in
opposing the bill TO modify the Railroad
Commission law. Indeed, about all OF the
members who oppose this bill refer in
rather uncomplimentary terms OF the
newspapers which support it. Their aim,
apparently, is TO destroy the influence Of
the press with their constituents, and
thus stop the pressure from their home 3
in favor Of the bill.
One Of the reasons why the press has
taken deep interest in the bin is that it
presents 10 the people OF the State one OF
the most important questions that they
have had before them for years. 1t may
be that some of the papers have changed
their views since the discussion OF the
bin began and that, although they at one
time thought the Railroad Commission
law should not be disturbed, they are
nov in favor Of its Modification; but if
here are such papers they changed,
doubtless, because they became con-
yinced that they were helping to supper
an institution, viz: the Railroad Commi
slou, that had altogether too much power,
and that the use was making Of it's pow
err was injuring the State.
The position Of this paper, however,
with respect to the powers Of the commits
sion is not q new one. 1t has all along
favored a commission, but il has opposed
placing the railroads absolutely in the
power Of a commission. 1t has watched
The effect of the exercise OF the powers Of
the commission, and became convinced
some time ago that these powers were too
great.
1t is not an easy matter to find men,
even among those trained in the business
who can manage railroads satisfactorily,
aud yet the idea on which the present
railroad commission law is based is that
any three men whom the Governor may
select can manage successfully all the
railroads of the State. That this idea is
erroneous has been so clearly demon
strated by the present commission that
there is no use to notice it further.
DR.. FELTON, and those in sympathy with
him In this matter have a fine opportu-
nifty to appeal TO the feelings against the
eXactions Of capital, the oppression of
monOpolles and all that sort OF thing, and
they will improve it doubtless, to the ut
most, but they will never be able to show
that there is any justice in taking from
the railroads the control OF their own az.
fairs. 1t is safe to say that the trainers
of the constitution never contemplated
putting the railroads under the direction
of three men inexperienced in railroad
matters.
DIR. FeltOu's reference to Port Royal
and the Port Royal railroad, TO prove his
assertion that the policy of the Central
Railroad is to prevent competition. was
not happy one. When the Central pur-
chased the Port Royal road the latter road
was IN a very dilapidated condition, and
travel upon it was dangerous. 1t is now
in excellent order. AS for Port Royal
the Central had nothing to do with the
failure Of that place to become an i'm
pOrtant port. Neither railroads nor cap
italists can make towns wherever they
want them. They can start them. but they
cannot make them grow. There ia more
than one failure along the South Atlantic
coast.
The allusion to the Western and At
lantic railroad was timely. In the case
of that road the inability Of the State to
manage Its own railroad property was
satisfactorily demonstrated. and yet we
have the remarkable spectacle Of the State
trying to manage the railroad property
of its citizens through commission. Is
it to be wondered ut that the owners of
railroad property protest?
The statement that the railroads have
attempted to control the policy of the
State is clearly a mistake. 1t has
always been the policy of the Central
to keep alOof from political entanglements'
While leaving It's employees free to do as
they pleased, 1t has always discouraged
them from taking an active part in poll
tics. II it had sought to exert an influence
in political matters it might have been
able TO prevent the legislation that took
from it the right to manage Its own bust
ness.