Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-18
Give the Railroads the Right 10 APP
peal.

Az -" hA0NA 49,
road, and which is always arrayed
against Injustice and oppression in any
shape, should favor granting to the rail-
roads the right 10 appeal from the de-
clsious Of the railroad commission.
There ought to be no occasion for sur
prise even on the part Of those who side
most strongly with the commission, be-
cause it has not been many months since
the commission itself, in one OF us reports,
suggested that II would be only just to
grant the railroads this right. Why the
commission has changed its view, and
now opposes granting the right, no one
apparently is able TO explain.
But, Independently Of the fac hat it
has been but a short time since the com
mission recommended that which the rail
roads are now asking for, we are in favor
Of limiting the power of the commission
TO the extent proposed because we are
satisfied that this power, as il is now be-
ing exercised, is damaging to the State,
aud especially 10 this city. While we
want the railroads to prosper. because We
cannot get along without them, we are
particularly anxious for the prosperity Of
the state and savannah. We have looked
at the whole matter very carefully, and
are confident that We are not wrong 10 the
position that we rave taken. We wantit
to be distinctly understood, however, that
we are not opposed to the commission.
We are only opposed to the exercise by
the commission Of such extraordinary
powers.
We have said frequently, aud we repeat
it, that it is impossible tor a commission
not composed Of experts in railroad man.
egement, to fix the rates OF great railroad
systems 80 as TO do Justice to the rail-
roads and the people, and at the same
time promote commerce. The rates which
the commission fixes must be arbitrary
because it csnnot possibly know all the
reasons why the rates on one road should
be different from those on another, or how
great the distinction in the rates on GER
tain kinds of freights should be. For in
stance, there are grades Of resins that are
not brought to this market beyond s. GER
tain distance because the rates fixed by
the commission make the freight 80 high
that there Is no profit in them. The pro-
ducer loses the resins and this city loses
the handling Of them. II the railroads
were permitted to adjust their own rates
these resins would not be permitted to
waste. This is only one instance. 1t
would not be difficult to point ont others.
Under an intelligent adjustment of the
rates by the railroads some interests
would nave to bear a little heavier bur
den than they now do, but others would
have u lighter burden. The aim OF the
railroads would be to so adjust rates as TO
make every interest prosperous, because
their prosperity depends upon the growth
and prosperity Of the territory from which
they draw their support. They are not 30
unwise as to pursue a policy calculated
to damage the source from which their
business comes.
or course the representatives Of each
branch Of trade or business are al the
time trying to get better terms from the
railroads. They do not seek the general
good. Indeed, there are few of them who
are capable of considering the public
welfare when their own particular inter-
est is at stake. The time when they talk
about the public welfare is when the IN
terest OF sOme one else Is at stake. Men
whose whole possessions consist of a
desk and a bank account do not care
much If a railroad that Is necessary
to their business goes into the hands OF a
receiver, or the city in which they do
business shows signs of decay, provided
their immediate interests do not suffer
and then the farmer, the merchant and
manufacturer, in their desire TO secure a
little temporary advantage, seem to for
get that their success must depend largely
upon the prosperity of their respective
communities.
The prosperity OF this city depends
largely upon the two systems Of railroad
which have their headquarters here,
Without them it would rapidly lose its i'm.
p0rtance. IL has no large manufactures
Its people depend upon what is brought
into and taken out of 1t. Without the
railroads they would be almost without
occupation. OF course there is nc
danger that they Will ever be deprived OF
their commercial arteries. but did it eve
occur TO them that the headquarters oil
lhelI iohus might DC moved 10 pOlnts
side of Georgia in order TO escape some OF
the eXactions and %anuoyances Of the Rail
road Commissiong There is not much
doubt that such a possibility has beer
discussed. The Savannah, Florida and
Western railway can reach the seaboard
at Charleston and the Central a.
Port Royal. The possibility thai
either railroad would take such a step is
Of course. exceedingly remote, but it new
ertheless exists. If what the President o.
the Central says with regard 10 the affairs
OF that corporation is correct, and we have
no reason 10 think that il isn't, IL is Ger
tain that some movement looking towards
self-prOtection will be made unless The
commission is deprived Of a part OF lis
power.
There is another view of the matter
which some people OF this city do not ap
pear 20 understand. II is that the rail
roads which lave their headquarters here
will not maket the Improvements that they
would IL they were allowed TO manage
their own AFFAIRS. Lately, the opinion
was expressed by a gentleman who is IN O
position TO speak from information. that
ifi had not been for the railroad com.
mission Savannah would now have 1000
tnnra fuhuhffoufa thau oha kaa IL 80