Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-01

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One Of the most important measures
thar the Legislature. at its session this
month, viii have to consider IS that which
! provides for certain notifications Of the
railroad commission law.
! The report which the Legislative com
mittee will make, relative to the condi-
ton Of the business Of various railroads
oil the state, will have, doubtless, very
great influence in determining the extent
to which the railroad commission law
shall be modified, provided il recommends
any modification at all.
We assume, of course, that the report,
coming as it will, from some OF the aDlest
members of the Legislature, VINO were
selected because Of the confidence in their
integrity and judgment, viii be accepted
as containing the facts, respecting the
condition Of the railroads and their bust
ness prospects, as near as they can be
obtained.
The Legislature at It's last session hesl-
tated, doubtless, to act because Of it's ina
bility TO get satisfactory Information
about the roads. The statements Of the
railroad managers and the Railroad Com
mission were contradictory. Under the
circumstances it was impossible tor the
Legislature to do otherwise than to ap-
point committee Of its own members TO
make q thorough investigation Of every
thing that the Legislature ought to know
Pertaining to the roads,
The report no doubt viii be full and
complete. No part Of it, probably, will
be made public before it is presented to
the Legislature. If it alleges that the
statements which have been published by
the commission relative to the affairs Of
the railroads are strictly in accordance
with the facts there will be no attempt
! Of course, TO modify the Railroad Commits
sion law n, however, the report sus-
tains the claims made by the railroad
managers, it is only reasonable to sup
pose that the law will be at once SO
changed as to give the railroads the relief
they are demanding.
There are two things that members o.
the Legislature ought to keep clearly in
mind. One is that there is no purpose to
abolish the Railroad Commission, and the
other is that these of the people of Georgia
who are anxious to see the State prosper
do not want TO see the railroads of toe
State ruined. While they want the people,
who have dealings with the railroads, TO
be treated fairly, they are willing that
the railroads shall have an opportunity
to make a fair profit on their Investments
1t is expected that the report Of the Legis-
lative Committee will show whether the
people are being treated fairly and
whether the railroads are given a chance
TO prosper.
There is no occasion for argument to
show that railroads develop a country.
Railroads have done much to make
Georgia what she is, and they will do
much more. A great deal of the railroad
property of the State is owned by Geor-
gians, and a very large part Of il repre-
sents Northern capital. 1t is safe to pre-
diet, perhaps, that while the Railroad
Commission is clothed with its present
extraordinary powers neither Georgians
nor Northern capitalists will put much
money into new railroads in Georgia.
The receipts of the greatest Georgia rail
road have fallen off largely, and its stock
has suffered marked decline. The reason
is SAID to be the remarkable rulings of
the Railroad Commission.
There is no reason why the railroads
which have done so much to make the
State rich and great should now be dealt
with as if they were public enemy. 1t
the report of the Legislative Committee
shows that they are oppressed and are
died, it is expected that the Legislature
will not be slow in providing such reme-
dies as appear to be necessary.