Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-03-07
Railroads I'm the South
I,ouIsVilie Courier Ionrnal


In the conflict of opinion concern
ing the question of transportation il is
well TO note that the demagogues who
rushed in To settle all the difficulties,
counting on certain agrarian spirit
among the people, have, as n rule, been
sent to the rear. The high-handcd
interference with rates advocated by
the amateurs only resulted in evil, and
there has gradually grown up i'm the
south distrust of railroad commiss-
ions scarcely less strong than the old
feeling against railroads.
The people are beginning 10 realize
that this question of transportation is
so complexed, and in it are involved
so many and such far-reaching inter-
ests, that special knowledge and train
ing are required in order 10 deal with
ii intelligently. Rates To any one
point involve rates to almost every
other point, and no law arbitrarily
fixing rates, and no commission with
such arbitrary power, can do anything
except mischief.
Ant-railroad legislation has retard-
ed the growth of the railroads in the
south; IL has made such property in
secure and capital apprehensive, and
consequently II has limited the pow
ers OF competition-of all forces the
most effective and the most iar-reach-
ing. The south needs more railroads.
but until it can be shown that the
capital already invested in this class of
property in the south is somewhat re-
munerative, capital will not build
more roads
The author of the Reagan bill in
congress is an old and honored mems
ber from Texas, and yet there is not
road in that state which pays divi.
dend.
The people are beginning 10 under
stand this question much better than
the politicians They have an active
and personal interest in the matter,
and are not so easily misled rs once
they were.
In Kentucky the people and the
railroads have reached a much better
understanding than ever before, and
complaints are much less frequent.
The attempt made a few years ago by
some commissioners, who wished to
magnify their offices, TO arouse feel
ing OF bitter antagonism, failed utterly,
and though it is not true that the
railroads have done all that the peo-
pie expected, il is true that year by
year, under the influence OF competi-
tiun and the enlightenment which
comes from experience, the relations
between the road and the people are
OF the most amicable character.
In Alabama an exceedingly agrees
i've commission has been very clearly
repudiated by legislature fresh from
the people. This commission had in
volved itself in numerous controver-
sizes with the railroads, and was breath
ing out threatnings and slaughters
against them. When the legislature
met, the commission submitted batch
of bills to greatly increase its powers
and hamper the railroads. There
came from all sections of the state
such protests that, we believe, with
one exception, all these bills have been
defeated, and the man who was the
most active and earnest commissioner
failed to secure reelection.
Two years ago'Tennessee established
a commission, the members of which
thought nothing existed affecting
MiAiiiA AliIN liOl
and going beyond the law
they were efiectually tied up by an in
junction. Then the question came
before the people. The
were nominated by
the democratic convention and in
democratic state were beaten by large
majority. il was a severe defeat.
This was plainly vote of instruc-
ton to the legislature to repeal the
law The dissatisfaction OF the people
could not be expressed more unmis-
.akably. Policy also dictates this
The repeal OF the law takes
his whole question out OF politics aud
makes it possible to reunite and
strengthen the party in Tennessee.
The railroad question, like the debt
question, divides and embarrases the
party, and, like the debt question, IL
ought to be removed. Ifit is not il will
De a menace to democratic supremacy
n Tennessee. We cannot afford such
risk. The small majority for Gov.
Bate and the defeat OF the democmtic
mmissioners naturally excite un-
,asiness With the railroad question
,ut Of the way, it will be no difficult
natter to have again in Tennessee
democratic majority of 25,00O.