Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-03-26
RAILROAD COMMISSIONS.
A Correspondent Presents His Reasons for
Advocating Them.

To the Editor of the i. &c Press
What are the uppermost questions, IN
deed what is perhaps the uppermost ques-
ton, in Vermont poll les, if not in three
fourths of the States in the Union to-day
1t is how to grapple with and control the
aggressive power of corporations Go
anywhere, talk with intelligent business
men, it makes no difference, farmers, mer
chants, manufacturers and you hear the
same thing 1t is not an unreasOning, I'M
founded prejudice, bat based on the pros
pprity of each section. The meaning of it
all is. not to cripple corporations but con
troll them. 1t means that when the State
grants certain rights IT grants no more
than these rights, however much they
may have been overridden. 1t means that
private interests are ignored, private bust
ness stamped out or encouraged at the
pleasure of these creatures of legislative
creation. 1t has taken nearly half century
for this corporate growth, and its gigantic
power can not be even properly hampered
in day. People have come to regard
| themselves AS too pOwerless, have stood
too long on the defensive. What is need
ed is aggression. Let us attack the in
vaders in their own camp. Public sentl-
ment. once thoroughly aroused, nothing
|
the issue will be, State against corpora
tions, and the battle will be fought out on
| that line. What the voters of Vermont
want in Montpelier are those men VINO
will make laws for both sides, Tor all par
ties. Railroads should have every pro-
lection. should be granted every privilege
to make them prosperous; not line
should be drawn in injustice. On the
OF her hand, their limits should be strict
! ly defined, and they should be
held to them Just as vigorously
as the hum Jlest citizen in the State.
Questions OF freight or passenger rates
the only vital point in the whole thing
should no more pass beyond the control of
| the State than statute charges OF officers
of law There should be furnished to
every man prompt and effective remedy
for injustice done by corporations. The
State should not leave its citizens its tax
payers to fight single handed and alone
the combination of millions of capital
| The task is too gigantic, and grievances
are borne that become CALLING rs chains to
a captive. First and foremost let the peO-
pie demand the election of railroad com
| mlssiOnerS. Let these commissioners he
paid by the State, and let them be respon-
sble directly to the people. Let them be
accessible at all times to both private and
corporate complaints, and let their
deliberations and decisions be as pub
lie as courts of justice. Let the
State clothe them with power
sufficient to accomplish every object OF
their creation and let the heaviest penalty
for bribery or corruption hang over every
official act. Is there Injustice III this ? l.
it unjust to audit State accounts ? Is II
uujlls for the state to scan the acts OF IL
sworn officials Is ii any more unjust tC
sean the record of and control the doing'
of It's corporate wards Let the governor
as has been done, recommend the election
of such a commission and you Will see the
railroad lobby fighting it to the death
And because the railroads hate it is why
the people need it. Let Us have railroa'
e. commits ,nnars *k