The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-12-01
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION
Solicits the views of Senators George
and Walthall and Attorney-Gen-
eral Miller.
REPLY OF SENATOR wAIrHAII
OFFICE OF RAILROAD COMMISSION,
JACKSON, Miss, November 18th, 1886.
:


OFFICE OF RAILROAD CoMxIssIoS,l
JAeKsoss Mss, November 18Th, 1886
~ Memphis
Hen. J. z. George, Hon F. c. walthafl, {. 9 Sen
ators; Hon. I. ST Miller, Attorney-General;
SIRs-Knowing the great interest
which you feel in any effort for the pro-
lection Of the people against unreason-
able exactious or unjust discrimination
by railroad corporations, and IN the sue
eessful establishment of the principle of
their accountability TO the people
through their Government, both State
and National, we take the liberty OF
asking you for public expression OF
your views on the subject named.
Since the publication of Senator
Georges letter on railroad supervision
several years age, other questions have
arisen, growing out of the enforcement
of the law; since then the decision of
the Supreme Court of the United States
in the Illinois case has been rendered,
holding, BY a divided court, that as 70
freight coming from or destined %
points beyond the state, Congress had
The exclusive power OF jurisdiction and
regulation. since then the Federal
Court in Mississippi has assumed to au-
thorize the receiver OF a road wholly
within the State to disregard and ignore
the rates fixed by the Railroad Commits
sion on freight transported from one
point to another within this State, and
at this date, under the protecting Rgis
Of that tribunal, in advance of any trial
and determination of the question of the
reasonablsness of the rates, the Vicks-
burg and Meridian Railroad is openly
defying the State laws and State author
ity, by operating q tariff of charges
higher than that fixed by the Commits
sion, and which discriminates between
| points on its line, whereby it not only
Incurs penalties tut becomes under the
State law guilty of the crime of extor'
lion, punishable as a misdemeanOr.
Another difficulty encountered is the
| legislative maximum of charges incor
| porated in the charters of the L., \. .
8, T., the Y. & Nj. V. and the q. A. s
n Railroads. To what extent does sucl
legislation give immunity to these road
in their charges, and will it be protec
ton as TO the class of freight now known
a. interstate, and prevent regulation by
Congress, if the Illinois case Is followed
Pertinent to the subject of supervis
| ion we enclose you a circular recently
I.pubished and distributed by the Presi
dent of one of the principal roads In thi
| State; it only reiterates the staple argu
ments and assertions of the anti-suPer
visionists, all of which have been ably
and unanswerably refuted in the debate
in the u. S. Senate by Senators Georg'
and WalthaIl and other advocates of thu
cause of the people.
We address this communication K
the Chief Law Officer of the State
because of the legal questions involved
and to the representatives. Of the Stat
in the United States Senate for the ad
ditional reason that the public interest
it appears TO US, appeals TO them TO
such action or suggestions as they ma.
deem wise and prudent.
We have the honor to be your obedien
servants. J. F. SESSIONS,
VIM MCWILLIE,
J. G. KYLE.