The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-17
Railroad Supervision Law in MIS-
slssippi.
n 1T USEFUL OF DETRIMENTAL TO TIL
PEOPLE OF THk srATEY

sipui for such law. The people ~
sections of the State wanted more raiiToeus
to promote and develop their interests, ~
stead OF stopping the building oil raliroaos.-
See the number OF charters asked lor AUG
Granted in 1882, and 1884, and 1886, ana
how few of these have been put TO prac'ieai
use to the present time.
Second-The existing law prevents lhe
development of the State in this way
Capitalists will not invest their money IN
the building of railroads to be controiieu
and supervised BY politicians, because they
have had no experience in the manage
ment OF such property, and have no inter
est in making the investment remunera-
tive.
Third-The strict enforcement OF the
law will tend to the encouragement OF
manufactures in the State.
Fourth-The surplus products OF the
State, both agricultural and manuiaetur-
ing. must find markets beyond the limits
of the State, and the laws OF Mlsslssi ppi
are powerless TO affect or regulate inter
State traffic. The laws Of Mississippi are
only operative within the limits OF the
State on the small volume OF domestic
traffic.
rifth-Ra;lroads must be permitted to
earn money enough to maintain the prop
erty, and keep it in the best physical con-
dition to serve the public, and to do tins
they must be allowed such rates as will
enable them to pay the interest on their
capital. after providing tor operating e1-
penses.
Sixth-The reduction of charges on the
volume of domestic traffic transported
from point to point along the railroads
within the State will necessarily force an
increase in the charges on the large volume
Z Z Mt
beyond the limits of the State.
Seventh-It is fact that not one rail-
road in the State of Mississippi has ever
paid one per eentum per annum IN dIvl-
dends TO the stockholders whose money and
time have been gwen to the construction
| of the railroads now in the State.
Eighth-It is a fact that nearly every
railroad in the State has become bankrupt,
and many of them have gone through the
courts in bankruptcy and been sold. The
reason for this is, that their earning ca
| pacity has not been sufficient to produce
| money enough to pay current expenses and
provide for the interest charges on their
| bonded debt. This is principally owing to
| the limited volume of traffic, and the
sparsely settled country they run through !;
and. if it were not for the through traffic
| they control, destined for points beyond
the limits of the State, there is not single
railroad in the State of Mississippi that
could earn its operating expenses, to say
nothing of providing for the Interest on its
| bonded debt.
Ninth-It is a well-known fact that the
people in different parts of the State have
| voted taxes upon themselves as subsidies
to get railroads built for the convenience
and development OF the State, and in order
/ to enhance the value of their property !;
and we claim that, when intelligent people
tax themselves voluntarily for this pur-
pose, it is the strongest evidence that they
do not believe that railroads are inimical
to their interests, and that they are willing
they shall be paid reasonable rates for SER
vices performed.
Tenth-We claim that self-interest alone
on the part of railroads, if no other motive
sctuated their management, would lead
them TO foster and develop the resources
OF the State, in order to give their roads
| increased business. The charge made that
railroad managers seek to destroy one
place to build up another, is not worthy
of attention or respect from any well-in-
formed man in the community CONNER
cial centres have their geographical advan-
tages, and no manipulation can alter or
change these natural positions.
Eleventh-We assert that railroads have
a direct interest in agriculture, mines,
manufactures and all kinds of Industrial
enterprises, and that their interest in the
development of all these branches of trade
and industry, so as to increase the volume
of their traffic, will dictate Just policy,
without any attempted restrictive legisla-
ton.
Twelfth-The clamor in favor OF con-
trolling, by uni lust and impracticable Iegis-
lation, the property of others, is in the in
terest of, and is actuated by, a spirit of
communism and this has been especially
visited upon railroads, because they are a
species OF property that can not be moved
beyond the reach of demagogues and COM
munists, and it is thought that the spolia-
ton OF the property OF corporate bodies
may be attempted without calling forth
the Indignation that would be aroused il
this were attempted on other business in
terests in the community.
Thirteenth-The claim of right to an
! point one person to manage the lawful bus.
mess of another, is in Its essence commu-
nism. Carried to its logical result, it would
deprive every citizen of the right to man
age his own business, and put him under
disability like a minor, instead of recog-
, nizIng him as man capable of managing
his own affairs. If business is unlawful
prohibit it. If it is lawful, let the owner
manage it himself, and thus encourage en-
terprise and thrift. If it is right for the
majority to use the government to appoint
guardians over owners of railroads, WHY
not over merchants, farmers, doctors.
bankers, printers, BARRIERS, mechanics and
laborers? The true rule is, to make inst
and impartial laws, and make everybody
obey them, but never to put one man over
another mans lawful business. If the on
posite principle prevail, this commune.
alias the majority, will become tyrant.
and will tell US what we shall drink or eat
or wear, or in what church we shall wor.
ship and what political party we shall
support. Is this democracy This shirt
OF communism tends directly to the de-
struction of individual liberty and the
right Of private property, and will in the
end, ii not checked, crush out all personal
energy and manhood.
Fourteenth-We believe that the major
Ity should rule in matters OF proper gov
ernmental concern but not in permiff;no
the majority to Cypress and commit wrong
and spoliation upon the minority.
EIfteenth-We affirm that every indi-
vidual under our system of government
should be recognized by the law as free
| agent, responsible for his actions. and en-
titled to reap the reward of his energy
thrift and intelligence, when engaged in
lawful pursuits.
Sixteenth-If the spirit of communism
now advocated by political demagogues'
shall be successful in destroying the prom,
erty of corporations, the next step will be
to make war on private proportion
landed, manufacturing, agricultural, fnan
cial and commercial interests or whatever
pursuits wealth has been or can be in
vested in.
Seventeenth-If wrong has been done
the public interests through the agency of
INSCRIPTIONS and dishonest spectators in
railroad property, make and enforce laws
to prohibit the commission of such wrongs
| But we submit to an honest and INTELLIGENT
people, whether it is right 20 allow time
servers and professional politicians to in
| fame the public mind and excite popular
prejudice against railroad property. in
| order to serve their personal ends.
REPRESENTATION twenty years prior To
1882, there were only about eighty miles Of
railroad built in the State of Mississinn;
all narrow-gauge road, and constructed
almost entirely by subsidies, which the
people raised by voting to tax themselves
Under the wise legislation of 1882. and
| the liberal charters then granted. more
| than 600 miles of railroad have been built
in the State, costing over $4,000, 900.
This was all done with foreign capital
and has greatly aided in developing the
different sections, enhancing the value of
landed property, and contributing to the
establishment OF manufacturing interests
in different portions of the AState. If the
same liberal legislation had been contin-
ued, ii is fair to assure that still moro
railroads would have been Constructed
The legislation of 1884, whether this was
eo intended hv the rroiecforz of xba l.. =