The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-11-03
State Control OF Railroads.

Although there is considerable of
demagogism at the bottom of much of
the agitation on the question of Great
ing state railroad commission, vet
there is an earnest feeling throughout
the state that certain abuses exist and
that remedy of some sort is needed.
Having in remembrance the hasty and
ill-considered Granger" legislation
in some of the western states a few
years ago, which proved more detri-
mental to the public than to the corpo-
rations, there is a disposition among
our Vermont legislators to deal with
this matter in conservative spirit and
with careful deliberation, and to copy
after the more judicious legislation of
neighboring states. All fair-minded
people will agree that what is wanted
is remedial measure that will be just
and most serviceable to the interests
of both the public and the railroads,
and not measure conceived in spirit
of antagonism to railroads or aiming at
an arbitrary interference with railroad
management. 1t is admitted by most
unprecedented people in the state that
aged and that cases where the interests
of the public are treated with injus-
tice are infrequent. But law that
would only favor the corporations at
the expense of other interests would
be of no practical benefit, and we do
not understand that any one is demand
ing such legislation. 1t is not unlikely
that the alleged evils and abuses COM
planned of in the management of our
railroads have been greatly eXagger-
ated or misrepresented for political
effect; yet the impression widely pre-
walls that there are enough of real
grievances to demand and justify a
legal remedy.
There seems to be no doubt whatever
that the legislature now in session will
pass some kind of a railroad commission
bill; and the question next to be con-
sidered is in reference to the character
of the proposed legislation. In no two
states where railway commissions eX-
ist are the laws governing their admin
istration precisely alike; and it is not
to be assumed that a law which NAV
have operated more or less successfully
in one state would be wholly suited to
the condition of railway affairs in
another state. Each of the three pend
ing bills on the subject, which are alike
in some respects, doubtless have meri-
torious features; but judging from the
various and differing criticisms passed
upon the measures-from those who
are partial to the proposed legislation
as well as from those who are not fully
convinced of it's absolute need-all of
the bills are more or less defective and
will require considerable modification.
We believe that there is enough of abil-
ity and wisdom in our present legisla-
ture to perfect measure that will be
fair and just to both the people and the
railroads. The regulations sought to
be enforced upon the railroads should
not be of nature to clog or embarrass
the transportation business, nor to occa-
sion inconvenience to the public with
out lessening any of the evils com
planned of. Any law upon the subject
should be so framed as to satisfy every
reasonable public demand, and at the
same time not to give the corporations
just cause for complaint by imposing
onerous restrictions upon their man
agement. 1t should be so simple in it's
provisions and in its proposed method
of operation as not to create confusion
or to foster litigation. We venture
these few suggestions at this time, not
in the interest of any corporation nor
of either the advocates or opponents of
any one of the pending measures, but
simply in the interest of sound and
practical legislation.