Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-14
The CuIlom Bill.


The Cuilom Bill.
The Cullom interstate commerce bill,
which the Senate passed Tuesday, stands
a very good chance of passing the House
and becoming law. The fact that the
bill received an almost unanimous vote
ia the Senate, together with the fact that
the House has several times passed the
Reagan bill, which Is similar to it in its
general features and aims to accomplish
the same object, iustifies this conclusion.
The bill is a very important one, and
will have very decided effect on the in
terests Of the great interstate railroads.
The commission which the bill authorizes
will have the power, to a very great ex-
tent, to regulate freight and passenger
rates. The bill says that the rates must
be reasonable, and it is for the commits
sion TO say what rates are reasonable.
OF course the railroads oppose the bill
because, to a marked extent, it takes from
them the management Of their own affairs.
1t authorizes five commissioners, who
may not be familiar with railroad man
agement, and who will never be in a po-
which influence railroads to do this or
that thing, TO decide disputes between
shippers and carriers, to order a reduc-
tion OF rates in cases where they are
deemed too high and, in fact, to exercise
a general supervision over the roads.
The bill is. Of course, an experiment,
and may have TO undergo many changes
before it becomes generally satisfactory.
Whether or not it will be found to be
practicable is question which time and
experience can alone determine.
There is no denying the fact that the
bill Is the outcome Of abuses practiced by
many OF the railroads. They have made
unjust determinations and have managed
50 as to promote one interest and ruin
another. The most nspicLous instances
Of this perhaps was the favoritism shown
the Standard Oil Company, by which it
was able 10 ruin many OF the small oil
companies VINO were its competitors.
There are instances. doubtless, where tho
railroads are subjected to influences in
favor of making determinations which
they cannot resist and have become the
unwilling instruments OF wrong doing.
The aim OF the bill is 10 secure fair
treatment. 80 far as il is possible. for
travellers and shippers. To accomplish
this aim the comm ssion will have very
/ difficult task TO perform. Tue railroads
/ have very great power and they will use
/ II 10 promote their interests in the way
! which seems best 20 Them.
/ Owing 10 the pressure OF business in the
/ House the bill may not 'be considered
/ there before next session. There will
/ doubtless boz an effort however. 10 have
it considered during the present session.
There Is some talk about an effort 20 de-
feat the reelection ofGrand VI aster Work.
man Powdorly at the next General Com
yention OF tue Knights OF Labor. There
seems TO be no doubt that he will have op-
position, aud that the opposition will come
from the aggressive aud indsoreet ele-
ments represented by Martin lrons-in-
deed, 30 Is said that irons has been mem
toned as a candidate for Powderly's po-
sition. II would proba ply be fatal mis-
I fortune TO the order for Powderly 20 be
defeated, and It would certainly be a fatal
misfortune for Irons to be elevated TO the
place of Grand Master Workman.
I a--.------4---
The Iowa ranchman who dehorus over
100 cattle every year SAYS COWS in his
State alone are damaged over Si,0OO,OO0
by horns. As be Is not prohbitionist,
be does not estimate the damage done 10
the human family in Iowa bv horns.