Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-22

1t is probable that the conference COM
mittee, which has charge OF the inter-
state commerce Dill, Will not be ready to
report until after the holiday recess.
There is one provision OF it that is attract
ing more attention now than when il was
discussed in the Senate and House. 1t is
thatrelating to the Commissioners. Three
of the five Commissioners are to be of one
! political party and two OF the other. If
| President Cleveland has the appointment
OF them there will be three Democrats
and two Repu blicans.
| The requirement that the Commits
sioners shall be of different polti-
cal parties introduces politics into that
part of the nagement Of the railroads
which, under the bill, devolves upon the
railroads. The Commissioners have vast
powers, which, if they are CONSCIENTIOUS,
they will, to the best of their ability, use
for the benefit OF the people. If they are
not honest the chances are that they will,
whenever the opportunity presents it.
self, use them for the advancement of the
interests of the political party to which
the majority of them belong.
What guarantee is there that the Com
missiOners will always be honest men!
Judging from the past is it not probable
that ii the proper amount of pressure is
brought to bear upon them they Will sac
ridce the interests of the people? When
the Pacific railroads were being built did
not those who ought to have protected the
government use their positions to fill their
pockets and corrupt Congress? The great
Credit MobIier scandal is yet fresh in the
public mind.
That railroads can exert a wonderful
influence in legislation is shown by their
h istory in this country. For years it was
notorious that the Pennsylvania Central
controlled not only the New Jersey, but,
also, the Pennsylvania Legislature. 1t
made Governors and Senators. Other con-
spicuous instances could readily be men,
toned.
But ID may be asked how are the gov
eminent Commissioners to have any infiu-
ence iNbolitics? The question is easily
answered. The railroads employ hun
dTeds of thousands Of men and have the
means of influencing many thousands
more. The Railroad Commissioners Will
have great power, which they may use to
injure or help the railroads.
1t is to be presumed that
the majority of the Commissioners
Will always belong to the party in power.
Suppose that party should want Repre-
sentatives elected in certain close dis
tricts, or Senators in certain close States,
or suppose in great national contest it
could not win on it's own merits, what
would be more natural than that the rail-
roads should be asked to lend helping
hand? The consideration to them, Of
course, would be the favors the Railroad
Commissioners could grant them.
1t can hardly be doubted that there is
danger in the political feature of the bill,
and it is a danger that cannot be very
we'll avoided. The appointment of the
Commissioners for life, and without any
reference to their political associations,
would not wholly avoid it. If Supreme
Court Judges could not forget their party
when the question of the Presidency was
depending upon their decision, is it to be |
expected that railroad commissioners
would if a similar emergency should
arise?