The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-01-10
Representative Barks6ale on the
Railroad Commission Decision.
'pecial to the Times Democrat !

Special TO the Times Democrat
WAsnINGroN, Jan. THE Senators
and Representatives from Mirsissippl
have been slow 70 express themselves
concerning the decision 81 the Supreme
Court IN the railroad commission case
brought here FROM that State, aud which
just now is occupying 40 much atten-
tion IN both railroad and political cir
Giles, They have preferred to read the
decision With the care that It's impOr.
lance deserved aud demanded before
giving out for publication anything on
the subject. 70 day, however, the
Times Democrat correspondent, in long
conversation with MIR. BafksdaIe, gath.
cred what may be characterized as the
Mississippi view OF the case.
Mr.. Barksdaie, by the way, is particu-
larry we'll qualified to discuss the mat.
ter, since it was he who drafted the
Democratic State platform of 1877, in
which n commission to supervise the
charges Of railroad companies WAS firt
advocated Every successive Demo
cratic State convention of Mississippi
iN"lhiHitu INV hNClIlto uHtlI III iooot
after bitter fight, the State Legislature
enacted law embodying the doctrine,
MIR. Barksdale, therefore, may be G, n.
sdercd as in fact the father of the law.
lie said to-day: The court decided
that there was nothing in the charter
oI railroad companies which prevented
the State from passing the law to super
wise then, and to appoint commission
to carry that law into effect; that the
law is cons titutiOnal aud that there was
not the room to assume that the com
mission would transgreSs the bounds Of
the authority delegated TO it, The court
below announced the doctrine that one
Legislature could ALLEVIATE the power of
u subsequent Legislature and restrain it
from controlling corporations 1t is
significant that the supreme Court does
not affirm this dangerous doctrine. 1t
is clear from the decision that the State
can recover from the railroads the at
tOrucy's fees spent in defending the
eases, aud 1t is u reasonable inference
! that II can also recover IRON the rail.
roads the salaries of the comnissi0n,
which, while pending the litigation,
they were restrained from rendering any
return for"
va you see any reason why this de-
cision should SO Cypress the railroads as
to discourage them from further devel'
opmg your SateG'
None whatever There is no desire
To Cypress the railroad companies. On
! the contrary the pponle of Mississinni
hold cut all reasonable encouragement
10 such enterprises, But they have q
right to provide protection for them.
selves against unfair Determinations and
oNercharges, aud that was all they had
~ view ~ enacliug the law. The law
/ does not stand alone on the statute books.
IL Is in the line of legislation adopted on
;he subject by twenty sever other States,
and which promises to govern the sub
/ lect 10y national enscmeut at no distant
day."
You do not question, then, the con.
stitutionality o, the proposed interstate
commerce hillH'
mo, nor do see how any man can
There are great legal authorities on the
question from Chief Jsstice MsFshall
down, all affirming the righ' 81 Congress
to control the commerce between the
States"
Senators George an Walthall aud
Representative, Van bnton, Morgan aud
Barry all concur in r Bark sdklesside
as to the real purPoss Of the Supreme
Courts decision.