The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-03-25
A Railroad Commission Needed.


What are the uppcrmost questions, in
deed what is perhaps the uppermost
question, in Vermont politics, if not in
threc-fourths of the States in the Union
to-day? Ii is how to grapplc with and
control the aggressive power of corpo-
rations, Go anywhere, talk with intel
ligent business men, it makes no differ
encc, farmers, merchants, manufactures
and You hear the same thing, Ii is not
an unrcasoning, mfounded prejudice,
but based on the prosperity of each
section. The meaning of it all is, not
to cripple corporations, but control
them. II means that when the State
grants certain rights it grants no more
than these rights, however much they
may have been overridden, 1t means
that private interests are ignored, pri-
vate business stamped out orcncouraged
at the pleasure of these creatures of leg
islative creation. 1t has taken nearly
half a century for this corporate growth,
and its gigantic power can not be even
properly hampered in a day. People
have come to regard themselves as too
powcrless, have stood too long on the
defensive. What is needed is aggrcs-
sion. Let us attack the invaders in
their own camp. Public sentiment,
once thoroughly aroused, nothing can
withstand. The time is coming when
the issue will be, State against corpor-
ations, and the battle will be fought
out on that line. What the voters of
Vermont want in Montpelier are those
men who will make laws for both sides,
for all parties. Railroads should have
every protection, should be granted
every privilege to make them prosper
Gus; not a line should be drawn in i'll
Justice. On the other hand, their limits
should be strictly defined, and they
should be held to them just as rigorous
ly as the humblcst citizen in the State.
Questions of freight or passenger rates
the only vital point in the whole
thing-should no more pass beyond the
control of the State than statute charg-
cs of officers of law. There should be
furnished to every man prompt and
effective remedy for Injustice done by
corporations. The State should not
leave its citizens, its taxpay ers to fight
singie-handed and alone the combina-
ton of millions of capital. The task is
too gigantic, and grievances are borne
that become CALLING as chains to a cap
tive. First and foremost let the peo-
pie demand the election of railroad COM
missioners. Let these commissioners be
paid BY the State, and let them be re-
sponsibc directly to the people. Let
them be accessible at all times to both
private and corporate complaints, and
let their deliberations and decisions be
as public as courts of Justice. Let the
State clothc them with power sufficient
to accomplish every object of their Gre
alton; and let the heaviest penalty for
bribery or corruption hang over every
official act. Is there injustice in this:
Is it unjust for the State to scan the acts
of its sworn officials? Is it any more
unjust to sean the record of and control
the doings of its corporate wards? Let
the governor, as has been done, recon-
mend the election of such commission
and you will see the railroad lobby
fighting it to the death. And because
the railroads hate it is why the people
need it. Letus have railroad commits
sioners.