Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-10-22
The pr,Dc,nI. which Must Govern.

One thing which should be steadily borne
in mind in the discussion Of this question Of
railroad legislation for Vermont is the fact
that the legislation which is really effective is
that which provides for a full investigation Of
all complaints and disputed points and for
giving publicity to the whole matter. The
amount of compulsory power which is given
TO a board of commissioners Is only a secon-
Diary matter. Massachusetts, and New York
have the beat laws yet enacted, and in neither
Of them are the commissioners given power
to enforce their recommendations except that
they may report to the proper legal officers
and to the Legislature. It is the investigation
and the publicity which do tho work. Rail
road companies on the one hand cannot re-
sist the force of public opinion when any.
thing wrong in their methods or their condi-
ton is laid open to the public gaze, and on the
other hand people who imagine themselves
aggrieved often find and acknowledge that
they have no cause for grievance when they
hear the railroad side OF a story. Judge Rus
sell, the chairman OF the NJ massachusetts, COM
mission, brought out this poirt very clearly
whtn he said in hearing before the S 3nate
select committee on interstate commences
"The way in which railroads are supervised by the
board IL this: The theory is that when anything
wrong II done by a corporation, aud when the com
munity is injured by its conduct, public opinion shall
be brought to bear upon tue company by public in
vesigaOn held before this board the result Of which
il also made public by the press. And by the aid of
the press, instead OF by Judgment and execution,
justice between the people aud the railroads il
forced. OF course the petitioners do not always
gain their to accommodations az to rates.
but they have the satisfaction Of being heard. Aud
,Nnp al ma
ed, they mud that their grievance Il imaginary, or at
least that it is less than they had supposed public
hearing on the spot often leads to better under
standing. On the other hand, 1t has happened more
than that when the cumpalnauts have told their
story, the railroad managers have granted their re-
quest at once. Yet the time might never have come
when the managers would bear the petition bad not
the law appointed tribunal, and had not the tribu-
nal appointed place aud day for hearing II.
think that IL about what the board does, aud about
what Massachusetts, undertakes to do with the rail-
roads"
Further than this, the foundation pr noiple
which must govern all our railroad legislation,
il it is to be permanent and effective is laid
down in admirably broad aud concise terms
by the senate committee above referred to in
their report on the result of their work
"The true interests of railroad corporation are
identical with those Of the community as an entirety,
aud the true principle which should govern the Hc-
ton Of legislatures and railroad officials lost sight
of when undue preference is given to the interests OF
any particular class locality, either by the manag
Of the road by the legislation enacted Tor its
regulation and this " equally true whether the at
tempt be made to unduly favor the interests Of the
stockholders, or to artihciay build up certain cities
or localities, to extend undue advantage to those
engaged in any given industry or branch Of trade"
In other words, our railroad conn mission
law must be fair just, and effective toward
both the railroads and the people.
But this is no reason why it should be-
milk and water law.