The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-05-29

New orleans anu AucIuccu, VAssS'i 10
as much subject of Congressional
regulation as that between New Or
leans and Brookhaven, or between
Mobile and Meridian, though New
Orleans and Brookhaven are on the
same unbroken line of railroad, and
so are Mobile and Meridian, while
Yazoo City and Aberdeen are on lines
which begin and end in Mississippi.
But in connection with the lines they
join, these lines are the instruments
and means of commerce among the
States, just as the unbroken lines are
which are engaged in the same sort
of business. The power to regulate
commerce among the States does not
stop at State lines. If it did it would
be q useless power. "IfCongress has
the power to regulate it, that power
must be exercised wherever the sub
ject exists"
Every portion of every State has
the right to participate in this com
merce, just as every portion OF the
United States has the right to partic-
ipate in the commerce with foreign
nations. This can not be If the power
stops short Of State boundaries and
can not be exercised within the terri
torial iurispiction of a State. The
power, "whatever it may be, must be
exercised within the territorial juris-
diction of the States" All this was
lodg ago decided by the Supreme
Court Of the United States in the fa-
miliar case of Gibbons VS.. Ogden, re-
ported in 8 Wheaton. See also the
| non;aI Rail in ~ Wallace
So it would seem that the principal
transportation of commodities on all
the railroads in mississippi, as in
other States of the Union, and that
which has chiefly led to the demand
for regulation of the transportation
by law, falls within the power of Con.
gress if the prevailing opinion as to
the extent OF that power Is correct.
So much for question Of power; and
it is now left to consider the best
mode of exercising it. 1t should not
be exercised harshly or oppressively,
unjustly or unreasonably, or other
:, wise than with perfect impartiality
+ between the people on the one hand
and the railroads on the other. Let
it be done dispassionately and with
due regards for the rights of all par
ties and for the public welfare. For
one, would see it employed as fair
ly as if the peoble had the power, and
, the effort was to restrain them and
make it impossible for them to OPP
, press the railroads. 1t may be said
t am friend of railroads, and so
, am. Where is the thinking man
: who has his country's intrest at heart,
! who will say he is hostile to these
great enterprises or to any other
which add vastly to the country's
E wealth and increase incalculbaly the
u u conveniences of the people? Who is
i there among US that would see them
: so crippled in their credit or impaired
= in their powers that the conveniences
and promptness, the regularity and
e comparative safety of their operations
e can not be kept up to its present stan
+ dard or even improved? Is there one
g who would favor law imposing
e needless burdens on them, or re-
: curing their service for less than
), reasonable compensation, or other
l, wise unjustly dealing with them?
~ The people are friends of rail- Dads
j. lust as am they want fair dealing
q with them, Just as | do; but they
y want it on both sides, and so do |.
Il would see reciprocal relations estab
20 lished between them and the people
y founded on spirit of liberation ant
N N Justice on either side. | would Sc.
lf Il the parties deal reasonably with eacl
i other. Their interests are 50 far in
~ terwoven and there is such interde
~ pendence between them that antag
10 onism crn not fail to injure both
10 10 There is nothing for the people an
T. T. nothing for the railroads in the blin'
,r partisan championship of either side
~ ~ and the people want none of this
10 That man hurts and harms the pub
~ lie who forments discOrd betWee
~ =, any classes of the community an
70 70 breeds antagonism between any c
~ the business interests of the country
and he is public benefactor who re
le comedies great interests which con
< fict and brings the contending pal
IS ties to proper middle ground of un
le derstanding and adjustment. be
e. lieye such result can be reached i
l. the matter we are considering, thougl
e. the process may be gradual, if onl
le both sides will be temperate in tn
discussion of the evils and of the rem
Y edies which are proposed.
90 90 Already the movement for the 81
:, q pervision of railroad companies ha
81 had effect aside from the enactmen
a. laws: rates have been reduced i
q, some cases, and in others the railroa
W W companies have found it necessary
ie ie explain the basis of their tariffs, an
-, 40 thus the public have gained informs
y tion which has satisfied them o
r. many points not before fully under
10 stood,
es The opinion that the movemen
le has led to good is gaining groun
or with many thoughtful railroad man
I'd ayers and investors and many VIII
is at one time looked upon it as enda1
n- gering all railroad interests, becaus
in the outset extreme measure we1
proposed, look with favor upon res
ot sonable laws regulating transports
~ = ton as the means at once of satisfy
~ ing the people and restraining railroa
=" -, companies from eXcesses which ma
~ - be expected in the absence of rel
70 traint.
,e As to the exact mode Of exercisin
es this power the range of inquiry is {
I'd broad and the subject is SO far-reacf
IN ing and difficult that no mode hs
er ever been suggested that is not ope
r. to objection even in the mind of tn
h party proposing it. The subjet
at bristles with difficulties, and the fiel
A. is full of dangers, and as yet has NJ
Mt been wholly explored. The subje'
r. has been fully discussed in legisls
ts tive halls and before the peopl
te There has been much defamation q
r to the grievances and no little denur
s. citation of those charged to be the al
ID thors of them, better calculated