West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-03-02

fell still born on the public ear.
There cannot be any change for the
better unless facts like these excite
inquiry and create some general in
terest. AS before remarked. we can
not depend on the politician to ex-
pose abuses of this character, be-
cause the moment he does he is
driven from office: nor can we de
pend on the Press. because the edi-
tors have not the leisure to make
the requisite investigation, and be
cause they often find it dangerous
% interfere with Il lucrative private
interest.
This coal agency is merely an IL
lustration; we have reason to be
lieye that the situation on the Balti-
more and Ohio is scarcely any bet
ter. The committee of 1879 report
instances where secret special rates
barricaded that highway so as to
enable persons holding confidential
relations with the officials to make
money, Mr.. Epson, of Parkers-
burg, testified:
THE principal fault we find with
the B. Il 0. is that they change
their rates suddenly; for instance,
we got the rate on oil to Baltimore
at S94 cents; we made contracts to
deliver several thousand barrels and
before we had shipped 800 they rails
ed the rate to $1.75. / understand
that the Camden Consolidated Oil
Company has the advantage over
the other shippers in the fact that
they get rebate of so cents. l do
not know this to be the fact except
from the fact that they pay the
same price for oil that l do and sell
in Baltimore for less than the oil
costs us. It's q matter of general
comment that the managers OF the
b. q o. have been. if they are not
now, connected with the Camden
Consolidated Oil Company, and l
think this is the reason the rate was
changed on me from S94 cents to
$l.75 per barrel. am satisfied the
managers OF the b. Il O. are acting
in the interest of the Camden Con.
solidatcd Oil Company and discrim-
mating against me and other ship
pers."
This report. like that of 1881, fell
still-born and attracted no atten-
ton. The men who forced dis
closure Of these few facts were not
reelected and none of them have
since been nominated to offices Tor
which they were candidates.
Again. The committe Of 1879
propounded to Mr.. Keyser, Second
Vice President, the following ques-
ton: docs the b. & o. r. r. Com
pany intend to comply with all the
provisions of chapter 227, Act of
1923 of the West Virginia Legis-
lature p
ANswER.-"The b: IL o. Company
does not intend to comply with all
the provisions of the act referred to.
The company does not admit the
authority of the Legislature to con
troll its charges"
That is to say, this corporation
boldly announced its determination
to set at defiance a statute passed
by our Legislature This is the
first time in the history Of any civ
ilized government where person,
subject or citizen has declared his
intention to disobey the law of a
government from which he expected
protection; and yet even this start
ling declaration failed to excite the
Legislature to action. 1t Is obvious
that the public welfare would have
been best promoted had the Legis-
lature at once instituted proper ju-
dicial proceedings to fix the rights
of this corporation and to ascertain
the powers ofour State government;
it is obvious that such 4 matter
should not be left unsettled, because,
if it be true that our Legislature is
is powerless to protect its citizens
against an unlawful use of a high
way, then it is Of the first impor-
lance that the people he informed of
the situation. Let it he constantly
remembered that this matter could
not have been silenced if there had
been some competent official charg-
ed with the special duty of giving
such subjects that publicity without
which the merits of question are
never comprehended by the body of
the people.