The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-14
INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
WILLFUL VIOLATION OF THE LAW
BY RAILROADS, ASTOUNDING.
The Companies Seem To BE Governed
by Rule That Prevails Among All
Lawbreakers, Not to Tell Tales Out Of
School.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec. 13.--Interstate Com
merce Commissioners Cooley and Morrison
left for the East last evening. In an inter-
view printed in a local paper Judge Cooley
says that the willful violations OF the law
and the illegal and illegitimate means re-
sorted to by railroad officials to secure adj
vantages over each other revealed bv the
investigation made by himself and Com
missioner Morrison were much worse than
any member OF the Commission supposed.
The reason the matter had not been
taken up before was that the Commits
sioners did not get any more knowledge
of their doings than was furnished them
by aggrleved parties. The railroads seemed
10 be governed by the rule that prevails
among all law. breakers-not to tell tales
on each other. The large and prominent
shippers and merchants were benefited by
the violation Of the law and consequently
had no reason to complain and were not
likely TO bring violations OF the law
TO the attention of tho commits
sion. Consequently only cases OF
minor importance were brought before
the commission and even in those il was
the greatest difficulty to secure reliable ev-
idence. The trouble was, he said that the
commission was located too far away from
the base Of operations of the railroads. 1t
should be located where violations OF the
law could be promptly brought TO its notice
and where promptand thorough investiga-
tons can be made. The investigation into
tho methods OF the railroads in transacting
passenger business and other practices re-
sorted to in order TO evade the law had
given him and Commissioner Morrison a
better insight into the illegal practices re-
sorted TO by the railroads than they had
been able TO obtain since they assumed
their office. The revelations OF crooked
ness were simply astounding, and evidence
had come into the possession of the Com
missioneB that would warrant criminal
prosecutions against several railroad oih-
Gals. And the worst feature was that
every official they had examined admitted
the facts but said he did ii because others
were doing il. Some OF them even
went so far as TO justify their
illegal action on the ground that the
law was oppressive and unjust. One
manager who was reproved for paying n
commission OF So per ticket worth $3.50
insisted that there was nothing in the law
to prevent him from paying as large a
commission as he pleased, and afterwards
sent n written document 10 the commits
sion making an argument in justification
of such action. II the railroads thought
that the commission would rest with the
admontion given them at Tuesdays mass
meeting OF general managers, Mr. Cooley
said they were greatly mistaken. That
was done simply rs a warning to give them
an opportunity TO rectify evils complained
of without further delay and TO bring
them TO n realization OF the fact that the
law must be enforced. The commission,
lac said, will act promptly hereafter in
every case Of violation OF the law that
comes TO its notice, and guilty parties will
be punished TO the full extent OF the law.
The commission cannot afford TO have the
law made odious by permitting its williul
violation.