Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-02-14
A Dangerous BILL,


purpose OF when is 10 give the COIL
troll, even into minute details, of our
railroads TO three Commissioners,
who are selected because they have
had no experience in transportation.
According to Commissioner Spald-
ing the bill may be summarized as
follows:
"ThO proposed law gives power TO
the Commissioners to require the
erection and maintenance of station
houses and other station facilities; to
compel trains on connecting lines to
run so as to make reasonable close
connections; to inspect railroads and
railroad bridges, and to cause neces-
sary repairs to be made on the same
to employ experts TO examine bridges,
trestles, and tunnels. A maximum
rate on the transportation of coal is
also fixed by the bill, with power in
the commission to suspend said clause
if in its discretion 1t Is eXpedient to
do SO. Rates ON all other articles are
left undisturbed, subject, however, TO
the judgment of the commission as to
reasonable or eXtortionate charges"
Each railroad has a multiplicity of
officers, a president, a traffic mana
ger, general manager, a general
superintendent, general ticket agent
and general freight agent TO do for
one line what Commissioner Spald-
ing thinks one or three Commission
ers can do for all the railroads in the
State.
Either no commission would try
to do any of this work, or, trying,
would only succeed in doing it bad
ly, or else ii would be forced to en-
ploy an army of experts and of ac-
countants and make the department
in charge of the railroads more cx-
tensive and more expensive than the
whole machinery of State govern
ment is to-day.
What necessity is there for such a
measure at this time? We have had
for several years an advisory COM
which has proven on the
whole satisfactory. During this
period our lines of transportation |
nave been greatly increased, and UNI
Ter the force of resultant competition
rates have steadily decreased and
erious complaints have almost dis
ppeared.
Moreover, we have had an inter-
tate commerce act in operation for
.ss than one year. Its effects can
OF yet be fully known. The most
nportant provision in that act was,
tier most thorough inysadgd In a
y the iGtSSfy T south of the Ohio. p
To give the Commissioners power Q
fix maximum rates for coal, and |
ell to give them the right TO sus-
nd them, would be to clothe them ,
it'll power that no body of men
ould ever possess in a free commu-
ty.
The idea of fixing maximum rates
a delusion. There is scarcely an
ID railroad charter in existence in
Inch the maximum rate is not fixed,
nd there is not railroad which
would not be glad to get one half Of
hat maximum rates. Besides it is not
lear why maximum rates should lie
liked for coal and not fixed for ilour,or
lumber, or iron, or wheat, ortobacco,
Or clothing, or dry goods. If we are
to make by legislation coal uniform
in price throughout the State, then
we should try also to provide a uni
form price for all the other commo-
dities of life.
Legislation of this character is ex-
perimental, and on that account OBJ
jectionable. The arguments used in
behalf of it are all worn out. They
were advanced and answered and
rejected in this State five or six years
ago.
What we want is competition;
more railroads; and under such a
law railroad building would cease.
Give carefully guarded charters to
all men who care to put money into
railroads in Kentucky. Encourage
them to come in on the terms laid
down by the Governor in his late
veto message. Kentucky is an lnvit-
ing field for the investor, and every
road built extends the area of compe-
tition in rates; every extension into
| country devoid of railroads lessons
in that territory tho cost of getting
its products TO market, and ofgetting
goods home in exchange.
This is the policy for the State to
pursue in regard to railroads, giving
charters that accord with the ex-
perience Of the past, and within
broad limits letting competition work
Its perfect word. There is nothing
calling for an abandonment of this
policy, adhered to during the past
eight years, and certainly nothing to
justify such wide departure as that
proposed in the bill as summarized
by Mr.. Spalding. 1t should be en-
titled a bill to discourage railroad
building in Kentucky.
In this article we discuss only the
features summarized by Mr.. Spald-
ing, as they seem to be the sum and
substance of the bill.
There Is Something In Signs.