The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1888-12-18

ida has the disadvantage OF beng largely
a terminal State \, regards railroad traffic.
Perhans n more s,rious disadvantage may
be 4 discovered in The fact that our pOpu-
lation and busine,s are insufficient TO fur
nish the railroad, with the traiflc neces-
sary to their successful ana prohtaole OPP
Grafton. But we hope not. OF course
there is more tra;el and traffic in State
having 900 population and property
valuation Of SlOODOO per mile Of railroad
than in one where there are only 500 per-
sons and a valuation of $4,000 to each
mile of railroad, and it necessarily follows
that the roads in the former State could
afford to carry passengers and freight Tor
a lower rate than can those IN the latter.
With these conditions confronting us, 1t
must be admitted that what would be
lust and reasonable rates for freight and
passenger traffic in most Of the other
Statcs--with more population and larger
property valuation per mile OF track, and
the further advantage OF through traffic
would be unjust and unreasonable rates
for Florida railroads.
The question in hand is, in many re-
spects, a very important one. Like all
other questions, there are two sides to it
and, taking either side, there is abundant
scope for argument, comment, etc W hle
we did not advocate the passage Of the
Commission law, and though the time
had not arrived for the creation OF a
Railroad Commission in Florida, we IN
cline to the opinion that since it has be n
established, it is best to give it IA fair
trial before conforming it as Il signal
failurc'
No one contents that the law does not
need revision and amendment 1t is
claimed by some that it should give the
Commission supervision over the phvsi-
amendment would be cminentlv proper.
The statute is certainly defective in that
as to eligibility for the Board Of Revisers
as for Commissioners, namely Said
Commissioners shall take an oath of Of
fee, t. be framed bv the Governor. aud
shall not jointly or s"verally or III any
manner be holders of any railroad stock :
or bonds, or be az mt or employee of any
railroad company, or have any interest
in any way in any railroad, and snail so
continue during the term of ofce.'
THIS subject is to- prolific to be cX-
haustcd in siugle newspaper article. In
what we have hurriedIy written we have
underworld 10 be fair and Just to both
sides, and We have no intention to be 9TH
crwi>e in what We may say At other
times. for both siles-rhe People and
the railroad s--have rights that must not
be di~rcgarled We IL no; desire that
'!orida'> great dcvcloperS-the railroads
shall be reduced IL NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
must not be- Neither do We want the
railroads to roll. the pcople-they must
not be allowed TO do SO, and yet a Com
mission may be the means OF preventing
this latter wrong.
And here we PROFOUND this startling
interrogatory: Will the business within
the reach OF our railroads, at a rate that
would be just and reasonable to the pat
rons OF the roads, yield the railroads fair
compensation for the service rendered ?
Ii 50. viii that satisfy the railroads? The
main point to be settled in this matter is
the discovery of a rate that will be just
and reasonable alike to the roads AMI the
public If all thos" interested In and con
nected with the management of Florida
railroadS-men of many years experience,
and a number Of them considered expert S
in this particular line, have thus far fail,
TO discover the desired rate, is it reason.
able to expect that men unfamiliar with
the intricacips of railroad business should
solve the difficult problem in few
months, however learned or experienced
they may be in other public affairs OF
pursuits? In determining what are Just
and reasonable rates for railroad traffic
! the volume of business to be handled must
be taken into consideration, and likewise
| IL - e. Il.