The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-05-15
The Railway Commission.

IHt hHllNdJ OOHnISSIOHs
The Caledonidn seizes upon the an
nouncement that the state railway COM
mission will soon begin its annual
inspection of the roads to make some
characteristic structures upon that body,
We say characteristic, for our esteemed
contemporaries criticisms of public
men and measures are apt to be dis
tinguished by certain infrmities of
mind or temperament which have come
to be associated with the editorial utter
ances of that paper, and which vitiate
their claims to serious attention from
either the persons or interests it de-
nounces. When the considerations are
not personal, chronic disgruntlement
seems to rule the Caledonian sanctum.
In the existing case, it is disturbed pri-
marily by the report that the railway
commissioners propose to take along
with them, in their tour of inspection,
Professor Hitchcock of Dartmouth
College, reputed expert, particularly
in railway bridge construction. The
commissioners are then attacked for
their alleged unfitness for the duties of
their office, and characterized as poll
ticians, skilled only in pulling wires
and distinguished for their ability to
get up on the blind side of a weak
governor"
The trouble with the Caledonian is
not far to seek. T. G.. Fletcher of st.
Johnsbury is one of the railway COM
missioners. The editor of the Gale
DOMAIN dislikes his townsman. He sees
but one man on the board, and he i'm
putes TO the whole commission all the
faults he seems rather glad to find in
his enemy. The people of Vermont,
not without reason, have formed ia
vorable opinion of Governors Pingree
and Ormsbee, two members of the COM
mission. They know less of Mr..
Fletcher, but if they should decide
that the editor who is capable of doing
so gross injustice to his associates may
also be villifying him, there certainly
would be reason and fairness in their
conclusion.
No one doubts the ability of the COM
mission or the qualification of its
members for the duties the law assigns
to them. 1t is less question of ability
than of willingness and courage to do
all that the law directly and by implica-
ton commands them to do. 1t is much
less question of rotten bridges and a
defective road-hed than of rotten
methods in operating and corrupt prac-
tees in managing. Sclf-interest will
go a great ways in requiring of the
roads sound bridges and good road
bed 1t will 90 great deal farther in
devising unjust determinations in
freight and passenger tariffs, in foster
ing the interests of one individual, class
or community at the expense of
another, and in controlling legislatures
and corrupting courts. Messrs. Pin
gree, Fletcher and Ormsbee are abund-
antly able to perform all the duties the
law, in these respects, demands of
them. Two of these gentlemen have
spoken brave words on the side of the
people. Time will show if brave
words are to be followed by courageous
deeds. The commission is still on
trial. No wholesome public end will
be served by abusing its members
while, presumably at least, they are
seeking the best ways to discharge the
trust committed to their hands.
The Caledonian weeps bitter tears
over the additional burden the employ
ment of Professor Hitchcock will i'm
pose on tax-ridden people. The law
allows the commission to employ an
expert, but puts rigid limit to the az
gregate of its expenditures. AS the
commission will inevitably use the en-
tire amount of the appropriation, it is
not clear how the rate of taxation is to
be increased by its employment of the
professor. And it is rather late in the
biennial term for the CaledOnian'S la
ment for ga people already out
rageously taxed, as the appropriations
of the last legislature plainly Show
Where was the complainant's voice
when those schemes that have begot-
ten outrageous taxation were
spawning? Like nearly every other
editor in the state, he was silent as the
grave while the mischief he now de.
plores was being done. No share OF
these added taxes can be fairly charged