The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-01
greatest safeguards in future. yet this

does DOT carry tue poWef " 1-b'y
and lilnitati is not the equivalent "i
copfi-c tim. The Safe caoDot compel
n railway company to carry persons
and property without reward or even at
rates that will be equivalent thereto;
though the courts have gone 30 far AZ
70 sustain Commissions appoi' ted To Tx.
anu who have fixed. rates OF charges
which the railway deemed improper.
but which upon evidence was shown 10
b. equitable.
O1e of the most important phases OF
the rail~ay question Mr.. Dabney trea
under the head of tine Economic As
pect--the right and practice of dis-
crImiuation betweeo cerlaln lCcalitles.
Certain IL is That no community can
predicate 3nytbiog upon IT. success
and prosperity until the question of
transportation toItor from 1t b. s'ttled.
or courss, competition is the life oi
trade, aud the very serious question
arises. how TAR the practice Is T. D. JUS
titled OF charging from non competitive
poin's rates 10 conpeusate Tor loss At
Others where lmpetltIOn prevails.
Tue following startling announce
ment Is made. which wa- DEVELOPED IN
the deb8'es upon the later State Com
merce COMMISSION. In Prnns, lvauia
the losses 10 turner's at hon competitive
points 10 the State have been computed
by a committee of the State Il pard Of
A.ricullUre az from 6 t. per cent. Of
ihe annual prOdu { OF their lirds. ami
he census OF 1880 showed that while
The average uf improved land had IN
creased. ara Nbrle the proportion OF
non agrIcnlfn'al popW ,tIon hid IN.
creased IA 1889 so tnat edcn farmer fed
four other workers. as compared with
three oi hei workers in 1870 yet tue
Va ue of that ) ate's agricultural pro
due had derr-a, ed al the rate OF S22,
O)l 900 year
Toe questions OF rebates. uuderbill-
ing. and OtOeT too common practices
are well treated.
The wri er thinks the publication.
and n-picuous posting OF rates.
with penalties for charging more or
less than rates published. the most
elfeciOal provision Tor the prevention
of unjust determinations. AID of losfa-
biI.y and sudden Il ictuaii, ms IN It e
prices Of IaiirCad rauspoftl,IOn Sta
ash al reports from railroad c0mpi-
mes are required IA most OF the States
70 be made 30 some public board or off
ciai. aud from theee 10 - thought mucn
gooi NAV be- derived If properly maze.
Nearly all. II not que all thr laws
against u just dlsc,Iminstion on the
part of raj. avs pissed by the AmerI-
b, Il. Ia D.
Rail a ay and Canal Irfii, Act. wnIcn
provides tnat mo company shall make
or give aDv undue or unreasonable
preference or advantage to. or in favor
II. auy particular person or company
or any pirtic.lar dec 'iptiou Of traffic.
ia aoy Te-prct Whatsoever.
MiDy OF the States have adOpfe d
what IS Known as the commission sys
ieni--a special board charged with tGe
duty OF exe' cisiug over The uansp TIA
ZION cOmDauies such UOvrr~ a, the ) Ate
sres tit 10 delegate. il de rgia. for
example. the C1mmis-IOn - autnOriZ ID
aod f,qni,et To make for each Of thr
rlilrofd mpaniesaOiug bnsiurss IN that
Sfa'e a sche uie OF jd-t ana reasonable
rates and charges f,r the trausportatiOr
of passengers and iIelgbt ana cars over
each Of S-,id railroads.
Tie Alabama commission is required
81 consior aud carefully reriSe all
trTiGS OF crarges for transportation
submitted 10 them by the rail'Cdd con-.
UaOles aul tO uOlfy che mpanies
committing the same Of the charges. II
any. deemed u.c-s-ary TO avOiu eXtOf-
lion and unjust discrimination.
Toe Iowa lsw. iDsld.rei by some
most favorable 10 the interest Of the
public r. q Ilres ia, commissioners TO
make for tne railroad cOmpauies dong
business IA that Safe Dedule of rea
soma l- maximum rates and charges foI
the transportation OF freight and cars
on each OF said roads. Aud the
court u whom the railroad appealed
against the schedule said 4: The
sule Their, fore to BE- laid d. w
| /, this. that where the proposed rates
will give compensation. however small
10 the owners ~ the railroad property.
/ the courts have no power 90 interfere
Appeal most tneu b. made 10 the Legis
lature aud the D Onle.
Dir DdDrtN says tue Na-l pfFioIurI'
ance Of ev deDcc is 40 the effect mat
/ he commission system ia mans liris
dlcliots where 10 prevails mas g eatly
mitigate d the evils of rail Tay abu,e'
where they really exist aud has often
ION, scarcely less good in pointing ouI
cases wh.Te methods aud pr-ct ces
commorly suppo.ed TO be u"jrslly dis.
Icrlmative are not really ObuOxlOus e.
/ that charge.
There is much in the treatise under
discussion that It is imp, s-ib'e 10 EN-
bracelu the como3s' OF this article such
/ for instance. ~ the an aiYsis of the ! ter
State Commerce act. the relationship Of
express companies 10 ini- question e.:
bat The reader who will TX ,mme the
b ,ok viii hud himself Nell repaid. anu
may coneIa.ulate Inns II that the reo
pc 81 VHgiJIa "a q the railroad Of Nir.
giria have IN the Legislature mem
Der 50 Will Informed upon this M Al
important question. IL. e.