Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-28

party if this law is not repealed. Now we are
Just about to pass upon such law in our state.
and would like to have some light on this
question through the columns of your valuable
paper. Has this law been injurious in any way
to railroads? Has said law benefited he masses
or not? If your answer is in the affirmative OF
negative, please give reasons2 In fact would
like you TO explain the workings of said law,
and whether you think railroads should be regu-
lated how and why? Very truly yours
FRANK c. POWELL.
The following interview with Col.
Livingston VIII serve to correct the
errors in the first part of the letter, and
will go far to answer his inquiries:
Col. Livingston began to read the letter
aloud:
81 see President Livingston of the
Farmers Alliance says the railroad COM
mission of your state is ruinous to rail-
roads. and the Farmers Alliance speaks
of boiling from the Democratic party if
this law is not repealed.
81 didn't say any such thing, SAID
he INDIGNANTLY, land never have. l
have always taken the ground that it was
better for the railroads and better for the
people. With d railroad commission,
acting fairly and squarely between the
people and the railroads, it is better for
both parties.
at prevents a cut throat business be-
proper discrimination against indi-
viduals, places or sections.
1.-The railroad commission has given
perfect satisfaction to both the people
and the railroads in Georgia so far as
know; and last fall while the Olive bill
was pending before the legislature the
railroads sheltered under the state COM
mission and said it was all they wanted;
that 1t was sufficient and they were sat
isfied with it.
''The Farmers Alliance never init
mated any intention of boiling from the
Democratic party on any grounds what
ever, much less for the reason that this
law IS not repealed.
"My impression is, that the railroads
have done better in the way of diyiden s
to stockholders, and with less, or at least
as little, friction in the management of
the roads under the commission than be-
fore 1t was established.
1.-the law has benefited the masses in
reducing both freight and passenger
rates. There is no question about that.
My understanding now among the peo-
pie of Georgia is simply this, that the
masses of the puople are satisfied with
the railroad commission and the law, if
properly enforced, and that the railroads
there is any contest between the rail-
roads and the people on this question to-
day
"Here, - said Col. Livingston, pick
ing up copy of the Southern Alliance
Farmer ,"'is the Alliance platform on the
subject. 1t has my signature as chair
man of the executive committee. That
ought to show how l stand.
The platform is as follows:
Whereas, paragraph T. section 2, article 4 of
the constitution of Georgia declares: 1.-The gen
eral assembly of the state shall have no power to
authorize any corporation to buy shares or stock
in any other corporation in the state or else
where or to make any contract or agreements
whatever with any such corporation which may
have the effect or be intended to have the eff
feet, to defeat or lessen competition in their re-
spective businesses, or to encourage monopoly;
and such contracts shall be Illegal and void. -
Your committee respectful ly suggest the en-
forcement of the above constitutional clause in
its full and origin intent, to-wit: THAT cor
poraJions shall remain competitive-not for
given points localities, but for the whole peo-
pie and the entire state; snd that the powers of
the interstate and state railway commissions be
so enlarged as that they may cooperate one
with the other in regulating classifcations and
rates, and the warehouse features of railway
cars and depots. All these regulations should
be based upon a reasonable cost of construction,
equipment and running of roads, and not upon
watered stocks or high prices paid for stocks for
purposes of consolidation and CONTROL
Railroads must recognize the interest and
rights of the people in chartered corporations
and the laws of the state should be such as to
empower the railroad commission to enforce the
same and the commission should be made to do
its whole duty in the premises. Respectfully
submitted 4 1 + : f ssas.r Committee.
A little history which is familiar to
Georgians, but less 50 to Texans, will
throw much light on the subject.
The Georgia railroad commission was
the first established in this country. The
idea was advanced and fathered by
Robert Toombs, one of the most pro-
found and far-reacning statesmen this
or any other country has produced, and
the benefits accruing to the people of
Georgia, and by example to the people
of all the states that have followed Geor-
ga' example, make one of the most
substantial and grateful tributes TO this
great man g memory.
General Toombs proposed the commits
sion, set its advantages forth in letter
to the Constitution, wherein he pointed |
out the effect of railroad regulation in
foreign countries and recommended the |
adoption of the practice in Georgia.
After the commission was established !
he defended it il the courts until its con-
stitutionality was affirmed by the su- |
preme court of Georgia, and for this SER
vice the last legislature voted his estate |
$500.
In the first five years of the commits
sion s existence 1000 miles of railroad |
were built in Georgia, though there had |
been only 100 miles built within the five
years before.
At the same time passenger rates were
reduced from five to three cents, and
freight rates very greatly. The result,
instead of causing the railroads loss,
increased business so greatly that their
profits were larger than before, and
there are none among the railroads now
to protest against the commission.
Georgia has had the good fortune to
have good commission from the start,
and to have at its head Maj. Campbell
Wallace, man whose wisdom and ripe
experience in railroad business COM
manded the respect and confidence of
both the railroad men and the commits
sion. The result has been as stated by
Col. Livingston, that the commission is
a fixture, satisfactory to both the people |
and the railroads, and there is hardly
Southern state that can show such
record of railroad building as the state of
Georgia since the establishment of the