Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-02-12
stanton Speftator.
An IIl.Advised Expedient.


An Ill.Advised Expedient.
1.-THE staunton Vindicator in a very able arti.
Gle. has taken the position that We cannot af-
ford to drive railroad enterprise from the
State"
The above sente noe closes lengthy dis
cussion In the Win chester Times of the 9Th
inst, wherein the proposition now before
the Legislature to create Board Of Rail-
road Commissioners is the subject. On
the Goth of Jan uary and again on the 9th
inst. the Spectator discussed the same
prop osition and these articles, having been
the subject Of comment, we think 1t not ont
of place to call the attention of the Times
to the matter, that the mere inadvertauce
of des ignating the wrong paper shall not
change the re sponsibility for the articles
with those not informed. We are gratified
to find that the Times has, with its usual
ability and thorough invest igation of the
subject, presented it in the clearest light,
showing that the scheme is mere expedi-
eat, which, if it should become law, would
provo to be such, and; in the end, disastrous
to the bjects, it is alleged, it seeks to pro-
mote. 10 this connection we quote from
the Times of the 9th inst.:-
"The law pr opposed by Mr.. Yarrell is modelled
upon the Geo rgia law which. to the ignorant.
has seemed the paragon Of all laws. Laws are.
however. tested by results. as a tree is known
by its fruits. In response to a resolution of
Senator Harrison. Gen eral Hill. the present
commissioner o roads. reported to the Senate
a tabul ated statement of the cost of carriage
upon the G eorgia and Virginia roads Of the fol
lowing articles: Dry goods. groceries. leaf
Tobacco o, molasses, salt. sugar and coffee, hay,
grain, lime, flour. fertilizers and coal. This
statems Mt conclusively proves that as to aver
age ties on all the principle agricultural pro
ducts al we'll as on the leading articles han-
died by merchants the Virginia roads aretwen-
ty per cent. cheaper than the Georgia rates
Yet some of our ambitious Legislators are anx-
ious to fol st upon the State harsher law
than even the Georgia law. Our present rail-
road laws, judging from results. are twenty
per cent. better than the Georgia law. The
present law indeed affords ample protection
against all un, ust discrimination II enforcs d
and If not enforced 1t is not the fault of the
law, but of the officers whose duty 1t Is to en-
force the law.
Tae ruth is that 1t liz all very well for an
am5it ious statesman to fire Ell a bill now and
then as a sort of political pyrotechnic for the
benefit OF his constitu ants. In Pick wicktan
sanss there is no reas IN why he sho uld mol
make mouths at corporations lift makes him
more popular at home. But We cannot anord
at this time to enact laws which have q tend
ency to Tighten capital and discourage enter
prise. Capitalists Will not build rail roads II
they think that they will be turned over to two
n 61iftefqOG have
reached tide in our affairs which will surely
lead on to fortune II we are not so jmbecile az
to assassiuate opportunity. Capital and enter
prise are making vast changes in the Old Com
monwealth. Let US welcome the Angel of
Progress, not try to weigh her down by evil
laws"
Again, the Roanoke Herald in speaking
of the vast benefits viii oh have accrued to
the Southwest by the operation and. policy
of the Norfolk 6 Western Railroad says
with these facts befor US. we caution our
legislators not to pass any restrictive railroad
commissioners bill; in fact. we believe no leg
isIation should be had on this subject. The
railroad com missioner of Virginia has report
ed to the Leg islature that the rates upon the
railroads OF Vlr gin Ia are now lower than those
enforced by the tariffs of the railroad commits.
EIOn Oh buo oJdLS OI 6oOrSlhs Inc TallTOaUb Vi
Virginia are doing more for our s tate to. day
than the State is doing for itself They are ad
We rtising virginias agricultural and mineral
wea hh, encouraging manufactures of every
descr lip ton, bringing vast amounts OF capital
into the State, we'll ~ a desirable popula-
ton. Every mechanic brought to the State
increases her nxable values and affords an In
ere ased home market for the farmer. The rail
ads of the State of Virginia pay In to the State
Treasury In taxes annually SAP, 740 49, as shown
by the railroad commissioner in hi communi
cation to ths Senate under date OF Jauu airy 81 b.
We ask the House of Delegates to con slider well
the effect of restrictive legislation against the
best friends of our Stats-our railroa ds,'
It is unnecessary to repeat the facts pre-
ssnted 10 the SPECTATOR at the dates nam
ed. The proposition, as then stated, to en-
aot the Georgia law, WAS presented mainly
a. relief to our agricultural interests, and
in that, it would effect Increased values for
our soil products. If the folly Of creating
this expensive and usele IS piece OF State
machinery shall come to pass, it will only
be mere expedient at last, and to find in
its workings thai instead Of relief, it will
prove a burden of public discomfort that
will req Tire years of suffering to get rid off.
The relief for agriculture will only come as
we may fad new fields of demand f,r
our products. Production has immensely
increased, and even the markets we had
when producing less are partially closed to
US for the want of exporting facilities
worthy of tue soil. production and the COM
mercial enterprises of our country.