The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-08
Tho Vacancy on the Interstate Com
mercc Commission.

Tho late Gen. WALTER L.. BRAGG OF Ala
bama was ono OF the ab!est and meet useful
members OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission. Tc was tho Southern representa-
tive Ia the Commission, md it seems to be
generally expected that the President will
appoint Southern man TO succeed him.
Several names have been mentioned for tho
succession, among them those OF Gen. SAM
TEL Il. MAxEY, Representative DAVID 3.
CuLBrnsoS. cx-Attorncy-General GARLAND.
and ex-senator REAGAN.
OInll these gentlemen the most capable Is
Gen. Nancy. Ho is tho best equipped to
really serve TIE ends Of the Commission
and he ia besides man Of high probity and
enlightenment. In some respects, however,
ex-senator REAGAN, now serving upon the
Railroad Commission Of the State OF Texas,
would he an ideal appointment. III the Com
mission Is to be composed Of men OF fair
abilities aud good principles, willing to work
for the salary Of $500 which attaches 10
the Office. 1t is only reasonable to presume
that 1t will endure. Commissioner WILLIAM
Il. MORRISON of Illinois is the only member
who has operated the Commission as Il politi.
cal machine, but his excursions among tho
vote have done 40 particular harm. The
other members are excellent gentlemen, oil
lawyers %, Responsibility, to whom $500
per annum IS not unwelcome, and who are
content to work diligently and industri-
ously at the depreciation Of railroad prop
ecty ard keep out OF the pitfalls toward
which The private ambitions of the Hon. Mr..
MORRISON are constantly Leading them.
II ex-senator REAGAN, however, should
be called to fill the present vacancy, lie
would be likely in very short time to bring
about the adjustment o!thc Commission. He
holds, practically, that all the railroad prop
critics in the country should be con.iscated
blythe farmers and by such other persons as
may desire to transport goods or travel by
rail. From his point Of view. when lie was
III the Senate, the Interstate Commerce act
was failure in just so much as it
failed to accomplish such coniiscation.
Since his return to Texas and his up
pointnent to sea. on its Railroad Com
mission he has given evidence o! his sin
cerity by striking at til" general commerce
and welfare OF his State some OF the hardes.
blows she has ever had to endure. Given
full swing on the Interstate Commission
and REAGAN would w,rl; tremendous dam
age Tor short time, but he would inevitably
destroy the Commission itself
He has practically uudone the Railroad
Commission in Tcxae because he has
awakened III" people to the actual mischief
that such body can co. The counsels O!
REAGAN and his followers have retarded the
progress OF Texas ten years. There Is no
State in the Union that needs railroad
development 50 muc.. IT'S Texas md
no other tina. shows so little. The
reason is that foreign capita. will not
venture there. There is no use in building
railroads that Texas Railroad Commission
may contiscate them. Tie people VI Texas
are now fully alive TO these facts. and they
seq the necessity of ut once adopting an
other attitude. Lawmaking is a dangerous
thing. bat when the administration or en-
iorcn!ncnt of q bad ard oppressive law is in.
trusted 10 49, unpr!nciplcd dcmagogue or
desperate igEoramus. then there Is likely
10 be an early rcpea! OF it,
RFAGAN's appointment 10 TIE vacancy
occasio"c,. by the death OF Gen. BRAGG
would not be an unmixcd evil.