Mexico weekly ledger., 1891-01-15
ct of the people of Missouri. !"

authority other than the reguia-
ton of rates?"
eyes. They are empowered to
enforce the keeping in good con-
dition the tracks and structures of
the railroads in the State. They
are required to demand from the
several railroad companies semi
annual statements regarding their
contracts with other companies,
their list of directors and officers,
etc. They also require from the
railroads annual statements, show
ing their financial con iition and all
details of their business and man.
agement. They have to decide as
to whether business offered by
mining or other industries is sut-
fcient to warrant the construction
of spur track connection between
such industries and the tracks of
railroads adjacent thereto. They
are written to from all portions OF
the State, upon every conceivable
matter connected with railroad
transportation, great many
of these matters not being with
in jurisdiction of the Commission.
Proper attention, however, is
given to every matter brought be-
fore them and it often occurs that
adjustment of claims are made
through the intercession of the COM
missioners in cases where they had
no jurisdiction and which could
not have been settled without
troublesome litigation"
"Do companies pay attention to
recommendations of the commits
sioners in cases where the latter
have no jurlsdlction?"
Every generally. They recog-
nize the commissioners are repre-.
senting the people of the State,
and as being sustained by public
opinion. Also that they are stand
ing between the people and the
companies, as much IN the position
of arbitrators as in any other, and
being satisfied that no recommen-
dations are made by them without
careful consideration and for which
good reasons can be shown, very
seldom decline to accept their con.
clusions.
"Your opinion, Mr.. Breathitt,
seems to be unequivoeally in favor
of railroad commission and also
that it is a useful factor in the
State government and very benefi-
cial to the people,"
"Most certainly. / believe it to
be of great benefit to the people,
saving to them every year sum
twenty times as great as the entire
expense of the commission. 1t
saves a vast amount of litigation
and its accompanying expenses,
and being always in session and
easy of access, it is able to take up
and promptly adjust all matters
coming before it, and in this way
proves of very great advantage to
all persons in any way interested
in the shipping of commodities by
railroads."
Mr.. Breathitt, the new chairman
of the Board of Railway and Ware
house Commissioners, was born in
Russellville, KY, and came to
Missouri in 1852. He was educat-
ed in the common schools, and
when the war of the rebellion broke
out, although a mere boy, he join
ed his fortunes with the cOnfedera.
cy and served with distinction un-
der Col. Robert Mccullough and
General Forest throughout the
war. He was admitted to the bar
in 1874 and was elected prosecut.
ing attorney of Saline county in
1875. He practiced his profession
and took prominent part in local
and State politics until 1885, when
he received the Democratic nomi-
nation for Railroad Commissioner
at the State convention held in St.
Louis. He is a bachelor and very
popular in society. Mr.Breathitt's
name has frequently been men
toned lately In connection with
the gubernatorial nomination two
years hence.