Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-27
sdd that there are hot many q these bad
ores.


The Kent Railroad Bill
We roerc, 10 soc that our esteemed ccntem-
rorary Tms RICHMOND DISPATCH, 10 longs power
for good ia this Commonwealth, has denaea
AFTER oxamining the lKcntl bill 70 cast the inno-
cnce OF IL opinion against II. In making th's
decision IL cuta iooee from the maturciy-con-
sidcred opinions Of the representative CONNER
ciai body Of Ito own city and also from the opin.
,ens--tnc result Of . long and trying experience
with tho railroads.&c. tho great bulk OF me tArm-
ing community Of the State. In this struggle Oh
the people against, not the railroads. Dat tno
undue ana unfair exercise OF power by the fsh-
roads. our contemporary IL for the railroads.
Starvation vfndicafor.
We are not opposed to the bill, but TO
that provision Of it which gives to the COM
mission tho authority TO originate rates.
Il is easy to amend the bill and give 10
the commission adequate powers IN less
Objectionable form.
Let the companies make their own rates
and schedules, and then let the commas
sion, other upon It's own motion or az inc
instance OF any person aggrieved, say
whether the rate or schedule in question
is fair and just one. Nine times out OF
ten tho company will abide the decision
of the commission. But II the company
will not accept the judgment OF the COM
mission we would have the commission
bring it into court, there to show cause
why il should not be compelled to make
different rate or schedule. The commits
sion will relieve the shipper from nearly
all trouble in the premises. 1t Will be Its
province to furnish expert evidence and
counsel. II will take upon itself the duty
of fighting" the company and relieving
theehipper from all the worry and an
poyance Of q litigation where he has 10
depend upon himself alone to MAINTAIN
his cause.
IL seems to us that the chief object OF
the friends of railroad commission VIII
be accomplished by such measure as we
have described. The oenefcent influence
of such a commission will be felt from the
moment that it is established. The shipper
will see that he has prompt, cheap, and
efficient remedy. The companies Will
realize that If they are not disposed to be
fair the commission will invoke the law
agains. them. and they will have TO make
restitution of all the rates charged IN ex-
cess of what the cour. considers just.
We do not consider that we have cut
loose' from the maturely considered
opinionsn of the Richmond Chamber OF
Commerce. Perhaps if the amendment
which we favor had been proposed
at the Chambers meeting 1t would
have been adopted. The Chamber
wishes a better railroad law than
we have now. So do we. The Cham
Der desires to give relief to the shipper
without expressing railroad interests.
So do we. We NAV differ as to the best
means of accomplishing these objects, but
our aim is the same However. when the
bill and amendments are up for discussion
in the legislative committees it may posi-
bly, appear that the Chamber and the DIS
PATCH are closer together than our Staun-
ton contemporary imagines. We, at least,
indulge that hope.
We are not afraid to trust the decision
of this question to the farmers OF the Cen
eral Assembly. 1t is for them to give
Judgment. They are overwhelmingly In
the majority In both houses, and they can
pass any bill that commends itself to their
approval. If they were for the KENT bill
without addition or amendment it would
be well-nigh useless for others to oppose 1T.
But they are not unit for it-not by any
manner OF means. They are divided In
opinion as the city delegations are.
The DISPATCH is not for" or against
"the railroads" 1t is for the right as it
sees it; for the peoples interests as it I'M
derstands them. and for justice to oil men
and all sets Of mon.