Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-15
WEDNESDAY. APRIL Is. 1891.
Patarnal ciorernment.


Undoubtedly our national Government
is becoming paternal In its nature. as is
abundantly evidenced by the decision OF
tho Interstate Commerce Commission re-
ported in the DISPATCH Of yesterday. That
decision roads o. IL there were no govern
nent in this country except the Federal
Government. Except in name the inter-
state Commerce Commission Is q court OF
Justice. II Is, too, Federal court. And
this Federal court goes into the several
States and supervises the business OF all
interstate railroad companies. 1t tells
them what they may charge for transport
tation and what they may not
charge. In the decision reported
Yesterday IL was found that the
charges on certain articles were
excessive, and the commission ordered re-
auctions 10 be made. Not only did 1t or
der reductions 10 be made. but IL specified
the precise amounts TO be deductedfrom
the existing charges. On peaches and
berries the reduction is TO be 20 per cent.
On apples, peas, kale, spinach. radishes,
cabbage lettuce, and other vegetables ex-
ccpt potatoes, from all stations north OF
Delmar, and for apples, peas. and other
vegetables except kale. spinach, radishes,
cabbages, andlettuce from oil stationssout
of DeImar on the main line, IS per cent.
On potatoes on the main line from all sta
tions25 per cent. reduction is TO be made.
This power of a Federal tribunal thus to
oversee the business of all interstate rail-
roads Is derived from few words in the
Federal Constitution providing that Con-
gress shall have power to regulate COM
merce between the States.
This is far-resching decision. It must
make the -paternalists quake and trem-
bic. II threatens to lead to consequences
as little foreseen or contemplated by the
fathers Of the republic as those which have
resulted from the decision in the Dart
mouth.College case For a. the Federal
Government has no powers not delegated
70 il, and the States or the people retain
all powers not thus delegated, it is easily
TO be seen that every State may have a
State Commerce Commission fully empow-
cred TO supervise all the business of rail-
roads rot extending their operations be-
yond the borders of the State which char
tered them. ALI this appears natural now.
Probably the people of the entire country
will acquiesce in the decision under con-
sideration. Nay, "aequiesce" is not
the proper word. They will probably
consider it as right, and applaud it because
of its paternal nature-because a federal
tribunal thus exercises fatherly care over
the people. In view OF this decision 1t
would seem that the State legislatures
could hardly pass railroad law so pater-
nal In its nature as TO be Objectionable for
that reason. The Richmond letter to the
New York Times, which we reproduced
yesterday. states that the Farmers Alliance
is going to make this very question lead
ing. consideration in Virginia when they
90 TO the polls next fall TO elect members
of the General Assembly Certainly tho
Interstate Commission has cleared the
way leading to such legislation.
In this connection it may be stated that
in Iowa Judge HOLMES decided on Monday
last that the State Railway Commission had
no power to order q railroad company to
reopen station which the company had
closed. This decision does not exactly
conflict with the one we have heretofore
been discussing; but 1t may be regarded
as indicating that in Iowa, where the rail
road companies have had more trouble
perhaps than in any other State, public
opinion is becoming more favorable to
such companies. These are difficult cues
lions. "Live and learn" must be the
motto of the people as well as of the rail-
roads.