Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-30
nust cover an eIpenses o. holel bLIls, raIlroad

fare. etc "''S' "'''
But the shoe pinchos VIZ most where 1, VIII
80 ,ne people most In requiring railroads
~ provide proper schedules for passenger trains,
psopet connections at junction points, proper
v..pot Facilities. proper facilities for shippots.
I've a. We telt We could take up your space we
could show how every section IL interested Ia
nleee provisions What of the Southwest, the
alley, and Upper Piedmont as 20 their passen-
ger iaciiities TO different parts OF the State 2
HOW " Richmond served In this respect7 what
DO Tho people who have 20 use the small stations
on the railroads think OF their accommo odations
no" proud must tho people of Virginia Ia gone
raj, ana richmond IN particular, feel whom they
gaze on tho magnificent metropolitan dspofs of
the Chesapeake aud ohio and the Richmond
ana Danville railroads 10 this city
Aek shippers who aro charged demurraga on
cars II not promptly unioaded what reciprocity
their products No, Mr. Eiitor, as we live Il Is
oil on one side--the railroad side The shipper
has 20 oe patient aud wait and see his business
lost while wEiting because the railroad company
mas no faculties 20 DO what the state has given 1.
broad and liberal charter 20 dc.
We deny that the supervision of commission
WIZ inlute the railroads IL will create stable
ana u lif0rn rates and prevent Cutting and dis.
elimination. J, will prevent railroad companies
from building up new towns 80 fact where they
have bought up lands at the e1 peuse Of old towns
q as great on greater natural advantages. But
Tho general good % the people aud the railroads
alike will 20 greatly enhanced.
railroad commission will exercise a wise and
watctful care Owes State legislation and proba-
bly expose before they are passed such laws
as we have seen passed giving railroads the
right 20 acquire stOck IN industrial and mercan-
tile corporations, thus bringing them with all
their privileges and pOwers into active competi.
ton with private enterprise.
Some cardinal points seems TO be persisteuily
ignored by the opponents OF this measure; and
yet without duly considering them no dispas-
eionate conclusion can 10 reached. first, Il
should be remembered "thAt railways are the
agencies Of tie state, and the State Is the guard
ian of no particular inter but the interest,
OF alt: aud N the long run what Is best for the
public Is best also for the railroads and fht
shippers"
Second. "The fact that the courts and the peO
pie Insist tnst the matter Of rates is OF legisla
tive and administrative rather tnan a tudicia
nature is not 20 be regarded as max Of hos
tility 20 railroad corporations. The question 4
simply one Of public policy; the purpose Of
toctual means Of control; the object 10 shift 3,
apt tribunals the responsibility OF securing jus
tt,e 10 ali the interests involved, and not Ia,
deprivation Of reasonable allowance by arbItrarJ
enactment or official act"
The problem Is being worked out on thes,
lines IN oil progressive countries, and II Is IN or
der 10 show by experience Instead Of by prOphe
cios where such Injury has been done 10 eithel
the railroads or the public by such commissions
In the case OF Georgia, notably, where tho rail
road commission with most arbitrary powers wsi
created twelve years ago, despite the dismR
predictions INDUCED in by the opponents OF such
legislation, the railroad taxable values dur nj
that period have increased nearly 800 per cent
and the new mileage nearly 100 per cent, auC
no one contends that the public there have sui
fored. CITIZEN.