The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-12
A Questionable Policy.

The wisdom of the policy which the legls-
lsture has been pursuing for several years
in dealing with the railroads Of the state IS
Questionable Much OF the legislation which
has been proposed, and some Of thai wnich
! has been euacted, has beel Of a character u
suggest the idea that they are reEardsd as
/ inimical and even dangerous to the interests
4 of the public. Under the influence OF nos
/ tile legislation the stock Of the Ce1traI rail-
road, for instance, was 50 depressed t1at the
| holders of it became alarmed ami sold IT,
4 That great railroad, which was built by
! Georgia monev, aud, until few years ago
owned by people living in the state passed
/ INTO the co Itrol Of syndicate OF rlch New
! Workers. Had 1t not been restricted and
/ harasssd bv hostile legislation it would stu
be in the possession Of, and controlled by,
Georgians
And there is no doubt that in some re-
/ spects it would have been better for the pe1-
pie had the control Of it remained with res
idents Of the state. As purely state insti-
tuition the people were proud Of Il. Those
who directed It's fairs aimed to make it a
great faetor in the development Of the re-
sources Of the state, aud they had the
hearty support OF the stockholders. And the
Central Is not the only one Of the roads of
the state which have felt the effec,s Of the
hurtful policy of tho Legislature. All Of
them have been discouraged TO a greater or
less extent by it. They have been forced to
abandon projected improvements, to reduce
their expenditures u the narrowsst limits
and to stand on the defensive. The feeling
between them and the people has become
strained, and being trea,ed as enemies they
are beginning to act IS enemies.
The legislature has been in session only
three or four days, and yet a number OF
resolutions and bills, hostile TO the railroads,
have been introduced. The indications are
that much Of the time Of the session will be
taken up with measures intended to restrict
the railroads in various ways. Some legls-
lation of this kind is undoubtedly needed,
because the roads, feeling that they are not
being dealt with fairly and justly, have
been eva hing the regulations adopted for
their control. And perhaps they have been
encroaching upon the rights OF the people
in q way that isirritating and exasperating,
but is not some excuse for their doing so to
be found in the illiberal policy Of the state
with regard to them If the legislature
should be guided by spirit Of fairness and
justice in legislating upon matters pertain
ing to them, would not the people be the
gamers in the long run
What the roads complain OF is that the
legislature, influenced by all sorts of COM
plants, elacts restrictive laws without
knowing the full effect of such laws. The
roads are virtually refused hearing, be-
cause little credit is given to what they say.
The members Of the legislature anxious to
be popular with their constituents, favor
what their constituents demand without
careful inquiry as to whether the demands in
all cases are just or not. Naturally the roads,
IN self-defense, are driven into position OF
hostility.
Would it not be the part OF wisdom for
the legislature to deal with the railroads as
if they we're friends rather than as If they
were enemies! They should be granted
nothing except what they should have. but
they should be given all they are entitled to.
And the effort to find out what they are
entitled to should be careful and conscIen-
tious one They should have strict justice,
nothing more and nothing less, but they
are entitled to justice.