The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-19
Another BIZ Against Railroads,

Another Bill Against Railroads.
II our Atlanta dispatch, relative to the
bill introduced into the House Thursday by
Mr.. Berner, authorizing proceed lngs
against railroads for violations OF their
charters, is correct, he has no objection to
such violations provided the roads referred
TO in the bill will submit TO taxation Inc
bill relates to the roads which are now ex-
empt from taxation, and provides that they
shall not be liable for penalties for violating
their charters if they file with the secre-
tary of state their Willingness
to DO taxed for all purposes.
The bill, IL we understand it. amounts to a
license to the railroads to violate their
charters rs often and fagrantly as they
please on the condition that they pay taxes
The wisdom of such bill is questionable.
If the violations are against the interests of
the people why should they be permitted at
all. and if they are not against those inter-
osts why should the railroads be burdened
with penalties on account of them.
1t may be thought to be beneficial to the
general welfare OF railroads to do
certain things now which it was not
thought advisable for them to do when
their charters were granted. The views of
the public with respect to railroads are
changing all the time. Before the day of
railroad commissions it was thought hurt
full to the public interests for railroads to
combine and form great systems under one
management. The fear was general that
such systems would become great and OPP
| shared this view.
Now, however, those who have given the
| most study to the railroad problem are con-
| WINGED that combinations are better for the
railroads and better for the people. 1t is
certain that as the railroad combinations
have grown the rates of transportation have
decreased.
Doubtless the combinations would become
oppressive if they could do as they pleased.
But national commission and a railroad
commission in each state hold them in
check. The commissions fix the limits Of
the transportation rates The consequence
is that tho public has a better and cheaper
railroad service than ever before.
The aim of legislation should be to make
the railroads as efficient as possible, while
preventing them from depressing the peo|
| pie. And the way to assist in making them
efficient is to remove to as great an extent
as possible the obstructions which block the
way in the direction of their natural devel-
opment.
There are railroads in Georgia whose
charters do not permit them to enter into
combinations, and they we're the product OF
the best sentiment relative to railroads
which existed at the time they were made.
And there are provisions in the state con-
stitution concerning railroad combinations
which would not be placed in a constitution
framed to-day. The world has received
new light on the railroad problem-light
that comes from experience
Legislation, therefore, which tends to
| change tue direction of railroad Develop
ment is mistake. 1t will harm
the people rather than benefit
them. The wise legislation
with respect to railroads is that which per-
mits railroads to develop naturally, but
which guards the rights of the people
| against railroad encroachment. Mr.. Ber-
uer's bills. while they may have some meri-
torious features, appear to have been cons
ceived in spirit Of hostility to railroads.
Let the railroads be placed under the
closest kind Of scrutiny, SO that neither the
holders Of their securities nor the people will
suffer harm, but let them develop in the
direction which experience teaches is the
natural one.