Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-01
Interstate Commerce.

We mentioned yesterday the wonderful
growth which has been attained by that
little clause of the Federal Constitution
which provides in dozen words that the
Congress shall havepower toregulate COM
merce among the several States" Ihese
few words carry an incredible amount OF
legislation and judicial explanation andin-
terpretation. Sunday laws, or State laws
prohibiting the running of freight trains
ont of one State into another on Sunday,
are some OF the statutes which the clause
above quoted will not allow the several
States TO enforce State laws interfering
with interstate tolegraphs or telephones
all stand protected by the same clause.
So do innumerable other things. The
Interstate Commerce Commission is the
court of justice OF tribunal which has the
power under the congressional legislation
10 pass upon all such cases as those OF which
we are speaking. On Monday last that TIL
bunal still further increased its own pow
ers. 1t gave us some judge-made law, or
AZ any rate laid down as the law of the land
under the Constitution of the United States
some propositions the mere statement OF
which woud have caused the fathers OF
the republic TO be astonished beyond
measure at their own work. These propo-
sitions were formulated by that States
rights Democrat Commissioner MORRISON
Mr.. MORRISON. for the Interstate Com
merce Commission. announced the de-
cision that common carriers may charge
fOr n l0nrpr
distance, provided they do not subject any
particular person or locality or any par
ticular description of traffic 90 unreasona
BILE disadvantages. We have always thought
that carriers ought TO have i'll many cases
the right to charge as much for shorter
as for longer distance--not as much for
a short as for long distance. There are
so many reasons why this should
be allowed under some circumstances
that we will not argue the point. But
what q power is thus exercised by the
Interstate Commerce Commission, which
claims and exercises the right TO decide
when any person, or place, or any kind OF
traffic is subjected to unreasonable dis
advantages! 1t is a stretch of power which
we commend to the opponents of paternal
government. "Paternal government IS a
weak phrase to use in speaking OF such an
assumption of power. And yet thousands
of the enemies of paternal government
will hail with pleasure the decision of the
Interstate Commerce Commission that IT
has the power to say what unreasonable
charges are. Nay, that decision goes to the
extent of claiming for the commission
the right to decide that after July 20, 1891.
the carriers will be ordered to cease and
desist from making any greater charge III
the aggregate on buggies. carriages, and
other first-class freight in less than car
loads from Cincinnati to Social Circle than
to Augusta. and from making any charge
on such freight from Cincinnati to Atlanta
in excess of 81 per 100 pounds
Whosays that Virginiaisn not " sovereign
State Virginia, the mother Of States
and statesmen and of institutions end Gus
toms. Where are the men who Will call In
question the power of the Interstate Com
merce Commission 10 regulate all sorts OF
commerce among the States? They can
not be found outside of the railroad cir
Giles and other circles engaged in the busi-
ness of transporting freight and passen.
gers from one State into another. Pater-
nalism Is our portion. We cannot escape
from it. Revolutions never co backwards.
And as we are fated to tolerate the evils
of paternalism let Us consent to enjoy Its
benefits. Let us demand of our paternal
government the establishment of lines OF
telegraph to be used for mere nominal
chargo-say of five or ten cents for twenty
words sent any distance by all the people
of .his great country. Let us also have
the free delivery of letters. The letter
carriers can deliver the kilograms But
we have said enough for one day. We de-
sire not to invite controversy, but t.
cause people to put on their thinking
| cans.