Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-02-18
HOW 1T WORKS
A Georgia Railroad Commits
sioner interviewed.
AN APPolNTIVE COMMISSION
Satisfactory to the People - Railroad
Building Has Not Been Retarded-The
Business of the Roads Increased
An Alliance Demand.
A Georgia Commissioners.



of Americas, Ga, a member OF the Georgia
railroad commission, being in the city on
business yesterday l interviewed him on
the workings Of the commission law II his
state. The Judge is apparently forty-tiye
years old of very urbane manners and con-
Sentative in speech, as all men of intelli-
gence and ability are. He IS unquestion-
ably man OF ability, who resigned dis
trict iudEship TO accept an appointment on
the railroad commission. he talked very
freely but cautiously on the subject OF rail-
way regulation, with which he evidently
has u very wide acquaintance and consid-
cradle experience. He told of the manner
in which the commission law originated in
his state, ana OF the cause that melted the
first attempt in 1871 10 pass such law. 1t
grew, he said, cut Of the arrogance and
doElinceTiug manner, TO say nothing OF the
unfair Determinations of the roads, and OF
one road IA particular whose traffic manager
replied to the complaints Of his patrons in
q certain town 10 the effect that he was
under no OBLIGATIONS to treat them other
wise, and Ilight, If he chose to do so, take
up his road and run around the town alto
gether. This Arrogant sp9ech had its
effect Il fell into the ears Of sleeping
lion. ana the gentleman who made 1t lived
10 regret 1t. 1t resulted in q speedy effort
TO pass 4 law that would RESTRAIN the e8er-
else Of such unlimited power. The first ef-
fort failed in 1877. Two years later It
succeeded. and ever since, Georgia has had
a commission Her success in establishing
it was due in q great measure, said Judge
Fort, to the powerful aid given it by Bob
Toombs, who espoused the cause, with his
well-znown energy and enthusiasm. He
spoke and wrote in its favor, and was
tower Of strength in the ranks OF its
friends.
asked Judge Fort. Twas there any diff
Guilty IS securing the establishment OF
railroad commission in Georgia?"
Yes; Georgia had great difficulty in es-
tablishing IL. The bill passed the lower
house. after hard fight by a bare consti-
tutional majority. When IL became law
the railroads fought it in the state and
Federal courts. but lost their cases in Doth,
the supreme court of the United States up
holding the constitutionality Of the law"
did that end the fight on the commits
sion?'
mo sir. A stubborn fight was next
made before the legislature to practically
destroy the powers of the commission by
e1nasculating it under the guise of improv-
ing ii. These efforts were Of very insid-
ious character, but ultimately failed. Since
that time there has been no further trou-
bic. The law is now generally acquiesced
in and approved, and the tendency of recent
legislation has been to extend the powers
of the commission, and aid il III every way
TO carry out the great purpose of the law. "
''Was railroad building In your state ar
rested by the establishment Of commits
sionl"
no sir; although It was loudly pro-
claimed that the commission act would ar
rest railroad building in the state, and
would deprecate railroad stocks and bonds
and put an end TO future railroad construc-
tiOn. All that was said and written with
great energy and partinacity, but the re-
verse proved to be the case. There was
more railroad construction after than ever
before the commission. The mileage has
been very greatly increased, 50 much so, in
fact, that Georgia now stands q leader
among the states in this respect. Railway
stocks and bonds advanced rapidly. Some
of the stocks that before the act were far
below par. brought premium, and know
of none that deprecated under the opera
ton Of the law.''
Have freight and passenger rates been
increased or reduced by the commission"
Passenger rates were reduced from to
cents a mile, and on one road 10 ~ cents.
Freight rates were cores ondiugly re-
duced -
What was the effect Of the reduction on
the tonnage and receipts of the roadSl"
il increased the businessoof the roads,
and rs hardly any road works TO its full
capacity, the increase of trafic enabled
them to pay dividends, gave employment to
more people and generally benefited the
roads and the people. RATE wars that had
50 often produced unjust determinations,
ceased, aud there has been more uniformity
and stability in the rates, and less cause
Tor complaint. The rates fixed were just
ard reasonable. The stocks of some OF the
roads that made the loudest complaint
against the law, appreciated most. While
! would not say that this result was pro-
duced by the commission, I DO say that the
regulation which was quite thorough and
efficient, did not prevent it. In my opinion
it promoted it."
is your commission appointed or
elected;''
Appointed always We have had up to
the present incUm beuts-Of whom l do not
care TO speak especially, for business rea-
sons-very able commissions that have adj
ministered the law with wisdom, Justice
and moderation and 10 the satisfaction of
the people. The first commissioners were
Ex-Governor j. =. Smith, Hon. Campbell
Wallace and Hon. Mr. Barnett. Succeed
ing Mr.. Barnett, whose health failed, came
our present chairman, Hon. L. n. Tram
well. de IS one OF our most distinguished
men, possessed of remarkable ability and
devoted to the Cause of railway regu-
lation. He has been most useful
in the wise administration of this
law. y just commission that will fear
lGSsly discharge its duty, compelling the
roads TO do justice, and not wrongfully op-
pressing them, can render great service TO
the state. You have an exceptionally able
commission in Texas, and one that is widely
known Tor its capacity, fairness and i'm
partially; one whose good work, have no
doubt, viii prove the wisdom OF the law
creating il, and of its selection.
Judge, we have some very ardent friends
of the dear people who contend that the
commission should be elected instead of
appointed. What do you think of itlr
''Well, consider it fortunate that your
mode of choosing the commission takes it
out of politics, To elect the commissioners
by the people simply invites, if it does not
force, the railroads into the political arena,
for they cannot afford TO, and therefore
viii not neglect their own interests. The
result is generally very likely 70 be disas-
trous TO the railroads or the people The
inevitable tendency would DO to select eX-
IRENE men, either for the railroads or the
people, the issue depending on whichever
party succeeded. II the roads, which are
thorouShly organized and command unlin-
tied capital, succeed in electing their men
the law viii of course be operated in their
favor. On the other hand, if the people
succeed in putting in their men the roads
are apt TO be oppressed. There is,
you are aware, an immense floating
vote in the South that is
easily welded by capital I refer, OF
course, TO the negro vote whose force
turned by great corporations in their favor
at elections, may do the state incalculable
harm. The safer plan is to avoid this dan
ger, and keep the commission as free from
politics as possible. We have acted on that
plan in Georgia, and our people seem to be