The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-10
rur r.,,po,p COMMISSION BILL.

The general opinion, both OF railroad man
ayers and Of shippers. il that well con
sidered Railroad Commission law in this State
is now desirable
Some sincere and thoughtful railroad men.
a. for instance. President Myers. of the Rich
moud Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad,
as we'll as some successful and enterprlsing
merchants. az the Business Mems Association
of Norfolk. deem legislative interference with
railroad management inexpedient II not pos
itively injurious. perhaps believing that the
Influences OF self-nterest and public opinion
are sufficient to keep the railroads within tho
limits for which they were chartered. After
oil, the sanction OF every law IS found In Its
support by the pubic-laws which the peo-
pie do not wish executed are but dead letters.
The time has come for a reasonable and en-
forceablc railroad commission law. no other
kind will or can be enforced, and no other
kind ought to be passed.
il is not a good argument for the advocates
OF the bill to point 70 the laws which other
States have passed. without disclosing whether
those laws have been fully enforced ana
whether they were not in fact, IN many re-
spects unconstitutional or impractical or
both Some Of the arguments advanced nave
favored rather OF the stump speech ORDER
than OF experience, wisdom and justice.
As it would seem injurious TO the force and
dignity of a law 10 include in its body pro-
visions which are impractical IL would add o
the force and effectiveness OF the Kent bill II
those sections which relate TO tho repair and
equipment OF railroads. and 10 the connection
OF trains. were recsst and modified 50 rs to
eliminate tho grant OF power TO the Railroad
Commission to attempt to do what experience
shows to be impracticab.e If notimposs.Dle.
one Of the great popular decisions is that
railroad companies are very rich. and have all
tic money they want Some railroads indeed
have excellent credit. and can, by the sale
Of their stocks and bonds, obtain the money
necessary for betterments. construction ana
equipment but no railroad has yet reached
such a condition Of completeness as 20 re-
ou.re no further expenses for these purposes.
Money is required constantly. and while some
railroads can get it, others have the greatest
difficulty, with every effort, to obtain
what Is necessary TO meet the over IN
creesng demands for additional facilities
both of rolling stock engines and cars and
track The railroads are pressed III every
way TO provide for their business. They
strain their own credit and that OF everybody
else who Will trust them, To get more engines
and cars. and TO build more track and make
better road-beds and bridges. To one WHO
knows the terrible stress under which rail-
road owners and operators labor % improve
the condition of their properties in these re-
spects the authority given 10 the Railroad
Commission to order repairs to be made, OF
equipment 70 be bought. is as superiluOIs as
to pass a law requiring man to throw water
on his burning home. and to exert himself 20
save his family and ELECTS. To such an order
the railroad mana ers might, with the great
est sincerity, answer: Show as where we can
possibly get the money and We will not only
do what you order, but much more which We
desire
Now as to connection Of trains. No
doubt there may have been instances of in-
difference to the convenience of re public in
which rival roads have ayoid.d connections
IN order TO force the moyeLent Of passengers
over their respective Ines. Where this has
has been done the lights of tho public have
been violated, and if this could be shown, as
it easily night be where it is the case, such
penalty ought to DO inflicted on the offending
railroad as would teach proper respect for
the rights of the public. But it is quite
another matter to authorize the commission
to make schedules and determine the way in
which trains are 70 DO run. let that Is the
scope Of the law it takes the most important
duties ont of the control of the railroad man
ayers. More than this. the law takes no notice
of the well known fact that the schedules of
the great through trains, mail and passenger,
are made up mainly with reference To con-
trolling points outside OF Virginia and are
fixed only with the consent Of the managers
of railroads who are not subject to our Law.
well. some man will say. DO you sup
pose the Railroad Commissioners Will be q
pack Of fools and try to interfere IN such
cases Z"
Then why pretend to grant them such
power
The whole truth is in a nutshell. WHAT we
really want is law not making rates and
schedules, but clear and strong forbiddng
unreasonable rates, and punshing di-crmi-
nations against persons OF places.
With these principles settled and enforced.
the rest may be well-indeed had far better
be-left with the railroads.
HIGH rHFDiNG.