The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-02
GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF
RAILWAY TRAFFIC..


RAILWAY TRAFFIC.
The time is not far distant when ii will
become necessary for Congress to decide
between government control or ownership
Of the railroads or the exercising of the
right of regulating all railway travel and
traffic between the States. The course
of events indicates that there is no es-
cape from this alternative, and that one
or the other of these policies must be
adopted. The increasing frequency of la
Dor strikes by which railroad traffic and
large sections of it are practically abol-
ished for the time being. 10 the great in
convenience and damage of the public,
shows the necessity of finding cure
for the evil. The people are very tired
of this state of things and clamorous
for a remedy. 1t is intolerable that the
try should continue subject TO interrupt
tions which, without any fault on the
part OF the people. infiict upon them such
heavy burdens in the way of personal
discomfort, domestic worry and pecuniary
losses. They ought not TO be expected to
stand it, and they will not stand it any
longer than is necessary to find and
apply a remedy. The main OBJ
ject of all government is to pro-
tect the people in the enjoyment
and exercise of their individual rights. No
such protection exists when traffic and
travel between different parts of the coun-
try are interrupted or suspended at fire.
quent intervals by force and violence on
the part of any organi, alton. A govern
ment that cannot or does not guarantee
the right of free personal and CONNER
cial intercourse to all its people in all
parts of the country is a failure.
AS between government ownership of
the railroads and government regulation
Of railway travel and traffic the argu-
msnts are Overwhelmingly in favor of
the latter Indeed, those against the for
mer are so numerous and strong to
put it entirely out OF the question, a;
government. Government ownership or
railroads does not consist with repub-
lican government But government regu-
lation Of railway travel and traffic Is
something entirely different The Consti-
tuition would not permit the government
TO own or operate the railroads of the
gress may regulate commerce among the
several States. The word commerce in
cludes travel as we'll as trade. When the
Constitution was framed neither railroads
nor steamboats, were dreamed of. The
only means of travel or trade were by
sailboats or animal power. Many years
later, when steamboats, came into use,
Congress, under the clause of the Con-
stitution authorizing it to regulate COM
merce between the States, enacted laws
regulating this branch of traffic and has
It's right TO regulate railway traffic and
travel between the States is equally clear.
1t has been exercised in the interstate
commerce law, but that law does not
by any means exhaust the power Of Con-
gress. In fact, there is no limitation to
the power of Congress to regulate railway
States, and it is clearly the duty of Con-
gress to exercise the power to any extent
necessary to protect the people against
arbitrary and lawless invasion of their
rights If the constitutional power to es-
tablish postoffices and postroads gives
Congress a right to make interference
tional power to regulate commerce be-
tween the States gives it an equal right
10 declare ii felony to unlawfully in
terfere with the movement of freight or
passenger trains route from one State
10 another This is what Congress should
do. 1t should pass law declaring all
freight and passenger trains on interstate
railroads a part of interstate commerce
and making it a felony punishable In
the courts of the United States for any
unauthorized person to interfere with the
movement of any such train. Already it
has done this in regard to ali mail trains,
and the effect has been most salutary.
but ii should go further and include all
freight and passenger trains running on
| the interstate railroads. The people are
entitled to this protection, Congress has
| undoubted constitutional power to extend
| it, and it should exercise the power.
THE CAUSE OF THE STRIKE.
When the Debs strike broke out in all
| its fury in Cincinnati il is related that bus