Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1898-12-08
Repented and Forgiven.

Commission, so we hear, though really
the trouble has been slight. 1t was con
cluded Wednesday, and President M.
+. ingalls,, of the e. 81 o., was the prin-
cipal witness for the defense. While
admitting that the investigation had
disclosed a rather peculiar condition OF
affairs and some illegal acts, yet in a
general way he defended the manner il
which business had been done as con-
serving the best interest of all. He
made it known in very emphatic man
ner that hereafter the published
tariff rates of the company would be
maintained.
After brief arguments by both sides
Chairman Knapp, of the commission
said there seemed to be no testimony
warranting the commission in making
any order respecting the terminal facil
tiles Of the road at Cincinnati, rs tC
which discrimination is charged. The
general charge of freight discrimination
will be treated in some future order OF
| the commission. The chairman said
that it was a regretable thing that
railroad largely engaged Ill business
should be conducting it in a conceded
violation of the mandate of Congress
He expressed qualification, however
that the company had promised to here
after comply with the law.
| From this il will be seen that railroad
company need have little fear of being
multched in fines and costs. There has
been a violation of tariff rates by the
railroad and admittedly one of the most
| fragrant. But the chairman of the COM
mission seems indisposed to take ac-
ton. He was much gratified that here
afte: the company would comply with
the law, which admits that heretofore
it had not done SO. This action on the
| part of the commission will be locke ]
on with SUSPICION and is calculated TO
bring that body into disrepute- When
"a few days ago Mr. Wickham. OF conn-
sci for the road, admitted violations, but
promised to do better, the commission
Informed him that this would not do, as
the commission had a public duty to
perform, and must take hold Of viola
tions whenever they appeared. Now
the whole matter has gone off into va
Dor and the laws ends are satisfied with
the promise of the company to go and
sin no more The trouble was that too
much was proven, and admitted. and
the commission was in hole. 1t never
had any intention of Furnishing the
railroad. We are now more and
more of the opinion that the commission
is a farce We have always contended
that the people had suffered more from
the railroads since than before, and that
no body of mer are fit TO manage rail
roads who were wined and dined by
them. and travelled in special trains,
and III the most sumptuouS palace cars
over the lines they were to pass judg-
ment upon. Ever since the commission
was formed We have been opposed TO it,
and now more so than ever. 1t has
given the roads an excuse for all the
grinding they have inflicted on the pub
| lie. This is the first case where road
has ever plead guilty SO far as we know,
and SO soon as the plea was entered the
commission found there was no power
given them TO take action. 1t were far
| better the commission were wiped out
and the roads and everybody else left
TO make any contracts they pIeasa.s and
! then enforce those contracts through
the courts, and before juries. When
this fight began it was doubted whether
the G. & Q. could be held, because MI.
| ingalls, had been so active in the last
campaign; he had done so much to pre-
serve Republican rule. The commission
is q fraud Oh the public. Here are few
men who enjoy themselves, they draw
large salaries, they fare sumptuously
every day, they practically do nothing,
and no good so far as we have seen has
ever come from any Of their acts. Their
very existence gives the railroads facil-
tiles for public plumber never known
before. This fasco in the G. & 0. mat
ter is in keeping with everything they
do, and soon we will find the railroads
lobbying to keep alive the Commission,
if a movement were made to repeal the
law under which it exists.