The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-13
RAILROADS AND RAILROAD REGU-
LATIONS. 2. -

BeSSemer weekly. -'- "+-1-
We do not believe that the people gen
orally have a desire to. or would II they
could place any unjust restriction upon
railway management or interfere with the
proper liberty of action of any corpora
ticn controlling public utilities. The peo-
pie have a right to prevent unjust dis
elimination. Men and communities are
entitled to service without Partially or
distinction. The paramount fector in the
development of this State is the railroad.
Every legitimate and possible inducement
should he made to the railway builder and
investor The goose hat lays MS the gold
en- egg should not be killed nor crippled.
nor should it become our master or
pet All the right which it possibly can
possess comes from the people. The man
that invests a dollar in a railroad. in
a farm or in an industry has the same
right of protection from the law. There
is, however. a special distinction. Where
special rights or franchises are asked OF
the people the people, in consideration
of such a grant, have right to require
impartial and effective service. For in
stance farmer can charge what he
pleases for his produce He can ask IS
for bushel of corn that may not In
reality be worth over 50 cents. A man.
ufacturer can charge a hundred dollars
for a wagon that may not be worth forty.
and this farmer and manufacturer can
have one price for one person and an
other price for another If they so choose.
hut railroad cannot charge one person
8 cents mile for transportation or per
pound for freight and exact twice that
amount from the next person.
Herein is all the right and occasion for
special legislation for railroads and Of
Railroad Commissions to see that no dis
L. at
communities and sections
A railroad owner las just as much right
TO the absolute control of his property as
a farm owner has to the control of his
property But the former of necessity re-
uuires certain public rights or concessions
which the latter does not need and the
fact NJ such franchise makes his service
amenable tn tho interests of the public
We do not believe that Legislatures or
their creatures. Railroad Commissions
have a right to establish rates of fare or
OF freight on railroads. That would sim
nlv he the right of coniscation. The
management of railroads is the one to
determine. You must treat individuals.
towns and districts alike. You cannot
make fish Of one and fowl Of another
So far as the present Railroad Commits
sion Of Alabama is concerned We nave
meyer attributed any value or Importance
70 it. We have never heard of any good
that was done by it to the people, With
out II We believe that the people would
have been as well treated by the railroad
corporations Of the state as they have
been. But stilI we understand that in
many States Railroad Commissions are
very effective.
The opponents or critics of our state
Commission have for years been pointing
to the Georgia Commission as a paragon.
and were only DESTROYS If patterning af-
ter It, The difference is only In the per-
sonnet. Our Commissioners would do just
as much for Alabama as the Georgia
Commissioners have done for Georgia, II
they only would
Now. it really don't seem to us that It
should make any difference to the people
nor TO the railroads whether the members
Of the Commission were appointed by the
Governor or elected by the people. The
latter can elect just as good men as the
Governor whom they elect can appoint
The Commission elective or appointivc
wouId hc governed by the same law and
vouId have the same powers and discrc-
zion We do not believe that the rail-
ROADS would have any more to fear from
the elected than from the appointed. and
have really nothing to fear from either.
cant J. NJ Falkner. the District A.
.o--o,. ~ tho louisville md Naehville
Railroad the Npstor of railway manage
ment and progress in this State, is max