New-York tribune., 1903-02-23

,ha marc ,e.scart horror on the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western at grade crossing in New
ark emphasized the porular demand for sueh
commission. II i: certain that public sentiment
would justify the immediate passage OF an ac'
creating a State railroad commission, and that
tt is doubtful il the people viii excuse further
delay in the passage of such an act by their rep
Yesentatives in the legislature. The punishment
which alnlost inevitably follows misconduct 'l
the acts of legislators would be just as easily
applied to legislative shortcomings The heeu u
a railroad commission for New-Jersey' WHICH
WAS recognized l. 1898 by few farseeihg men,
has been made clear the majority Win 'ie
lazase of a few years by accidents. the gro" oi
population and the requirements OF puo"N
travel The conditions of 1898 have not peeii
materially changed, but have been essentlaiiS
and practically emphasized what ehaiies -
tsorl,iu laid in tha. ye1r applies with greater
emnhasis now than il did then Mr. CorSii
said: Senator Johnson's blu providing loi d
railroad commission calls attention TO SupJe~'
which has never received the attention IL ue
serves in New-Jersey. The State has gone o'
FOR sixty wears intrusting corporations WIN ii
,,ortan- puhlic duties with little regard to the
manner in which they discharge those ouues-
There is no tribunal to which citizen can re-
sort 20 reduce excessive charges, or 10 pre'eii'
determinations or to require the furnishing OF
suitable station accommodations or reason
able number of trains or TO require the proper
appliances for safety. Ihe puohc pune
ef NeW-Jersey is the same as that OF Massa-
chusetts where Chief Justice Gray wrote INC
chief characteristics Ct railroad corporauo"
,,n6ar the laws OF this State that it is Gre
ated mainly for the plOlic benefit, ana oniy III
cidentally for its own profit The special pusl-
.,ass of a railroad commission is to enforce the
suu performance OF public duties by railroad
eo,unanlea ane also to act as a tribunal 10
which citizens can resort for redress which the
courts cannot give. Senator Johnsons OH II
modelled On the law Of Massachusetts WHICH
has been found efectual in its operation a
feature of the bill criticised is that II gives '
commission no power over the business anu
rates of railroad companies, except 70 'h'eS'i-
gate remonstrate and report facts Ihese are
she only powers conferred upon the Massa-
.husetts commission and they have been found
effective there Thomas Russell, the chairman
of fhe nfassachusettsl commission. SAID De1ore
3he Culon committee in 1886: fhe theory Is
that when anything wrong is done by cor
r,oratiou and when the community is hlJuieu
fv ifs conduct public opinion shall be nroush'
30 bear upon the company by q pubic ihVes'i-
cation held before this commission the result Oh
which is made public oy the press And by the
aid of the press instead Of by judgment ana eN-
ecution. Justice as between the people and the
railroads is enforced Now, whether public opln-
,., would weigh with the managers of railroads
5.7 New-Jersey as il does in MASSACHUSETTS, We
cannot yet tell, but If on trial it We're looIu
fhs: they disregarded the orders OF the cohinis-
sion We would be In a strong position 10 can oii
-he legislature 5or a further grant OF power:
The value OF a commission appoin'eu
7ar senator Johnson's bin would depend
mainly on the character and capacl'! oi rs
members With such men as have served IN
Massachusetts, it would accomplish very mueh
os a,,d establish a much better understand
sn, hatvveen the railroad companies ana tfle
,,eopie than now prevails. Even though lhleo up
With average Office seekers, it would De fouhu
=, With such a commission in eA-
ss,ence lust complaint would at least nave
,utlic hearing and it is fair to presume 'na' II
would find remedy
MIR. GRIGGs-s VIEWS
The views of Ex-Governor Griggs in two OF his
messages to the legislature, and, as areaoS
,,,o+e5 tn TIE Tribune, of Governor Murphy,
as p first impression, and of nearly all oi 'he
members of the legislature who have spoken on
,ba .,,hiec4 are all impressvely in favor OF a
State railroad commission OF course, 1t goes
without saving that the members of such COM
mission to meet and satisfy the popular oeslre
for their appointment should be-and II ap-
,,ointed by Governor Murphy probably would
he-rnen of first rate ability and of the hlsnest
personal integrity-men in a word IN Whoin lne
r,eople would have the same degree OF commence
that they have in the fair dealing and justice
Of the higher courts. Such men, as will be pro-
1ided in Assemblyman Cooks bill, should re-
eeive an annual compensation of not less thah
S5on0 each As long ago 1888 about thirty
States had adopted the railroad commission sys-
fem and at that time the committee or the
Tinted States Senate appointed to consider and
investigate the subject Of interstate commerce
commented fsvorably upon the good results ac-
.ornpiished by the State Railroad Commission
system and the growing confidence Of the people
in that system as a means by which the railroad
corporations could best be restrained and regu-
lated and called attention to the more gen.
eral recognition of the important fact that the
business of railroa.a transportation requires spe-
cial treatment for the proper adjustment or ATS
-e,a+tons 10 the citizens. In Massachusetts and
Connecticut the powers conferred upon the rail-
road commissions are largely advisory. rather
shan arbitrary as some of them were in the
Yves. YET their operations have been very salts
factory to all interests.
tn .he sneerfng and frequently made declara-
,ion by men who largely from personal mo-
tiyes are opposed to a State railroad comlnls-
sion for New-Jersey, that the commissioners
sn New-York never do anything, and never VIII
do ANYTHING but walk around, look wise and
draw their salaries" 1t is only necessary TO re-
rlv that this is not only gratutously untrue, and
70 relate that, as case in point, within Few
Ssxs .,,s Railroad Commissioners of New-York
granted TO one railroad company their consent
m the issue by that company OF mortgage of
sJeoooO0o for Improvements, but expressly
stimulated that only s25.0oo.ooo be issued now.
and that the road should make application for
.hA approval Of the commission at future
6a,a before issuing the remaining SO 600 600.