Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1903-09-18
STATE CONTROL
OF RAILROADS.
Tendency Said by Statisticians to be on
the Increase.
DlSTRUST IS FAMILY VISIBLE
In Many States, However, the Railroad
Commissioners are Not Thought to be
Able to Control the Railway Situation
as it Now Stands.

Washington. - There is a growing
tendency in every part of the country
to extend State control over railroads.
A special report on this subject just
issued by the Interstate Commerce
Commission shows that at the present
time thirty different States exercise
more or less control over railways
through commissions. There is also
tendency toward an extension of the
regulative power of State commissions
over transportation agencies other
than railways. In the past few years
great many commissions have been
appointed to control the operations Of
steamboat companies, express compa-
MES, telegraph and telephone compa-
MES. street car companies, etc. The
whole trent of State legislation in re-
cent years is clearly in favor of the
more strenuous form of control of
railways. Most of the commissions
now being organized are empowered
to make a general schedule of
rates for each road, and they
may, either upon complaint or
upon their own motion, investigate
existing rates and issue orders for the
substitution eff reasonable for an un-
reasonable rate. At the present time
thirteen different State commissions
are used to make general schedules
and the commissions of nine. States
lre empowered to make joint rates. A
study of the recent State laws indicates
4 slight distrust of the ability of rail-
road commissioners as at present or
yanized to control the railway situation.
The most marked illustration of this
is found in the court of visitation
which was established few years ago
IN Kansas. The law creating this
SQUIRT aimed to combine administrative
md judicial functions deemed necess-
iry for the satisfactory control of rail-
way operations. 1t was later declared
-oid on the ground that in it the legisl-
tive, judicial AMI administrative pow
rs were so inextricably interviewer
IS to render their separation impossi-
Die. The report shows that the rail
ways annually contribute to- the
various States more than $50, 900, 900
in the way of taxes.
The appointing of British-Ameri-
can boundary commission to determine
the boundary lines off the coast of Bor-
aeo, separating the possessions in those
islands belonging to the two countries
may be the eventful solution of the
inquiry which the London government
has addressed to the state department
as to the sovereignty over certain OF
these islands, The communication re-
ceived from the British charge
i'affaires regarding the control to be
exercised over these islands, which
have frequently been the resort OF pi-
rates, is still under consideration at
the state department., and Acting Sec
retary Adea will consult the secretary
of the navy before replying. So far as
can be learned there is nothing in the
controversy over these islands which
will call for arbitration.
Posioffice Inspector Mayer has re-
turned from Toronto, Canada, where
he had conference with the Grown
Counsel and the United States Consul
regarding the case OF Leopold Stern.
the Baltimore contractor, under in
dictment in connection with tbe postal
cases. The Canadian authorities
agreed to hold Stern for some time,
and the state department will forward
the necessary papers in support OF Its
request for extradition as speedily as
possible.
iRear Admiral Casey recently detach-
ad ff,em command of the Pacific
squadron has been retired on account
q age. after nearly forty-seven years
Of active service. Capt. chas. >. Bar