The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-11-03
THE sun

Railroad Commission Of the State of Florida WAS
ABSOLUTELY OUTCLASSED. Its members had
to contend with men who were trained In the
particular line Of business to which they had de-
voted their lives; men who met the questions and
conditions brought about by q summons similar
IN character Of the Railroad Commission in Other
states many timea; men who were sure OF their
ground, who had all the fne points Of the case
ut their fingers ends, who were practiced in the
art OF presenting them clearly and forcibly; men
who possessed technical knowledge reduced TO its
last analysis of Perfection in detail. They did
not lack for arguments tending to show that the
adoption Of the rules proposed by the Commission
would be unreasonable and unjust and would work
a hardship on the shipper as well as the trans
portat0n company
Opposed to them were three men selected by
the people OF Florida Without regard to Qualif.
cations fitting them for the position. without any
consideration being given to the question OF
whether or not they were qualified to deal with
the large questions and important questions and
technical questions and complex questions that
come up In the regulation Of the enormous bust.
ness OF freight and passenger transportation in
this State. 1t was evident that Messrs. Burr and
Morgan were earnest In their desire to bring re-
lief for the intoleable condition that has for 40
long obtained IN transportation circles in this
State conditions that have partially paralyzed the
business OF the State. They met the objections
ity. They tried TO- demonstrate the unreasonable,
ness the weaknessand faibity OF these objections.
They did the best they could. Chairman Browne,
although acting often as spokesman for thecomms-
sion In answer to questions and statements made
to him, as presiding officer, did not evince any
desire to get solution Of this difculty by meet
ing the objections of the Railroad Companies to
the proposition offered as solution by the Rail
road Commission. \ He may have had this DESIRE
he may have been earnest In his intention but he
took no part In the discussion, other than an
4 swering question: land propositions put to him.
He was chairman OF, the meeting and contented
himself with acting in that capacity. When OIL.
jectons to the proposed rules came thick and
fast from all the representatives of the rail,
roads, Chairman Browne received them as q rocky
cliff receives the sound waves put In motion by the
traveller In the mountains and gave back the echo
as a rocky cliff does without change, addition or
. q This, be it known, is not said in criticism, It
Is q record OF what transpired at the meeting.
SO the impression was gained that the two mem
bers Of the Commission who did try TO meet the
objections offered by the representatives Of the
railroads lacked in ability. through no fault Of
their own to properly do 80, because Of their want
of qualifications for the task This also. IL not
said In criticism. y 1t Is not to be expected that
two gentlemen who have spent but few years
in the consideration Of these great questions Of
trafhc can compete IN argument with those who
have spent years IN the study of them and who
have received their training In q school In which
knowledge Of their business is the thing required
Of those who would achieve success. iDa %
Another thing that was made apparent at this
hearing was the necessity for the presence Of o
legal adviser at all hearings. The Railroads had
their attorneys there, men who were paid for the
legal service expected to be required OF them. Any
point coming up requiring the opinion Ola man
versed In all the intrcacies Of the law bearing on
,ne cases found the representatives Of. the Rail.
b ~~@--~--~-~~4----~~~
a. pi,ft RAILROADS WITH NO cARSbb q u