The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-05-18
FOR mR. BURR TO EXPLAIN.

When the Florida railroad commits
sion attempted TO compel the Louis
vile and Nashville Railroad company
to reduce its passenger rate between
River Junction and Pensacola TO three
cents per mile the railroad company
refused 10 comply and got from Fed
|eral Judge Pardee an injunction 10
restrain the commission from enforc-
ing its order. This injunction vas only
temporary, pendentelite. but the COM
mission seemed to acouiesce in II, and
ever since then the L. and y. has been
getting four cents per mile for riding
over it's lines in this state, which is
one cent more than any other road in
Florida charges. Why is this and why
did the commission accept defeat when
the injunction was only temporary and
when it might have perfected its APP
peal and had full hearing Of the case
lin a few months? Now that Mr.. Burr
lis going about the state telling the
people Of the value OF the commits
sion he should explain why the L. and
n. is permitted 70 have such special
and remarkable advantage over other
roads In Florida, and meanwhile the
people pay the freight" Judge Par
|dees injunction doesn't explain 1t, for
the Injunction was only temporary,
and il might have been dissolved on
further hearing OF the case. But the
commission let the whole business
drop and il is entirely pertinent for
Mr.. Burr 10 explain why it did. The
thousands OF Florida people who are
travelling over the L. and y. in this
state have a direct financial interest
in this question and the public is en-
titled to an explanation. Judge Pardee
was recently denounced by Senator
Bailey of Texas for his action in this
case and the judge came back at
the senator with promptness and Wig
or. telling why he had granted a tenn
porary Injunction TO restrain the COM
mission from enforcing a three cent
rate. and among other things he says:
The Florida commission has mad
nearly three years in which 20 pursue
its remedy, if the temporary .liunc-
ton which I granted was wropgfully
allowed. They could have had a hear
ing by the circuit court OF appeals
within five months and from there
could have gone 10 the supreme court
of the United States long ae'. But
from the time that the injunction was
issued no attempt has been made 10
bring the case to d new hearing
That language puts it right NJ 10
the commission 70 tel 1.-The people Of
Florida why the case was not brought
10 new hearing. and Commissioners
Burr. who Is now canvassing Tor re-
nomination. has an elegant opportu-
nifty 70 fully explain the matter. Whv
should q mere temporary injunction
compel the patrons of the l. and y.
road in Florida all these years - pay
one cent Der mile more for travelling
than any other road in Florida charge
when that temporary injunction might
have been dissolved by further action
On the part OF the commission:
The Democrat does not mean t. in
innate for d moment that the COM
mission is without good and Suffi-
cient reason Tor its action. or rather.
inaction. in This matter. but the pub
lie i not advised of it. and il * prop
er to seek for information. as the pre-
yailing condition touches the pocket
nerve and makes a material difference
in cash in the price of travel over the
l.. and y as compared with other
roads in the state. The discrimination
is apparently unjust. and without an
adequate explanation the people might
reasonably conclude that il was due
To Il want OF VigOr in the commission
in not pushing it's case and exhaust
ing its legal remedies. A temporary
injunction * merely u starter in lti-
CATION. out in Texas the railroads
tried the same game. bu, the Texas
commission stayed with them with the
result that the rate * three cents d
mile on every railroad in that state.
Why not here? Live Oak Democrat.