The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-17

prerequisite TO voting.
The South's Attitude Toward The
Railroads.
Baltimore Sun.
1t may be true, as our esteemed
contemporary, the New York Press
asserts, i'll reply to the suggestion
thai state regulation Of rates has
eaten up the Seaboard Air Lines re-
venues, that "tnere has not been
enough Of enforcement of lower
charges to affect the company's rev.
enue.' It may be conceded that the
reduced rates have been effective for
only few months and that the di-
minution of the company's receipts
from this cause alone did :,ot hasten
tle reccivcrship. But there are other
facts and considerations which can
not be ignored in a candid and thor
'ough discussion Of the laws enacted
by southern legislatures for the regu-
lation of freight and passenger rates.
The Sun advocated just and reason
able regulation by congress of rail
roads engaged in inters tate commerce,
with ample safeguards for protection
of the public of the railroads. The
law enacted by congress. known as
the Hepburn act, increases the power
OF the interstate commerce commits
sion, enables the commission to sub
stitute a rate which it considers fair
and reasonable for an excessive rate,
and gives the railroads the right of
appeal to the federal courts from
the decision of the commission.
The right Of the several states TO
! regulate railroad rates within tneir
boundaries is not questioned. Of
course, there can be 10 regulation
sSthat is confiscatory. But a princi-
Taple is involved in the regulation
touches the welfare of The pub
ssSlis sSlis as deeply as it does that Of the
HTAilroais. We do not know of any
Esotner section Of the United States
Emlioarc dependent for development up
soM the railroads than the southern
Eestates. These states have enormous
natural resources, which cannot be de-
properly without the assist
Esailee of outside capital. Much Of the
which investors in other sta
sEsates have placed in the south Is il
vested in railroad properties. These
were made at a time
when public opinion in the south was
sssbitterly hostile to the railroads, when
HVegulatlon was not political issue
s@S1aS every township and county in
Whiel the politicians could make it
'burning question: It is not de-
|sa,isd that the railroad management
was was frequently tactless. and often az
library 1t is recognized that the
ssPeople of some of the southern sta
ties had a just grievance at times in
sfespect to determinations. They had
1.-The right to redress these grievances
:|aand to demand uniformly just and
treatment. But it is al open
s1nestion whether the politicians did
3SsMot induce the people to apply re-
s2medy which may be injurious to the
interests of the south as
ssWell as to The railroads.
;sa@ capital will not promote railroad
SSentcrprises or any other undertake
@angs unless it has reasonable assur-
ssSIsance Of fair return on it's invest
No business man in the south
would invest his funds in a project
which was subject every two years,
lssoIS whenever the state legislatures
san)eet, to regulation which might stop
short only of confscation. In seal
sEsalag down the rates which railroads
SsNan$the south may charge for hauling
freight and transporting passengers
sss;sso9nthern Legislatures may have am
nile warrant in the law. That is a
Ssiitestion for the highest court in the