Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-02

the prison commission. Feeble and disa-
bled convicts should be placed upon
farm for their support and maintenance.
The operation of the act of 1908 has
suggested to the authorities charged with
it's execution the necessity of some
amendments. Looking to the perfection
of the law, I bespeak for such measures
your most careful consideration.
: COMMON CARRIERS.
The convention which named the pres
ent administration of this state also made
the following declaration of principles:
I'VE believe in the strict control and
firm regulation of all public utility cor
pCrations, and favor prescribing such
freight and passenger rates as will be
just to the corporations and to the trav-
cling and shipping public, and such rules
will give to shippers expeditions and
safe transportation, and quick adjustment
of all claims and overcharges, damage
and demurrage; and to passengers regu-
/ lar schedules, comfortable coaches, we'll
| lighted and 0n winter well-heated walt
! ing rooms, with the necessaries for COM
fort. To further secure the accomplish
ment of the above end, we favor the re-
! quirement that the common carriers shall
maintain their road-beds in safe condi-
ton. and shall provide such warehouses
and other terminal facilities as the ex-
panding commerce of or state demands.
! The words in the paragraph quoted en-
body the fixed policy of this state for
/ many years past. II is Indispensable that
/ the state retain supervisory control OF the
| creatures it brings into being. 1t is true
that corporation is an artificial person.
. but IL is a person with no greater powers
! than its creators have given IT. The pur-
] pose of government supervision and regu-
ation of untility corporations is not to
/ destroy the property of the corporations,
/ but to preserve and safeguard the rights
of the people The interests of the two
are iuseparable. When you inJure one
, you do violence to the other. A true
/ healthful prosperity in one is sure sign
/ of pre- sperity in the other.
| The legislation which created the rail-
| road commission of Georgia was brought
about by certain arbitrary acts and dis
! criminatory rates by the railroad mana
gers which highly offended the minds or
| the people There was unreasonable de-
| lay in. settling claims for overcharge and
damage, in furnishing cars for forwarding
| freight, and in the expeditions handling
| thereof after 1t was received. There
! were frequently no fires in the waiting
rooms in cold weather, often no lights, and
| the depots themselves were too small or
| lnconveniently located for accommodating
| travellers. There were many other abuses
| which required correction, hence the law
creating the railroad commission was en-
acted, and from time to time has been
| supplemented by legislation which the
| public needs demanded.
1 regard 1t as unfortunate that rail-
| roads should have become the bone OF
political contention in this state. While
abnormal increase in traffic of several
years ago. due to the rapid growth and
development of our state and its indus
/ tries at that time, had much to do with
| the inability of the railroads to render
proper and satisfactory transportation
t>services. thereby causing much irritation
] to the public, it cannot be doubted that
| there were other just causes of complaint
| on the part of the people which could
not be fairly attributed TO mere Increase
| in business. Among some of these COM
plants were the frequency Of overcharges
| and inaccuracies in freight bills; long de-
| laws in the settlement of Just claims; lack
| of proper consideration for the interests
| of the shipper and consignees of freight.
Undoubtedly these evils ought to be cor
rected Certainly they should be dimin-
| ished as far as the regulating power Of
the state can diminish them. But regula-
| ton and correction Of evil is quite diff
| ferent matter from retaliation or revenge.
AS a matter of fact, neither revenge nor
retaliation should have any place in gov
| eminent or legislation.
1t frequently happens that when the
people have just grievance against
| public service corporation, 1t is compare
| lively easy to arouse public passion and
| prejudice to such an extent, that instead
| of attempting to correct existing evils,
| they content themselves with Furnishing
| the corporation in other ways, and when
| the pendulum of popular feeling has spent
| its force and exhausted it's power in re-
venge alone, and the wreck is surveyed,
| 1t swings back to the other extreme, leav-
| ing the real evils uncorrected.
/, therefore, suggest to you the advisa
bility of providing by direct legislation.
| some fair and reasonable method whereby
| the individual shipper and consignee of
| freight may enforce his rights, and OBJ
| tain redress promptly in the courts Of the
state, for overcharges in freight and for
| delays in the settlement of just claims.
| This can be done by legislation providing
| reasonable penalties for delays in settling
| claims. In my opinion such laws will
prove a much more efficient remedy to
| the individual shipper and consignee, who
can bring suits in their local courts, II
| they prefer, rather than pursue the pres
| ent indirect method of relief through the
railroad commission.
DOUBLE TRACKING MAIN LINES.
Reductions In the income of the owners
| of common carriers should only be made
when necessary 10 T6InOV6 UNJUST
nation, or when the reduction will re-
move unjust burdens from the masses
| Statistics, we should bear in mind, show
that 20 per cent of the gross earnings of
the carriers go directly or ultimately to
! labor; hence, when reductions in gross
earnings are made, labor is the first
| loser, and the farmer who feeds labor is
| the second
If, therefore, the future policy of the
state be to abstain from unwarranted re-
duction of rates, T. e., the income Of the
owners OF these carriers, 1t will in a few
years be In a position legally and fairly
to require the carriers to greatly improve
| their roadbeds; to build larger depots and
more comfortable waiting rooms with
! modern conveniences; to increase their
sidetracks, add more passenger trains and
| like improvements.
The continuous dread by the owners
of common carriers that their income
would be unreasonably reduced has been
given, time and again. as the reason for
not improving their track and depots and
amplifying their service. This very dread
has been voiced as the reason why the
owners of some of our main lines do not
lay down double tracks. They admit that
the expanding commerce of this state and
section. requires double tracks; but say
that to build them they must borrow
money, and that II they should do so
the state authorities, ignoring the fact