Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-07-08
REFORMS IN THE GEORGIA RAIL
ROAD COMMISSION.

There is one feature of Gov. Smith
inaugural that is very apt to meet with
general commentator when the PEG
ple's minds are diverted from the SEN
atoriaI succession and are in position
TO again calmly consider public ques-
lions of moment We refer to the
suggestion that better salaries be PAID
to the railroad commissioners and that
they be required to give all OF their
time to the work entrusted to them,
cutting out other employment that
must more or less interfere with
their study of the transportation prob
lens of the state
Without entering into any personal
criticism of the RAILROAD commission
at as at present constituted, there is
no gainsaying the fact that the ques-
ions involved in the proper perform
ance of their duties, the supervision
of the railroads, telegraph and tele-
phone lines, express companies, gas
and electric lightning companies Of
Georgia, are sufficiently momentous
and important to occupy their time
and brains without devoting larger
part of both to outside private inter
ests. The mere study OF what is being
done in other states toward the regula-
ton of these corporations, the keep
ing abreast with the progress of other
commonwealth in dispOsing of the
questions that are constantly arising,
is sufficient to absorb the surplus time
and energies and brain powers of the
commissioners.
These corporations are yearly be-
coming of greater magnitude in Geor-
gia, and yearly assuming more i'm
portant position with regard to the
general public welfare. Hardly a
town but now has its lighting corpor-
alton, hardly town but is reached
and affected by the express companies,
and no citizen but feels that he has a
direct personal interest in the reason
able and salutary supervision of the
transportation lines of the state. AS
the representatives of two and half
millions of people, as the mediators
between them and these corporations,
it is not asking too much that the
members of the Railroad Commission
devote their entire time to the duties
Of their office If their present salar-
les are not sufficient to justify this
then the salaries might we'll be raised
to $4,000 a year and an end put to the
RELOCATING of the commissions work to
a plane of inferiority when compared
with the commissioners outside bust
ness affairs.
Gov. Smith is right in his contention
and if he makes a fight on this line he
will speedily arouse public sentiment
to the pitch where he can carry
through this reform. And while he is
doing this he might also well consider
other matters affecting the methods in
vogue in the transaction of the com
missions business. A recent Savannah
case draws attention to the necessity
for reforms in its methods. The mass
of people of that city complain of the
inadequate service given by the street
car company They ask that the com
mission sit in Savannah to hear the
case, as to carry the vast number OF
witnesses to Atlanta would involve a
tremendous expense, which must be
borne by individual citizens Their po-
sition seems well taken, but it is
stated that the commission will prob
ably decline-or already has declined
to do this. There is no earthly reas-
on why the commission should not sill
at points where local questions of this
kind have arisen. The expense of &
lew COMMISSIONERS III Wv Gu III tAlNSN
special sittings is nothing in compar
isson to the full light that body would
secure from being directly on thu
ground and the great public service
that would be rendered.
This reform is one that Gov. Smitl
might well force through along witt
any others he may have in mind Il
bring the Railroad Commission to
higher pitch of effectiveness. Railroa,
Commissions, like other public bodie:
are apt to get to running in ruts
not stirred up, and salutary criticism
and an executive progressive polio
that keeps them in more direct tOuc
with he public and more inclined to
life of greater official strenuosity thaI
some of them doubtless lead, are ia
from being amiss