The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-08-24
Chairman of Railroad Commission Asks
Reelection on Record in Office.


Since he has been a member, and NOR
especially since he has been chairman
some Of the most notable decisions il
the history Of the commission has beer
handed down. Probably the most no
table of these was the sweeping orde
reforming and reducing the express
tariffs, which is credited with having
resulted in more widespread relief t.
the great mass Of small shippers thar
any other order that has been ISSUED
since the creation of the commission
In that case the express companies re-
sorted to every expediency to secure
delay. They were especially anxious
for postponement of the findings un-
til after the decision of the express
case pending before the Interstate Com
merce Commission at Washington. But
the State commission had spent nearly
two years investigating the rates and
practices of these companies in Louisi-
ana. They had been offered every OPP
portunity to present their side, and
Chairman Meredith, much to the graft
fication of the merchants and shippers,
refused to grant further delay.
1t is conservative estimate that the
order issued by the State Railroad Com
mission saved to the shippers of this
State who use the express service,
more than $500, 900 per year, and re-
suited in vastly improving the service.
The commission was careful to render
equal and exact justice, and while its
order was hailed as victory for the
public, SO fair was it that no appeals
were taken by the express companies,
which had previously maintained that
alteration of their tariffs meant confis-
cation and the deprivation of their
rights under the constitution.
1t is the faculty of getting at the
very marrow of the controversy and
rendering decision without either fear
or favor that has given Chairman Mere
dith a high place among the presiding
officers of similar boards. He has been
firm with the railroads, which have
protested at many of the orders issued
over his signature as chairman, yet at
the same time he has refused to stoop
to the tricks of the demagogue.
Time and again he has refused to be
a party to regulatory measures which
were popular, but which Capt. Mere
dith knew to be either oppressive or in
capable of standing the acid test of a
trial in COURT. and he has been as anx-
ious to avoid reversals by the courts as
q Judge is to avoid such action at the
hands of superior tribunal.
The chairman of the Louisiana Rail-
road Commission has not only been al
student of traffic prob
lens in its broadcast phases, but he
keeps abreast of the proceedings and
findings of the Interstate Commerce
the Court of Commerce
and kindred commissions in other States.
1t is because of the knowledge thus ac-
uuired that he has rejected some de-
mands, which, while not sound, have
enjoyed passing popularity. This
course has made him the target of many
hostile critics.
Capt. Meredith has made it a point to
work for the convenience of the travel
ing public no less than for the saving
to the small shippers. Many of the
orders and rules which have made trav-
ell in Louisiana more bearable in recent
years owe their origin to him. A re-
cent order compelling train dispatchers,
agents and others to furnish informa-
ton as to the cause of the delay of pas
senger trains, as well as the expected
hour of arrival when such trains are
late, is an illustration of this.
Capt. Meredith believes that mas
much as the railroads frequently receive
free rights of way, exemption from
taxation over long periods of time, and
many other favors at the hands of the
people, they are making no sacrifice in
return when they carry the duly author
lied agents and representatives of the
people over their lines for the purpose
of inspecting the upkeep of the proper
ty and for the purpose of ascertaining
if the roads are rendering the service
the public is entitled to. He has made
this one of the planks in his platform
prediction. N. o. Times-Democrat
ADV.
How Paint