Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-08-23
ADVERTISEMENT.
Chairman Of Railroad Commission Asks
Reelection on Record in Office.

Noters on the strength OF his record
Since he has been a member, and NOR
especially since he has been chairman
some OF the most notable decisions in tn,
history of the commission have beer
handed down. Probably the most notabl,
was the sweeping order reforming ant
reducing the express tariffs, which il
credited with having resulted in NOR,
widespread relief to the great mass o.
small shippers than any other order thai
has been issued since the creation of the
commission. elm that case the express
companies resorted to every expediency
to secure delay. They were especially
anxious for a postponement of the find
ings until after the decision of the ex-
press case pending before the Interstate
Commerce Commission at Washington.
But the State commission bad spent
nearly two years investigating the rates
and practices OF these companies in Louis
lana. They had been offered every OPP
portunity to present their side and Chair
man Meredith, much TO the qualification
of the merchants and shippers, refused
to grant further delay.
1t is a 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 resulted in
vastly improved service. The commits
sion was careful to render equal and ex-
act justice, and while its order was hailed
as victory for the public, so fair was it
that no appeals were taken by the ex-
press companies which had previously
maintained that alteration of their tariffs
meant con6scation and the deprivation
of their rights under the Constitution.
1t is the faculty Of getting at the very
marrow of the controversy and rendering
a decision without fear or favor that has
given Chairman Meredith high place
among the presiding officers OF similar
boards. He has been firm with the rail
roads, 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 dem
agogue.
Time and again he has refused to be
a party to regulatory measures which
were popular, but which Captain 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 anxious
to avoid reversals by the courts as judge 7,
is to avoid such action at the hands of
superior tribunal.
The chairman of the Louisiana Rail- |
road Commission has not only been |
conscientious student Of traffic problems
in its broadcast phases, but he keeps
abreast Of the proceedings and findings
OF the Interstate Commerce Commission,
the Court of Commerce and kindred
commissions in other states. 1t is be-
cause of the knowledge thus acquired that
he has rejected some demands, 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 travelling
public no less than for the saving to the
smaller shippers. Many of the orders and /
rules which have made travel in Louis |
lana more bearable in recent years owe
their origin to him. A recent order COM
polling train dispatchers, agents and 9th,
ers TO furnish information as to the cause
Of the delay of passenger trains, as well
the expected hour of arrival when such
trains are late, is an illustration of this.
Capt Meredith believes that inasmuch
as the railroads frequently receive free
rights of way, exemption from taxation
over long periods of time, and many 9TH
er favors at the hands Of the people, they
are making no sacrifice in return when
they carry the duly authorized agents and
Of the people over their
lines for the purpose of inspecting the
up-keep of the property and for the pur-
pose of ascertaing if the roads are render
ing the service the public is entitled to.
He has made this one of the planks m
his platform for reelection. Times Dem
ocrat.