OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF GEORGIAP service For the Year Ended October 15, 1903 ATLANTA, GA. GEO. W. HARRISON, STATE PRINTER 1903 REPORT. OFFICE OF THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF GEORGIA. To His Excellency, Jos. M. Terrell, Governor: SIR: By the terms of the Act creating the Railroad Commission of Georgia, it is made the duty of that Commission to report to the Governor from time to time such recommendations as it may have to offer touching the subject of regulation of railroads, and as well to give to the Chief Executive such information touching the operations of the Board of Railroad Commissioners as will enable the Legislature to understand the practical workings of that body. It is in obedience to this provision of this law that the Commission begs herewith to submit its report. The wisdom of State regulation of common carriers is now so well established, and so thoroughly recognized, as that no one in this day seriously questions the policy of maintaining a system by which the common carriers of the State in their relations to the public are subject to governmental control. The history of this Commission, dating from its organization, vindicates the wisdom of its establishment. The railroad companies themselves have never been more prosperous, nor have the people of the State ever received such good service for so little money as at the present time. All of the powers of the Railroad Commission have been exercised for the promotion of the general welfare. The rules established by it from the beginning were conceived in wisdom; they have been enforced in moderation, but with an inflexible purpose-to see that complete justice was done to every citizen within the limits of the State. The power to regulate the operations of the great carrying corporations of the country carries with it an enormous responsibility; and this responsibility the Commission has to the best of its ability met from time to time in such a way as to protect all conflicting interests, and at the same time to promote, the general welfare. |