passengers, and their gross receipts exceeded thirty
million of dollars.

All of the just powers of the corporations which conduct this
immense business are derived from the laws of the State. If these
laws fail to guard adequately the rights and the interests of our
citizens, it is the duty of the General Assembly to supply their
defects. Serious and well-grounded apprehensions are felt that in
the management of these companies, which are largely controlled by
non-residents of Ohio, practices, not sanctioned by the law, nor by
sound morality, have become common, which are prejudicial to the
interests of the great body of the people, and which, if continued,
will ultimately destroy the prosperity of the State.

Regarding railroads as the most useful instrumentality by which
intercourse is carried on between different sections of the
country, the people do not desire the adoption of a narrow or
unfriendly policy toward them. But it should be remembered that
these corporations were created, and their valuable franchises
granted by the legislature to promote the interests of the people
of the State. No railroad company can sacrifice those interests
without violating the law of its origin. It is not to be doubted
that the authority of the General Assembly is competent to correct
whatever abuses have grown up in the management of the railroads of
the State.

The late commissioner of railroads and telegraphs, in his last able
and valuable report, directs attention to a large number of what he
terms "clear and palpable violations of law" by railroad companies,
which are of frequent occurrence.

In relation to the rates prescribed by law for the transportation
of persons and property, he says: "There is not a railroad operated
in the State, either under special charter or the general law, upon
which the law regulating rates is not in some way violated nearly
every time a regular passenger, or freight, or mixed train passes
over it."

As to the laws regulating the occupation of streets and alleys by
railroad tracks, the speed of locomotives in towns and cities, and
railroad crossings, he says that statutes which he regards as
wholesome are, "it is notorious, wholly ignored by some companies,
and only partially obeyed by others."

He q