The objection that legislation pre
scribing niaximunm rates for the trans
portation of freight and passengers will
tend to discourage the investment of
capital in railroad enterprises in Louisi
ana is not borne out by the experience
of States where laws of this kind are
enforced. On the contrary, the opera
tion of these laws has been quite as
beneficial and satisfhctory to the rail
roads as to the people ; they not only
protect the Iatter from extortion and
oppression, but afford the railroads
protection against each other and en
courage an even tenor and stability in
their affairs that is mutually advanta
geous.
We apprehend no attempt to fix
mnaximnum tariffs so low as to discourage
legitimate euterprise and investment of
capital in the fruitful field of railway
construction in Louisiana-such a course
on the part of the legislative department
of the government would be so palpably
suicidal that it is almost idle to surmise
danger from that source, but it is
absolutely necessary that the people
should be shielded from the inordinate
exactions and rapacity of soulless rail
road corporations, and our legislators
will fail in their duty if they do not
provide the wholesome protective laws
essential to the attainment of this pur
pose.
To Rev. L. P. Cushman, the accoan
plished divine and scholar who edits the
New Orleans Southwestera Christian Adro
cute, we are under obligations for this
flattering personal notice:
Among the visitors who have honored us
with a call is Linden E. Beuntly, the genial,
gritetttaily editor and proprietor of the
l)onaldsonville Chirar, a clean, faittily news
paper. Mr. Bentley is always sure eaf a
warno welcome at our otfice.
And we always tiid it a pleasure to go
thiere.
