Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 10.djvu/826

 8 10 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

such corporation to exhibit its books and accounts whenever the commission requires.

These are only illustrations of the far-reaching supervision exercised by the Massachusetts Railroad Commission. No other in the country is endowed with powers so sweeping; no other stands so high in reputation for ability, fairness, and unimpeach- able honesty. Only because its extraordinary authority is never abused is it possible to continue that authority in active exercise. The commission is securely intrenched in the respect and con- fidence of all elements in the community ; so much so that it has become in many cases a custom of opposing interests, corporate and otherwise, to refer controversies to it for decision; and, although the decision is often adverse to the corporation interests, sometimes to the extent of important and expensive changes in plant or equipment or method of operation, the commission still remains the preferred tribunal.

The general attitude of the present commission toward the street-railway problem is admirably summed up in a paragraph of its recent decision in the Springfield case, referred to. The com- missioners say :

The operation of street railways in the larger municipalities has shown that the traffic within city limits can be handled with greater success and greater safety by one than by several companies. It will not do, however, for a company which receives the privileges of monopoly to forget the obligations which go with them. The public in such case can look to the one company only for needful extensions and additional accommodations. In response such company should be quick to meet all reasonable demands. When it under- takes to perform the entire public service, it must carry out the task.

The Massachusetts Commission consists of three men, appointed by the governor with the consent of the special advisory body known as the "Council," and each holds office for three years. Its integrity is preserved through two considerations: the virtual absence of attempts on the part of Massachusetts cor- porations to control it by influencing the election of a " friendly " governor, and the positive demand of public sentiment for a com- mission that shall be above criticism. To appoint to this com- mission a man open to suspicion of representing special interests would be hardly less disastrous to the future political prospects of