MR. MIDGLEY S ARTICLE CONCLUDED. 451 



a tribunal competent to form a sound opinion ; commit to 

 that tribunal, with any restrictions you think necessary, 

 the whole of the great questions appertaining to our sys 

 tem. Let it protect private interests apart from railways ; 

 let it judge of the desirability of all initiatory measures, 

 and of all proposals for purchases, amalgamations, or other 

 railway arrangements; delegate to it the power of enforcing 

 such regulations and restrictions as may be thought need 

 ful to secure the rights of private persons or of the public; 

 devolve upon it the duty of consolidating, if possible, the 

 railway laws, and making such amendments thereto as the 

 public interests and the property now depending on it may 

 require; give it full delegated authority over us in any 

 way you please : all that we ask is that it shall be a tri 

 bunal that is impartial, and that is thoroughly informed; 

 and if impartiality and intelligence are secured we need not 

 fear the results.&quot; 



