Squatter sovereign., 1855-05-08
Public Meeting Of Merchants. Shippers
and others. at St. Joseph, No.

Inc meeting was OfgdnlZeu ny SoiiihS
Mr.. B. C. Powell to the chair, and appoint
ing John Curd secretary.
On motion of Mr.. Hull, the chair APP
pointed committee of four to prepare res
olutions expressive of the sense OF the
meeting in regard to the present Steamboat
monopoly, and to report at an adjourned
meeting on Monday evening next. The
chairman appointed Messrs. Bassett, Kay,
Saxton and Curd, when, on motion, the
meeting adjourned to Monday evening.
MONDAY EVENING, April %.
The meeting met pursuant to adjourn
ment.
The following report was made by j.
Basset, the chairman of the committee on
resolutions, and unanimously adopted by
the meeting:
REPORT.
The committee appointed to draft pre-
amble and resolutions expressive of the
sense of this meeting, beg leave to submit
the following report:
WHEREAS, 1t is the opinion of this meet
ing that there exists at this time coalition
between portion, if not all, of the various
owners Of steamboats, engaged in the Mis-
souri, river trade; that the result of said CO.
alition is producing high, and as we believe,
exhorbitant charges on freight of all kinds;
that we know of no reason to justify the
formation of such combination, as the
people of ST. Joseph, Weston, Lexington,
and those residing in other towns on the
Missouri river, have uniformly patronized
the regular Missouri river boats, to the ex-
clusion of all foreign and transient steam
ers. We therefore deem it ungenerous,
ungrateful and unjust on the part of the
owners of said boats to form combina-
ton destructive Of the ordinary COMPETE
ton in the price of freight, and injurious to
the business Of our towns and cities. That
although the mercantile community are the
first to suffer from this state of things, yet
in the end all classes in this section Of
country will be compelled to pay greatly
enhanced prices for merchandise and other
goods shipped up the Missouri river. 1t
therefore becomes not only the duty of mer-
chants to complain Of these wrongs, but
farmers, mechanics, and indeed all classes
should take an interest in this matter, and
If possible protect themselves from the evil
consequences which are likely to ensue-
In view of the premises your committee
recommend the adoption of the following
resolutions.
Resolved, That if there exists, as we
fully believe, combination to force the
citizens of this section of country to pay
to boats higher rates of freight than have
| been paid in past seasons, we deem it right
and expedient to take immediate steps to
avoid the evil, and adopt measures to coun-
teract, if possible, the wrongs we may 9TH
erwise suffer.
Resolved, That whilst we admit that the
regular Missouri river boats are in gener-
al better differed and better commanded
than those in any other river trade, yet we
will not submit TO the supposed combina-
ton existing among the owners of said
boats, by which certain men in St. Louis
regulate the price of freights to and from
| this city.
Resolved, That in tamely acquiescing
to such supposed scheme to accumulate
wealth, we should regard ourselves as
wanting in that honorable resentment that
all men should feel against those who at
tempt to extort prices by means of COM
bination, that ordinary competition, and
former rates of charge, will never Justify.
Resolved, That common experience has
/ fully established the fact everywhere, that
extensive coalitions, operating in the great
channels af trade to enhance prices and
destroy competition, are productive of the
vilest evils, and although those engaging
therein often realize temporary prosperity
yet, in the end, they generally become vic.
F Tins to their. own unjust Vaccinations
banlrupting themselves as well as injurine
t and depressing the business of an entire
community.
} Resolved, That In order to mature plar
) to fully protect ourselves, we recommend
that convention of all interested business
men, be held at Kansas on the 10th day o
May next, and we urgently request th'
citizens of Savannah, Weston. Leaven
worth, Liberty. Kansas. independence
Platte City, Plattsburg. Richmond, an
such other towns and cities as feel inter
ested upon this subject. to appoint delegate
who will not fail to attend said conven
ton.
b Resolved, That the proceedings OF .thi
!. meeting be published IN the St. Josep
+ Cycle and Gazette. and re request all 9th