The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-01-07

IN C4uUS u lcuy ku111A - ~
TRAHsPoRrAT1OH coHvnn4son.
The people Of Illinois seemed 10 be very
thoroughly aroused upon the enormous cost
of transportation of produce 70 narkeA Sew
eral conventions have been held at different
points, and indignant speeches and resolutions
have been uttered and published, and still the
excitement goes on and gathers volume and
force. The last convention reported was
held at Sterling, and large section of the
surrounding country was represented.
The folio wing resolutions, adopted by the
convention, indicates the spirit of the meeting
and the grievances under which the people OF
that section are suffering:
Resolred, That the people of Illinois owe
to themselves and their posterity two plain
duties:
|. To determine the tariff Of railroad
freight by legislation, so that the price paid by
the shipper shall he only commensurate with
the facilities afforded by the company.
2 That system Of water communication
shall be constructed which shall furnish a
cheap and easy transit for all bulky articles to
market
Resolpcd, That the grant by State Of a
charter to q railroad company, with the right
to pass over private property without the con-
sent Of the owner, is only upon the condition
that the public, not private, necessity and
commerce require it; and when any railrovd
campany organized under such charter makes
an agreement with any man or set of men to
deliver to them alone all freights of any one
kind carried over their road, that moment
such company ceases to be public necessity
and convenience and becomes monopoly.
and forfets its right of way over private
property.
Resoired, That when President johnson,
in his message to Congress, says, that MO
nopolies are contrary to the genius of q free
government and ought not to be allowed"
and that, while the Government is subordi.
nate to the people, it must be held superior
to monopoles, he shows that his head is
clear-his heart with the people.
Resolred, That the Northwestern Railroad
Company, by entering into a combination, or
agreement, with certain elevator men in Chi
cago-which they had the power to abrogate
at the time Of consolidation with the Galena
and Chicago Railroad Company--to deliver
TO their elevator alone all grain carried on
their road in bulk, rob the shipper of the right
to select his own commercial agent; kill all
competition in the storage of grain: put the
producer, the shipper and the consumer in
the power at the mercy of men whose avarice
tif the statement of the Chicago Board of
Trade can be relied on sometimes gets the
better Of their honesty; assume right not
granted by their charter; and create monop-
oily as ruinous in practice as it is odious in
theory.
Resolred, That while we fully appreciate
the benefits, necessity and public convenience
of the railroads of the country, and accord
lasting honor to their projectors and former
managers, we do not believe that the most
of the roads now in this State are managed by
men reckless of principle, and regardless of
the best interests of the people.
Resoired. That, in view of these facts, il is
the duty of every man in the State who has
the honor of the State and the best interest
of its citizens at heart, TO vote for no man for
a member of the General Assembly of this
State who is not known to be determined to
bring the managers of the railroads in this
State back to the original position Of common
honesty and fair dealing, regulating their
tariff of freights by law; making combinations
to deliver grain to John Smith alone, and
coal to George Brown. or any other one man,
an indictable offence. punishable by imprison-
ment in the penitentiary.
Resolred, That the giving of passes by rail-
road companies TO public officers is in the ma
ture of bribe; and We believe that no judi.
cial. legislative or executive officer of this
State ought to accept one.
ReSolrei, That the improvement of the
Rock Island and Des Moines rapids, on the
Mississippi river is work Of national impor-
tsnce and should receive, the attention of
Congress at once.
While we doubt not. 1t is within the prov
inee of the Legislature to control railroad as
well as other chartered public monopolies,
and to restrain their exorbitant exactious, the
most satisfactory way after all of remedying
the evil, is by increasing the facilities Of
transportation and opening up new lines in
competition by river and railroad. And so
far as the people of Iowa and Northwestern IL
linois are concerned, the improvement Of the
navigation of the Rapids of the Mississippi
would have most beneficial effect
The following letter from Hon. Z. B.
WAsHBrRxE, was read, and received With
great satisfaction by the Convention:
GALESA, H., Dec. %, 1866.
My DEAR SrR:-I have duly received your
favor of ths 25th inst, inviting me to attend
meeting Of the IafihtrB ht Ctcftiu&, vi viz
Sd prox to take into consideration the ones
ton of the transit of the products Of the coun-
try. Iregret exceedingly that it viii not be
in my power to attend the meeting. Congress
re- conveues on the 5th prox. and there is my
post Of duty. 8 - -
No man can sympsthize more deeply in the
object of the meeting than do. Those eye
less, heartless, soulless monsters, the railroad
monopolies of this State, are sucking the very
life blood of our people. This county Of 10
Daviess and your own patriotic county OF
Whitesides were the two counties in the State
that first spoke out on this great question
Before leaving for Washington, in November,
took occasion, at the Farmers Convention
at Morris, to make some plain talk on this
subject; and 1 rejoice to see that the whole
people have entered upon the discussion of
these matters, so vitality affecting al their
interests and trust the agitation will not
cease until remedy Is secured against the m.
tolerable expressions thatare crushing ont our
prosperity.
hope I NAV be advised Of the action Of
your Convention on the subject Of the R1ck
river andt he canal improvement. shall Be
glad to g've my feeble aid 70 any ptseticsble
scheme ihat may be proposed..
an, very truly, your obedient servant,
e. B. WAsHBuRSE.
ORPHAHg HOME.
Mr.. EDITOR FL have SECURED . certificate
for members of the Orphan. Association,