, 1869-02-19
THR NEW RAILWAY-FARE BILL,

Senator Fuller. proposes to modify his
biz. now lbetore the Le1Alssuze, 1egu--
lating. n.g rates of trapsportation of
freight and passengers over railroads in
this State, oT spetnit.ing the Companies
to issue communication tickets. This per-
missicn is in dtree27iolation OF the "priu-
elple" of, the bill, which Is to insist upon
IN absolute uniformity of rste. Why
Should persons be permitted to PISS to
and from W ocds1ock and Chicago, for in
stance, upon commutstion tickets, at one
half or one-third fare, while travel be-
tween any other station and Ch'cago
must be at full rates! What becomes Of
the principle It the railroads s1e to be
allowed 70 discriminate IN favor OF and
AGAINST particular localities, at.thefr dis
cretions The feature Of the bill which
Senator Fuller proposes to abandon Is
most Objectionable and utterly opposed
to good policy; but the bill without 1t
will be an inconsistent jumble. twill be
bill 10 affirm q great principle, with
proviso tbas, as the principle csnnot be
enforced without public injury, its en-
to.eenent may be omitted.
The bill, however, when thus mod
ifed contains other matter equally
objectionable. Il not only requires
railroads TO establish 3 uniform
rate, but requires that these rates be
made public and adhered to for certain
pericd OF time. TIE roads OF Illinois are
compelled 10 notify the roads OF 1ndiana
and Ohio Of their rates, ami that they
cau make no special contract 8. specla
rates, bul must adhere to them without
change Tor stated period. Consequent
II, all roads competing with Illinois
roads can uulcrbid she latter and carry
off their business. While Illinois shal
be yind,cssing the great principle" tut
revenues OF the roads will be passing
over 10 their competitors. We arg no
opposed to railroad competition; in fact
NC think there ought to be, whcneve
practicable, competing roads; but thi
competition, upun which the public dc
ptrd iu1 protection, is utterly d,sLroye
when one zoad is paralyzed By statutor.
RESTRICTIONS apl the other lett ,rec. Snl
no5e the bill shoud undertake to iix Ger
tain rats upon tho Chicago. Burlineto
& Quincy Road. leaving all the othcl
frcs-wuuld that be- promoting or dcs:ro.
ing competition =? There are sever
roads only part oi which lie ID 1llinoi
and the rest In o.her States, TucFc road
in their Mre"gA business, compete wit
the rusd5 lyicg wholly in the Stat
and their connections East and Wcs
Shall VIC bind ,ur Illinois 1oads by al
hi,rBry statues, sud 1carc these compc
jng ruaJe, whlrh are OILY partly IN III
Stale ald suljtct TO Cur jurisdiction
iztc to make ,bcir contracts al rs;
which will enable thrm 10 comm sud Il
whole bus,aesss II Seua'or Full
cnu!u get up a sort OF Zo!trerein uul
which The States Of Ohio, 1niian
Michigan, Illinois, 1ows, Missouri, WI
coneip. minnesota, Ntbfa=ka, nnd l
ntw Sta'cs b.yond The Missouri Rive
wt'uld establish the SAME uniform rNtl
,'cn lie might bc nb'c To leave compel
li,n unt'ts urm.,; hut when uc trupos
Iu hllhtk'e only the roaJB Of this = u
leaving The n,htra iscr, lic actually d
l'1nyA competition. and sn',il Yea tho p'
pie Il! th,s StnG ~ sucl, lncnt ralcB
viii n4Ako ny thu t".p subtatneh by
tran,tur III ths' ,gh buA,ucss ~ the sot
ul utlrf Sjn'tA