The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-09-28
pike company ever presumed, even asked


pike company ever presumed, even asked
for.
bling and fault finding. I stand here tot
advocate a practical, beneficial reform.
heartily wish theFederal government
whenever it granted right of way
across the public lanas-much more when
it added q generous subsidy-had ex-
pressly reserved aud asserted the right
to limit and modify the charges OF the
railroad thus assisted. wish that every
State Legislature had dore substantially
the same when 'coDceding the eight t.
take the public and private property re-
CURED in the construction of railroad
But right is not surrendered and sacrl-.
feed merely because it was not, at par
ticular time, asserted. Every State has
given clear titles to swamp and other
public lands, yet has afterward author
lied the running Of highways and rail
road across these unqualified grants. 1t
thus asserted in behalf of the common
veal it's right of eminent domain In &C
cordance with the requirement and inter.
est of the railway builders; / insist that
III SUhll 1IOW IAdhG d SAL4AA&A CS0CA UAOA VA
it's rights in behalf of the patrons of
those roads, who are IN tact the entire
body polite
| ask this State, to affirm and exercise
the right of fixing proper and reasonable
rate of fare and freight on every railroad
subject to its jurisdictions and If the
courts should in any case decide that the
power thus granted to Legislatures by
existing constitutions, then ask that
such power be expressly conferred ny a
constitutional amendment. There can
be no doubt of the people thus to I'M
prove their fundamental law; IN fact,
can see no reason for doubt that the
same power which sufGeed to give the
farmers house and lands to a company at
10 price virtually fixed by the State, will
suffice to insure the farmers the right to
use that railroad at prices virtually txed
by the State.
would do nothing unjust nor harsh.
Live and let live" is the true rnle. 1t is
YOUR interest and mine that tho who con-
duct railroads shall derive good income
Itherefsom, so as to encourage them and
others to build more railroads. Though
half the railroads on earth traverse
this country, we shall construct
more and moe year by year, and shall
need them even faster than we can con
struct them. I would deal generously
with all who promote the settlement and
civilization of our wild regions F.; but
would strenuously insist on the right OF
the State to prevent the choking up and
disuse Of it's chief highways by exhorbi
tant and ruinous charges.
The Legislature of each State should
prescribe rate of charges for carrying
freight and passengers per mile, which
no railroad should be permitted to exce"d.
IF special circumstances should In any
case Justify higher rate, let that rate be
speciticd and fixed in the original charter
| In default of such specification, make the
| law pres. ribed rate maximum in no case
to be exceeded.
Then let the States confer and nego
tiate with each other, with intent to es
tablish Just and reasonable rates of trans
portation for goods and produce passing
from one tn (or through another. Let US
have rates under which transporters can
live, but under which producers can live
also. If we but realize that exact justice
is every ores true interest, we shall have
no itficulty in fixing on rates by which
all will be benefited and none injured or
oppressed.