, 1873-07-17
Tho IEnilroad-Qt1est1on in tho Penn.
sY1vnnfn Constitutional Conven.

tAOAs
From The Pittsburgh Telegraph, July II.
Tho Constitutional Convention is struggling
with the article on Railroads, and has materially
amon!led 1t hince It was adopted in Committoe Of
tho Whole. On Friday there Was protracted
discussion over the section prohibiting railroads
engaging in the business Of mining and manu-
featuring articles for transportation Oyer thoir
linos. After voting down a number Of amend
mcnta tho section passed second reading as it
came from the Committee. It not only prohib-
its railroad corporations from engaging in min
ing or manufacturing for transportation over
thoir own lines, but prohibits them from
engaging in any otEor business than TINT
OF common carriers, or holding or acquiring
business This was adopted by 59 to s8: a new
section was also adopted, prohibiting. tho off,
cers, agents, or omployos OF railroad companies
from being engaged or Interested in the traus-
portation Of passengers or freight over roads
which thoy are connected. This is aimed at tho
nbuseH Of tho fast-froight line system-tlo
wheols within wheels Of 10 many railroad cor
porationB. It WAS adopted by GO to 20. The Soc
tion prohibiting discrimination in charges
no higher charge shall be made for . short dis.
tance than d long ono, and prohibiting special
rates and drawbacks, was debated at longth, md
has not yet been finally disposed OF. Tho rail-
tion modified. Mr.. John Price gethorill. Of
Philadelphia, in support OF Lis motion to strife
out, gave their yiew Of tho question as follows:
'Ha said that under the present through rates
Of 40 conts por 100 pounds the SECTION ct would ,
cents, and from PHILADELPHIA to Laucaster 3
cents por 100 pounds, which would DO simply
ruinous to tho company so charging. Again,
under the provision for extra charger for dis
tancss Of 50 miles, while tho rate from Phila-
per 100 pounds for freight 10 milos
this side Of Lancaster, Or whateyer Just aud
liberal ratio tho railroad might charge. Tho un-
reaaouAbloneag Of tho sections would be at once
apparent in its apparent discrimination againht
tie interests OF localities. Tho popular diaAatB-
faction occasionod by similar law in Illinois,
whore tho railroads in the interior had boon
compelled to increase their local ratios so largey
IL driven from tho stato for the benefit Of
tho competing Gnoa of other States; tho
consequent enhancement Of the value Of
land on tho Eastern limo Of 1llihoiB, aud ita
rapid depreciation In the central section-had
awakened the farmers thero to their danger,
and they were demanding the repeal Of the law.
The City Of Ohicngo had thus been injured, tho
the speaker WAS informed, to tho extent OF ton
or twelve caIs Of grain Per day. Tho spenkor
through and local rates, the rule Of tho section
would bo alike disastrous to public interests."
Several delegates In their speeches made at
tackB on tho Pennsylvania Railroad for its un-
Just discrimination against cltlzen6 aiohg lta
limo, by charging higher rates for . shorter than
q long distance; thus, tho tariff for soda ash
from Philadelphia to fellofonte9, was IN excosa
OF tho ratio to Pittsburgh, aud the freight on d
chr Of wheat from Chicago to Huntingdon was
$40 or $50 grcater tGan to Philadelphia.
E1-dov Curtin uefonded tho railroad company,
and claimed tho section, II passed, would
have no ofreot inasmuch AZ by their charter that
company had tho right to Charge cents por ton
per mile, aud they bad never come up to tnoir
IT. }1An4 1rru S4in4n3 n3r%1i4
tions ware regulated by tho laws OF trade. aud
that these laws could not DO perverted or
intorfo1ol with by constitutional aud Legislative
onaotmonts without detrlmont to tho public at
large. With reforonce to lower ratca for citt-
zens Of other BtatoB, made necessary by our
competition with rival lines for tho Western
tranfo, he could not understand why our own
people should complain because their beof and
thoir bread were thua secured to them at choap
rates.
Mr. Wetherlll's motion to strlko out tho re-.
ssriction OH freight charges Wau re1eotod by 38
to I8, but the question was brought up III anoth-
nr Rhana md Is not Yat liRpQbed Of.