National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-10-25
ARAILiOAD BuREAU-TuB ISSUE OF
THE FUTURE

tle convention Oi tue NOrtnWCstcTn IhrlneIr,
al Chicago a few days ago, was one direct
Ing the presentation OF memorial to Con-
yress for the establishment Of National Blu
rcau Of Railroads and transportation (Which
,hall tx uniform tarln Of maximum rates
on thc'llffercnt classes Of freight, and pas.
scngcr rates per mile on railroads, and rates
per ton on water transportation from place
| TO place" This IL the most advanced, the
most Important, and the most significant step
| that has yet been taken In the solution nj the
railroad problem, and shows the rapid pro-
gross that the antI.ralroah feeling is making
among all classes Of our people, and espe-
clally among those who arc brought In imme-
dla,c contact with these gigantic monopollcs.
The farmers-thc producing classcs-havc
been the direct victims of the railroad kings.
The ruinous freight rates compelled the
farmers Of Iowa only year ago to burn
their grain for fuel, forcing about ouc-half Of
them INTO bankruptcy and reducing the other
half to condition Of actual want The hos.
tllity OF the farmers toward the railroad com.
panics Is the most natural thing la the world.
and the only wonder Is that the present
Granger movement, strong In numbers aud
still stronger In determination, did not come
into existence as tangible and important
element In our civil economy years ago.
So far US the REPUBLICAN Is concerned VIC
iorcsaw the Issue nearly two years ago, in
proof OF which VIC quote from our issue Of
November rs. ISL We then said, in long
editorial upon tho Railroad Powcr;" at
seems TO us that the railroads should be
placed under a proper control and many Of
/ the evils aud abuses now complained Of rene
died aud prevented In the future. In our
opinion he time has come for Congress TO
pass tds proriding for The CREATION Of a
ne,o department Of The Government under
some such name as The Railroad Department,
or the Board OF Railroad Control, ehic'
ahon'd hare supervision orsr The railroad
lines Of The country and The regulation o.
Jreighis and other matters directly afedins
he uteiesis Of The people. 4 number Of ron,
missioncrs, representing The rdrios cidssei
Interested, might bs appointed rho shonid b
directly responsible 10 he President, and re
mordble at pleasure. In some such ,rdy al
his The interest Of all parties can b. recon
ciLed, capital restrained and protected on n,
one hand and The people and the Gorernmen
| on the other"
In the above was the first newspaper sug
gestion looking to the assumption Of contro
over the railroads in the interest Of the peo-
pie by the General Government. 1t wa,
pointed to at the time as an appalling stcI
toward Capitalization, and denounced b,
several journals as an Outrageous" PROPOSE
ton, The events Of the last two years onl,
strengthen us In the opinion then formed
and We shall he pardoued for pointing to III
action Of the farmers convention at Chicag
this week as the substantial evidence OF tn
foresight and sagacity Of the REPuBLIcAs
Looking at the question calmly and dlspa,
sionately, what good reason Is there again,
the assumption by the Government OF contrt
over the railroads. II means Capitalization
the placing Of immense power In the hand
Of whatever party may he In power. Wei
what Of it3 Is II not better that the powe
should be In the hands OF the Government,
the hands OF those whc are In some way n
sponsible TO the people, than in the hands {
men like Tom Scott, who are not responsible,
and who are using their immense power I
corrupt and debauch legislatures. from on
end Of the country to the other, that the
may perpetuate their Rob Roy rul,
and plumber and Cypress the people
Power Is centralized now. Special legi.
lation by Congress and by State Legi,
latures has concentrated more inhuens
in the hands Of dozen railroad president
and directors than is possessed by score @
the monarchs and petty princes OF Europe
The safety of the republic, the preservation
OF republican institutions, demand that thi
railroad ring, who have enriched thcmselye