The Grange advance., 1873-11-26

mechanic, every farmer, every business
man in the country. 'Twere better to rec
ommend a general reduction Of all salaries
paid to office-holders the country over,
than to ask at the beginning of every Con-
gress an increase.-Indiana Granger.
From the Minneapolis Tribune.
The People and the Railroads.
A reporter of the Minneapolis Tribune
dispatched to learn the exact condition
of public opinion concerning the complaints
which are uttered against the railroads,
and particularly those operating in this
State, by the effective system Of interview
ing the various parties interested-com-
menced operations on the Master of the
State Grange of Patrons, George J. Par
sons, of Winona. He found Mr.. Parsons
at his farm, ten miles from the city, busy
with the cares Of large correspondence,
and preparing for one Of his regular tours
among the oranges. After informing Mr..
P. of his mission, the following conversa-
tion ensued:
Reporter-What is your chief cause of
complaint against the railroads?
MIR. Parsons-The railroad companies,
as we think, charge too much for hauling
our produce.
Cor.-Do you think that you can help
yourselves
Mr. P.-Why not ? We certainly have
the right. These companies have not paid
for their roads out of their own pockets.
The roads have been built by some one else.
Government gave the companies lands
ample to compensate them for every dollar
paid out, and the people have therefore
built the roads. Have the people, then,
not the right to say whether these roads
shall be conducted to thei benefit or in
jury
Cor.-Have not the companies the right,
by act of Legislature, to levy and collect
tolls?
Mr.. P.-For that you must 60 to the
lawyers. know that great wrong to the
farmers is committed by the companies,
and it is just and right for them to make
their own rates when they exercise the
power to make them unreasonable and out
rageous
Cor-You claim, then, the people have
the right to control railroad charges
MIR. P.-Yes, sir. The people are SOW
ereigns, and have the undeniable right,
through their legislatures, to regulate and
keep the roads from running things entirely
in their own interests.
Cor.-Did not the Legislatures, in 1871,
enact law intended to cover this point
MIR. P.-1 believe they did. But none of
the companies pay any attention to it.
Cor.-Then have they not forfeited their
charters?
Mr.. P.-That's another legal question,
which we have not canvassed. I have not
heard the question of forfeiture mentioned
among the Patrons.
Cor-Have the Changers any definite
plan Of operation which they design to
bring before the Legislature this winter?
Mr.. P.-I know Of none. There un-
doubtedly will be before this session be-
gins, however. We are not yet half organ
lied in Minnesota-we are yet in our in
fancy, and have just begun to consider the
subject. 1t is very complex question,
this one of railroads alone, and it is only
one of the many monopolies we shall under
take to handle. Our State Grange meets
at Faribault in December, and something
in relation to this railroad grievance will
then be decided on. Our farmers, as a
rule, are well posted on general subjects,
but they require q vast deal of instruction
and conference in order to be able to CO.
Cor.-What do you think Of the idea Of
lines?
Mr.. P.-I don't know that Congress has
power to establish any such lines of road.
Still, think the grand solution of the diff
ficulty will be to get as many competing
lines as possible. And if we can put
water routes against rail the matter will be
helped materially.
Cor.-What is your individual idea of the
proper method Of establishing rates of
transportation
Mr.. P.-Well, sir, 1 have thought Of
| this plan. Let the Legislature enact a
law establishing a Board Of Commission,
to be composed of eminent men of all
! classes interested, farmers, merchants and
| railroad men, say twenty in number. Let
it be the Governors duty to appoint them,
subject to the advice and consent of the
Senate, and let it be their duty to fix the
rates according as they think just and
equitable. All this talk Of making one
| road charge the same as another, or of
| charging pro rata per mile whether the
distance be long or short, is absurd and
tsilly. 1t is idle to think that railroad
company can load and unload its cars and
haul them one mile in the same proportion
that they can a distance Of one hundred.
Now let this Board be in almost perpetual
| session, and make rates from time to time
and here and there, as varying circumstances
require. =.
Cor.-Are not existing evils caused as
much by want of sufficient means Of trans
portation as by monopoly
Mr.. Pho, sir we have cars and roads
enough. The trouble is caused simply by
spirit Of avarice on the part Of the COM
panies. Bless my soul, sir, just look out at
my farm. There 60 two railroads through