, 1873-02-27
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
Meeting Of Farmers at Ear1ville,
Illinois,
Speech Of Mr. 4. J. Grover---Resolu-.
49, tiols.

present from Pa" Paw, Meridian, and other
| towns.
The Hon. E. R. WicEs, ot Meridian, WIS chosen
| to preside. Mr. Wlcks, on taking tho Chair,
! stated that the object OF the meeting WAS well
known, and needed not to be formally stated.
The call, signed by seyenty-tiye farmers, was
then read, to the effect that tho meeting WAS
called to devise mcans OF enforcing obedience to
the laws on the part of the railroad companies.
4. J. GROVER, ESQ, SAID:
We have met to device methods by which the
laws of the State can be enforced, and our pock-
cts protected from lawleBs Invasion by the rail-
road companies, We propose to obey the laws
The managers Of the railroads refuse to obey
the laws. We insist that they shall obey the
laws. The railroad companies virtually claim
that laws enacted in their Offices are superior to
laws made in the Stato-HouBe at Springfield. We
think otherwise. The issue between the farmers
and the railroads is, Which is superior, State
authority or railroad authority7 We hcve mst
for the purpose of organizing, as preparatory
step in contesting this issue.
Mr.. Grover said he had read an argument
made to reporter OF the Chicaso Post By a1r.
Robert Harris, Superintendent Of the
CHICAGO, BURLINGTON QUINCY RAILROAD
and it's branches, in which 1t was stated that tho
dividends Of that road were only 10 per cent;
and that the freight charges on that road were
as low as they can possibly bo made and keep
up the market value of the stock at par. This
statement, Afr. G. said, cannot be true, for the
Chicago, Burlington l. Quincy stock has always
been about 50 per cent above par, while the
Company has built, and leased for % years,
which is equivalent to q purchase, more miles Of
road than it originally owned, out OF tho profits
.cf 1ta 6nRipnS8. II the EtnrE had hAaO
watered, it would not hare been worth
$50, unless the profits are enormous:
Tho expenditures required for the new
roads could never have been made ont Of 10 per
cent profits. Therefore. Il say, Mr.. Harris state
ment cannot be truo. It is never the truth to
say that tho Chicago, Burlington j. Quincy Road
has earned what has been expended for rolling
stock and new roads, in addition to paying 1oper
heavy debts Ind been contracted, the stock could
not have been kept UP, and out Of market, as it
has been-tlis would pe impossible hlr. Har-
ris also makes. m ill-concealed threat in self
sufficient spirit, that he shall fight out the battle
with the people without compromise; that he
shall enforce tho rules OF his Company, State
law to the. contrary notwithstanding. II
this is his determination. it is to be re-
GREETED for hitherto Mr. Harris mnu-
agenent has been popular With the people, and
tile people have been proud of the Chicago,
Burlington 4 Quincy Road. Mutual good feel
ing has preyailed. If tho continuation OF this
mutual good will is OF no value to Alr. Harris OF
bus Company. IN MS eatimation, then the people
ho deserves. But, if it is his dissemination to
continue to defy the laws OF tho State, then tho
people must invoke the Judicial and executive
powers OF the State in supporter the Legislature,
and see when 1s tue atfoneest,-M1. hart1s ono
his Company, Or the Sovereign People.
1fr. Grover then passed to the discussion Of
the Law involved, taxing the same 7leW tnot doV:
Falmer and JuaSo lipton nave nolo- de READ
the
-, POINTS MADE 1,l y r', TIE nR1EF = ,,.o n.;,
IN tne case against ano cmcaeo o. alton isaI-
road company, 3ust nleo N Ine supreme court
al oPr1ngueM, y nles9t5; y: FL. n.y." eu, l nailt-
ton Spencer, and z: n Bsnjamln. the attorneys
lot tne STATE, "hcn1 A.; ". salu' uo oouo1
tain. Inc points made In the or1e1 afe as 1ol-
LOWE, TO VII:
fars@CorpofaIons are suplect TO dofo14-
ment, and subordinate to Legislation, precisely
eho same as individual or natural persons.
., , otega0-Ice1statlso aa.noiat1 70 = Iet, nnsn
she Log1sturo cannot irreyocaoiy delegate OF
abandon. 1t may authorize Its e3erclse through |
agents OF tne pnonc; enk sucn agents nipst' u
Necessity It: IEmalu s9oJect 70 puDl!c oooscot.
not be delegated Or abandoned, d,-whieh is trust
conAoeu I, ny .ue people 70 the Le1fsiarure,-
u Ine salne e1Seat' aug Is me came unnnltoa pow
y, ~ tgSaiG 20 !eeisla1lon, as resides " me
t4a crittsn fnrnament, except "nete restrained ny
Eo,,..{t 71,o ,,ro,.rt;o, ~ rzin,k
four-tae prevention , o. unjust discrimlna-
,1arc;ae @ of The Iol;ce n no1rers of It, stata
u tn9 fs So od r.
otr,ra ;,,tanjod ;rrordc,h1v ~ ,art '1;tI ~
asase tttenueu ~ +, p. VII .ne
2n%1s 2nsnat 4 ( etWaen commnities a.
nd;r;dua1s -n{.id us4 ''11'1 ~'0-1
naas.uua4s 19:s1a P.;,u ;a~o,,oa ,,,,1. Il.
s'1hal"ayn are re lprpvea paPnc ~, thg gnMas
eeSt Of s@nent nin doman Rsroad m conn.,
,anles are pupnc aeets e ~ e ron +oT sre pht
a. sr1 ,nt ;nto tbe;r oi 'bo oia AZ pneb
u "dy2 Rat to snhserTe pnbc igterssts
~ I 4nata1s Gu -ss+ raree;,, anbiact t. nh;c
amtrnI ~, 1IeloA'&e' 4uu0' Ae.'1''''A '0~' F0'0
oH:aua sa,.en,a7n arercsinc tbe essential functions
= a,,nronr;at;ng nrrate nronertv Tor the right
y = 11s ~ transoor+atio,, n5ar
= Wy T ~ ,a;1roada sH ara n11hlic cornorn
no t,nstaas ~ The 51itica1 nowor
lone aItb 20 ~ ~ ~ 10 rea.,,'J +,+ ra;1-
liz = ons upGn sn 3Eat connt;ea and
oan ~ .,o. fsras -; "a ~ +hair cnnstrnc-
o"nH eau 1inEose 'aAe7 ~ a'o " 1ao44
lon: .;.;. ~ .,,o a,,r+ar ,,,aar
N1'ot-!ne Pio'A.ru,A y. st4o .a' - |