Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1873-02-06
care has been taken by the authorities
to prevent its spread. III.

DIES MONIES, Feb. A.
The Patrons of Husbandry to-day
dropped bomb into the General AS
scmbly against the railroads, that is
such remarkable document that we
are tempted to give it. 1t has received
no definite action thus far, but will
doubtless be fruitful of much con-
tention:
To the Honorable General Assembly
of Iowa:
The State Grange 10000 Patrons of
Husbandry in Iowa respectfully rep
resent
That the people of our State, and
especially the agricultural portion, are
suffering under unjust and burdens
some railroad tariffs which by their ex-
brilliant rates absorb almost the en-
tire profits of our labor, and by their
unfair and iniquitous determinations
| prevent our products from reaching
reinunerative or competing markets.
Our public lands have been lavished
| upon those corporations, our people
| have paid millions for the construc-
tiou OF the roads; private property
has been taken and given to them
they have been fostered by every
means at the command of our govern
ment and our people, until these cor
porations have grown to be powerful
monopolies, attempting to control leg
islation, regarding neither the public
convenience nor the public good, and
| seeking only to enrich themselves
| from the labors and necessities of the
people. And we further represent
that without legislative interference
we are at the mercy OF these grasp'ng
corporations. They are crushing out
| the life of-our agricultural, mechanical
| and other industrial interests. These
| interests cry aloud to You for aid.
The embarrassment and Frustrated
condition of our farming community
| is abundant evidence that this state OF
affairs cannot long continue without
producing a general bankruptcy of the
agriculturists of our State. In this
great emergency we look to you TO
| protect us from the extortions Of these
soulless corporations. Extortions
which exact FOUR bushels of corn to
carry one TO market. We look to you
| to correct these abuses, of which we
complain, and to regulate and limit
their charges for freight and passen-
gers by the enactment of a railroad
tarifflaw.
We therefore respectfully, urgently.
and persistently ask. and confidently
expect that at your present session you
will enact law prescribing maximum
al, {>.. c,.n spL -
| the railroads of Iowa, which, while al
lowing tair and remuncrative rates to
the roads. will protect our people from
the present outrageous Determinations
and eyorbitant charges.
In this our appeal and prayer mil
lion of people join ms.
With view of relieving the finsn-
cial embarrassment of taxpayers, in
both houses resolutions was offered
to the effect that on all taxes levied in
the State oSrIowa in the year 1872, no
penalties attach until June Isl. 1878.
The time for returns by township col
lcetors was also extended by this reso-
luton to July lst. In the Senate the
| measure was defeated; in the House
| referred to committee of the whole.
Almost all the work to-day done in
both Houses consisted in consideration
of amendments previously passed. In
the Senate, however, the afternoon
| witnessed warm contest between the
railroad and opposing interests. The
matter of consideration was the 10th
title, on railroads. An amendment
! was moved which embodied what is
known as the O'Donnell tariff bill of
last winter, subjecting railroads TO cer-
tain regulations in their tariff upon
/, freight. passengers. SC. Nothing def
mite yet done. The Assembly is in the
highest degree sensitive upon the rail-
road question, and much Of last win
ter's wrangling OH this subject may be
yet confidently expected.