New Orleans Republican., 1873-08-27
THE CHANGERS.

THE GRAHGERS.
There never has been vouchsafed b.
Providence any blessing that it had no
been brought by dishonest ingenuity t.
inflict injury. A reference to the pc,
verted peace and simplicity Of the re
vealed Word, includes the full proof o
this assertion. There was the religion
; corporations, which acquired such i'm
mense wealth Of lands as to require al
most century Of royal and Legislative
warfare torecover. 1t was said to be
A matter of curiosity to observe the grea
address and subtle contrivance of the eccle
siastics lin which they were said to hav,
the best legal aid, in eluding from time t.
time the laws in being, and the zeal will
which successive parliaments have pursued
them through all their illnesses. How new
remedies were still the parents of new eva
sions, till the legislators at last, though
with difficulty, hath obtained the victory.
Such was the history of the statutes O.
mortmain, and such is description o,
all conflicts with improvident grants o.
power to private corporation. The most
signal American example Of this difficulty
was in the grant of corporate power to the
Bank Of the United States, under which ii
required almost revolution to enable the
federal government to regain the control
of its own revenue deposits
TIE discovery of the railroad was OF
such importance that grateful and con-
fiding people gave, without hesitation,
| public capital and every incidental fran
chise which corporate sagacity could
demand. If these grants had been exc
cuted in the spirit of their concession,
there would have been no complaint, but
they have long since passed those limita-
tons. The railroad company being not
only the sole owners Of the night Of way,
but the common carrier also, has power
that enables it to control tie local com
mesce. By combinations with other COM
panies = railroad may control the values
Of land, and even the prosperity Of cities.
With these powers is united that Of Great
ing great values, by the issue Of corporate
bonds; the long running patronage of a
road, the power to raise O, depress, OF TO
make rates, so extends this power over
communities, and even legislatures, that
railroads have elected members to legisla-
tive bodies who are the open representa-.
tires Of all their interests.
lt is by no means surprising that the
farmers, from whom this power has been
greatly derived, should be discontented
with its abuse. All the extravaganza Of
the companies must be paid for by addi-
tional burdens upon the products OF sup
plies OF the farmers. The limitation of
dividends fixed for the protection of trans
portation is eluded by watering OF nomi-
nally increasing the capital stock, and
laws fixing the rates Of freight and fare
may be violated by interposing an express
OF sleeping car company, or by on auda-
cious disregard Of the legal rates.
The Changers have taken an American
grip on these corporations, but il will be
D hard wrestle. Still, If they will elect !
none but honest legislators and resolute
Judges, they must sooner OF later win the
eight. This will be done upon the renewal
If the railroad charters, very few of which
aad at first more than twenty-five O,
hirty years to run. In the mean time,
he law Of Illinois seems TO certain ex-
ent protective Of the farmer. The COM
nissioners are empowered to fix the rates
If transportion within that State, and it
S to be hoped the cooperative legislation
# other States will give Though aud uni
orm rates.
Were the way open the reform Of .he
abroad system would be very simple.
{ would be TO declare them common
highways and their directory common
arriers," as at the common law. The
octrines which have for centuries gov
fned these public institutions would be
mple for public protection. One i'm
1ense advantage to the public would re-
ult from the common right 70 present
his common highway when on: Of
rde.. The railroad company would then
e set 20 contend a: law with the State,
'hich is q corporation rather older l.
nd stronger than itself. IN the mean
me- no railroad charter should be
ranted, ana none renewed, unless the |
ght be expressly reserved to the Legisla-
Ire to alter, amend OF repeal it. We
ish success to the oranges in their effort. {
here is no danger that the country will
'se the services Of the railroads, while {
le facilities and comfort afforded those (
no use them may be greatly enhanced by {
le labor Of the Grangers and merchants
no use them. |,