The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-05-15

zF WHEREAS, The great national want
Of to-day is relief from the present
rates of transit upon American pro.
ducts, therefore /
Resolved, That it is the duty Of the
hour and the mission Of this association,
to obtain from Congress and different
State Legislatures, such legislation as
may be necessary to control aud limit
by law, within proper constitutional
and legitimate limits, rates and charges
of existing lines of transportation; to
increase, where practicable, the capacity |
Of our present water ways, and such
new avenues, both by water and rail,
80 that our immensely increasing pro.
duoers may be jointly rewarded for his
honeat toll, the consumers have cheap
products, and our almost limitlsas sur
plus find foreign markets at rates to
compete with the world. = r ,@1N
Resolved, That cheap transportation,
both Of persons and property, being
most conducive to a, free movement Of
the people and the widest interchange
and consumption Of products Of differ.
ent parts of the Union, is essential to
the welfare and prosperity of the count
ry.
Resolve1, That constant and frequent
association of the inhabitants of remote
parts Of the United States is not only
desirable but necessary for the main,
tainance Of a homogeneous and har-
monious population within the vast
area Of our territory.
Resolved, That the best interests Of
the different parts Of the country also
demand the f1eest possible interchange
Of industrial products of the varied
climates Of the United States, 50 that
breadstufs, fabrics, o,al, lumber, iron,
sugar and various other products, local
in their production, but general In con-
sumption, may all reach the consumer
at the least practicable cost for trans.
portation, and that an arbitrary aud
unnecessary tax levied by transfer
companies over and above a fair re-
Enumeration for investments is a burden
upon producer and consumer, that it
is the part of wise craftsmanship to re-.
move.
Resolved, That certain leading rail-
road corporations Of the country, al
though chartered to subserve the pub
lie welfare, and endowed with the
right Of eminent domain solely tor that
reason, have proved themselves practi.
calIy mouopolies, and became the tools
of avaricious and uuscrupulou. capital.
lists, to be used to plumber the public,
to enrich themselves and ilnpoverish
the country through which they run.
Resolved, That many of the railroad
corporations, have not only disregarded
public convenience and property, but
have oppressed citizens, bribed our
Legislatures, and defcd our courts and
judges, and stand to-day the most men,
aciDg danger to American liberty and
to Republican government.
Resolved, That the present system
of railway management having failed to
meet the just expectations and demands
Of long suffering people, must be rad
ioally reformed and controlled by the
strong hand of law, both State and Ma.
tional, and railway corporations COM
PEELED to perform their proper functions
as servants, and not as masters of the
people.
Resoluetz, That to this end we in.
woke the aid Of all fair minded men in
all States Of the Union in excluding
from the halls Of legislation, from our
executive Offices, such railway officials,
railway attorneys or other hirelings as
prostitute public office to the base uses
of private gain.
Resolved, That leaving different sec.
tons and interests that desire cheap
transportation to work out the problem
in such manner as they may deem best,
we invoke their careful consideration
and aid in regulating and controlling
the rates Of transportation, and in Civ
ing remunerati7e wages to producers
and cheap products to consumers, IN.
taxed by unearned charges for their
carriage.
Resolued, That we invite the people
of the various States to organize SUBJ
sldiary associations, State, county and
town, to cooperate with the national
association. The power to accomplish
the purposes desired rests absolutely
with the suffering millions. Relief is
within their reach and control. By
united action the near future will give
Us the true solution Of the problem of
cheap transportation.
The convention then adjourned to
meet in Washington in January, 1874,
at the call of the executive committee.
A QUARTER OF A CENTURY IN
BUSINESS.
We find in the Milwaukee Eyenino