New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-24
THE NORTH WESTERN FARMERS C0NVEN-
TION


THE NORTH WESTERN FARMERS CoNVEN-
TION.
RAILWAY LEGIsIATroE--w. c. FrAGG OF ILLINOIS
on THE TRUE RAILWAY sYsTEN-A SERIES VI
VIGOROUS RESOLUTIONS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE rRIBuSE.l
CHICAGO, Oct. 23.-The first business before
the Northwestern Farmers Convention this morning
was debate on state legislation regulating railway
freghts and fares The Hon. W. {. Flagg OF LIMOS
spoke at great length, saying;
Five classes Of railways us, from the entirely
chartered railway either the State conferred upon
it and it has exercised privileges TO which II Is NOT en-
erty Of others. or else it has admitted us CD
legation to serve the public for the pubic
common carrier, perhaps, in either case thfd
class not only chartered but receives grant, bonus
or guarantee from the charerlng power. The UNION
Pacific has received immense gifts OF these kinds; the
English Government guarantees stated interest To me
railway companies OF India The French Government,
under Louis Napoleon guaranteed an on some Oh
tho later roads and Germany mas su2sd%sd anu d
RAILROADS west OF us have been assisted IN one
governments control and the obligations OF railway
companies " serve the public, are eoHespondnSY H.
A fourth class OF railways more spoken OF than eI-
perimented with, are those built ana owned by the
state or National Government out leased uhuer uheu
private companies This plan has its advocates
in Great Britain aud our own country, but mas not YET
IN later days at least been put practical test. OF
these the governing power would In the nature OF
the have all desired control Lastly, mention
railways built owned aud operated by the governing
power, as the with part OF those IN Belgium
and Prussia Here again the creating power has entire
CONTROL The great difficulty which the railway
missOners Of and other States have to encoun-
ter presume to be insufficient and vicious ieglsla-
ton and the Limitation OF their power by state
lines 0ur own railroad laws owing to va
riOus causes, very unsatisfactory Rival schemes,
railroad attorneys aud honest but perverse differences
of policy have prevented thus far our getting the de
srabe legislation The late law seems 10 me one OF the
best although not mucn more than a modified form Of
legislation regards reasonable maximum rates none
concerning railways "a public highways.
Personally am driven To the conviction that govern
ment railways Of some kind promise the best ultimate
relief but heartily oin In the desire that other and
local schemes may be pushed forward to an early
completion, II they promise TO succeed partially IN
aGording relief from despotism that now binds
hand ana foot the producers OF the farest
and most fertile spots OF the New World. First would
favor general system OF national highways limited a.
present to three north and SOUTH and four east anu Wet
railways Secondly, would IKE to see each state con-
troll the railways on their own borders IN TINS manner
provided the other modes fan l would ike 10
see them have the power TO build such roads
as might If they deserved connect them WIN these
national arteries Of commerce on the same condition OK
minimum rates and public service Thlrd, ~ IKE man
every town, city, and county OF the country
10 d no Other roads 1 and In o
words, would carry to us legitimate CONCLUSIONS the
10 made and controlled by public authority as our
common roads
The Committee on Resolutions reported, through Mr..
Beman of Iowa, rs follows
The duty OF Government If 10 protect us people.
Capital directed by INSCRIPTIONS minds rsaps ihe
profits OF their LABOR Men OF great wealth revel IN
luxury, while those VINO earned the money are
destitute OF the comforts OF hfe. Our State
legislatures have made laws depriying Us
from V tne General Government for the 6ench Of rail
road companies because II seemed for the public good
Subsidies have beDsranted tnen ana Congress has win
lavish hand given them publ Glands the peoples IN.
bertaDce and the result s extoruon oppresson there
fore. ,,.,,.. .o..o.,
fully earnestly request Congress, without needless
delay, TO pass una n, n tbe sia,ss and Sur Ieeisla
tuies law regulating il within the states and We
hereby protest against the further granting OF sub
sides Whatever to private corporations of any KIND.
ReSOired, That experience bas proved thaL freight by
water Is cheapest. and most respectfully ak that
Congress relieve OF our burdens hpeody, aud take
to open water routes from the Mississippi to
Rssoired That 20 lessen the burdens OF transportation
is TO- as far possible, do without transportation aud
therefore ask and urge our people to do al 10 ther
power 10 create aud sustain Win ther patronage nome
manufactures.
the doubletrack Continental legbt railway from Tue
CITY of NowYork to Omaha which promises That grain
shall be transported over said railway al cost not eA
ceeding mills per ton per mile
Resored That debt should ever be held as one OF our
enenTs makes max Ms slaves that to live within our
means however small. to pay as We 10, VIII
contribute TO our success. @ So IN rae
Them 10 free themselves OF this curse so that II final
struggle must come between the people and hloh0poy'
houses must be in order ana we the better aOe 10
Withstand it, =, -...-, -,
lestiou except az the expense OF all other ndusrie
and that we are opposed 10 all special legislation.
Resored, That we recommend the thorough orglBlza-
Ron of the farmers the country in local and State
ganKaOns for the purpose OF reforming great abuses
and dealing out equal aod exact justice TO all men
The preamble and first resolution were unanimously
adopted On the second a long debate took place, dur
ing which an adjournment for dinner was ordered On
reassembng Mr.. Boone OF Illinois offered substitute
As follows. which was adOpted
We demand the construction OF railroads and the i'm
proyement Of communications between the in-
and seaboard the same TO De owned ana operated
by the General Government for the purpose OF afford
ing cheap and ample transportation and " protect tho
people from the exactiOns OF monopones
Tie third resolution respecting home manufacturers
WAS carried The fourth in regard the double track
Continental Railroad, was lost by unanimous vote.
The h SIXTH and seventh resolutions on debt special
Hand organization unanimously adopted.
Mr. Lawrence of Illinois offered preamble and resou-
ton recitinghe provisions of the ILLINOIS railroad law,
and declaring
That the people OF this state have remedy for the
extortions TO which they subjected BY the railroads
mers associations herein TO furnish such information 20
the Railroad Commissioners without delay az WI war
the full extent to which the railroad companies
That we recommend to the farmers and citizens
OF other States secure such action from their
spectye Legislatures as will furnish them similar pro
lection against ehtortioh from railroad companies
within their several States.
Mr. Fagg OF Illinois offered the following resolution,
which adopted:
Resoleed That the President aud Secretaries OF the
Convention be authorized and instructed TO appoint
National Committee Of i've, and State Com
duties shall be tue pressing Congress and their
respective Legislatures the importance aud necessity OF
speedy efficient legislation controlling railroad and
other transportation companies
The Rev. WIN. r. Alger of Boston addressed tho Con.
yenton GU subject OF cooperative buying aud selling,
saying: