Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-10-02

sence OF any general regulation upoI
the subject, it is in their power so Il
adjust and vary their charges, % t
sweep into their OVERLOOKING Golfer
the fruits which equitably belong t.
ths farmers of the West.
The evils of this system are visited
: upon every branch ofinter.State com.
merce. The wholesale stores of New
York are filled at times with mer.
chandise; from cellar to garnet, in.
tended for and needed in the West.
ern States, because it cannot bear
the exhorbitant prices fixed upon
transportation by rail, and must
therefore await the opening of navi.
CATION.
| The absence of any regulation upon
this subject also enables the railroad
companies to diminish commerce up.
on the great lakes. During the sum-
mer season, while such navigation
would compete with railroad trans
portation, the railroads reduce the
tariff, so as to discourage commerce
on the lakes, and, to idemnify them
SO Ives, increase their tariff upon
the close of navigation, thus practic-
ally monopolizing the whole carrying
business of our internal commerce.
Now, it is evident that tariff of
rates which secures to the railroads
and canals of the country fair and
generous compensation for the amount
of capital invested, the labor perform
ed and risk incurred, is all that these
corporations are entitled to; and that
whatever they demand and receive
beyond that, is extorted from the pso-
pie. And it cannot be doubted that
the tolls demanded upon the great
thoroughfares of our internal COM
merce, are unjust. The farmers of
the West who send their wheat to the
Eastern markets, realize the price OF
the wheat in market, less the cost OF
transportation; and every dollar I'M
justly demanded by the carrier, is
wrongfully taken from the farmer
or, if the other form of statement be
preferred, every dollar unjustly de.
manded by the carrier, adds to the
cost of the article, and is wrongfully
| taken from the consumer. Whichev-
er form the statement may assume, 1t
is evident that the carrier plumbers
the people, and the commerce Of the
country, by every reasonable exsction
for transportation.
There would be very little difficult
| ty in ascertalning, with reasonable
certainty, the actual cost of building
and equIpping any railroad and in so
regulating its tariffs upon through
passengers and freights as to incure,
in connection with It's local earnings,
fair return to the company. This,
of course, should vary with the cir.
cumstances, situation, and business of
each road. But a commission of ex-
perienced business men, with power
to send tor persons and papers and
authority to make constant examina.
tons of the affairs of any company,
would be able to fix, and from time
to time to adjust, tariff of rates ov-
er the great lines of railway which
would secure to each road, forming a
part of line, its just proportion, and
| to all fair remuneration.
After such an investigation and re-
port, Congress could devise and ma
ture a system of regulations which
would accomplish the desired object,
establishing just tariff of rates, and
fully protecting the rights and inter-
ests of all concerned.
1t might be advisable if this system
should be adopted, to establish a
bureau of the Interior Department, to
he called the "Bureau of Internal
Commerce" with superintendent and
clerks, and make it the duty of this
bureau to take charge of this subject,
and to commit to it a discretionary
power to vary the tariffs established
by law without certain prescribed
limits, and upon certain fixed princi-
pies to be declared by law, and make
annual report to Congress, together
with such recommendations as expe
rience might suggest.
There are many reasons why legis-
lative control should be exercised
over transportation companies of the
country, which would not exist in re-
gard to individuals engaged in the
same business. These corporations,
to certain extent, represent the gov
eminent, and exercise its functions.
The enormous amount of capital in
vested, and the extension of their
business and influence throughout the
country, give them a power which in.
dividuals could not exercise, and
against which private rights cannot
successfully contend.
Many incidental advantages would
also result from congressional inter-
ference upon this subject. 1t must
be confessed that the fraudulent con
duct OF our railroad corporations has
marred the fair fame of our country.
The temptation such conduct would,
|. by the Intervention Of Congress, wise
ly exercised, be Withdrawn from
them, and their cupidity would give
place to desire only to serve the
public interest with fair remunera
ton for the use of their capital, and
the exertion of their business ability
and industry.
Many of these railroad corporations
have nominal amount of capita
stock double the actual amount, anC
more than double what has ever beer
} into the company. In many instan
ces the officers of the corporations
} have issued large amounts of stock, Il
| be divided among stock holders anC
others, and still claim the right t,
/ levy such tolls as will insure a hand
8 some dividend upon the whole stock
/. fictitious as well as real; so that tn,
/ people are being taxed to day to pa,
dividend Oh stock fraudulently is
: sued yesterday.
Another source Of corruption i
. railroad management and oppression