The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-02-08
gttatoa gres graher.
The Farmers Convention.


tawa this afternoon know what they are about,
and need no advice from US; get if We throw
out few hints for their consideration. II can
10 harm, for they can give them second
thought or let them alone severely, as they
please,
We have noticed that the main business of
the numerous farmers conventions that have
lately been held al over the state has consist
ed of oratorical exploiting against railroad
and other transportation companies, and In
clamorous demands, by sonsrous preambles
and menacing resolutions, for Legislative regu-
latiol and control of their freights and charg-
es Il strikes us that this Is slightly putting
the cart before the horse--dealing with effects
rather than causes.
Twenty years ago it seldom cost over Sl5,-
900 mile to build railroads IN Illinois, where
the contracts were honestly let for cash, and
the contractors were promptly paid in cash
There is no doubt that the same railroads
would now cost from $25, 900 TO $4,000 per
mile. The difference between the cost of
rolling stock then and now is in about the
same proportion. Hence if, at that time, it
cost from to cents to send bushel of corn
from Ottawa to Chicago by rail, is 1t strange
it should now cost from 8 to II cents Pas
senger fares were then considered low at %
CTS per mile, Are they proportionatey high
now at 81 cts. per mile
We are not making plea for the railroad
companies The people of Illinois have assert
ed in their state constitution the right to ex-
else a certain amount of legislative control
over the corporations OF their own creation,
and in this category is the right to "regu!atc'
the charges Of RAILROAD companies The legal
right the people have thus asserted for their
legislature IS q reasonable one and should be
maintained to the uttermost The right, how
ever, was never expected or intended, we i'm
agnc, to go 20 the extent of compelling the
railroads to carry passengers and freight at
ruinous rates. but was rather intended to
prevent glarlng overchargcs and IN
lust and ihviduous determinations, and to
compel railroads to show generally spirit OF
accommodation towards the public and of
fairness and justice in their dealings and CEN
eral business conduct.
What the farmers conventions would seem
todemand of the railroad companies, however,
lies considerably beyond the comparatively
restricted boundary of this right to ''regu-
Late They would not only have their
treights and fares lower but uniformly so III
sumner or winter, and whether ireights are
brisk Or slack, and they would utterly forbid
the railroad companies from combining to-
gether into tAose huge nonopolies which de-
s.roy al, competition between them and enable
them to control transportation rates at will.
1t vii. take something more, we fancy, than
legislative 'regulation' 70 control the rail-
roads to this extent. II their charges are
higher than they used to be, it must be borne
il mind that all their expenses have been full
~ doubled III the last fifteen years. Can the
people ask them to carry corn at the same old
rates when they compel them to pay double
rates for the iron of which their tracks and
rolling stock are constructed, and when, in
addition to this, the price Of every screw, pan.
81, pane of glass, and yard of plush that en-
,ers into the construction of their rolling stock
s doubled.
Another thing. Ifrall,oad companies com.
nine into huge monopoIies, they have the plea
O.: abundant examples in the huge cotton and
WOODEN factories in New England, the iron
works IN Pennsylvania, the monster paper
mills monopoly, and the thousand and one
other monopolies that are directly created and
iostered by congressional legislation.
The great grievance Of the west and of the
tines lies in the system of governmental ra
' pac;ty that has grown up in congress under
the specious name Of "pa:eraal protection I
is this system that has created those monste,
aoAopo.ies in every branch OF Transportation
ana manufactured industry. and which con.ro
congressional legislation by the bactul lobby
system OF bribery and corruption, and hay,
corrupted the very fountains of legislation
The people" as leading journal remarks
are in effect voiceIess and powerless. Thei
interests are misunderstood, or neglected, o
sacrificed Private gam has become the chic
motive power in public life. Our legislature
are incapable and corrupt, our executive off
GERS too often inefficient and mercenary, GU
Judiciary even no. always above suspicion
Our legislation, state and national, is a hes
of confusion most upiko tho ,yarL &c ..u