The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-08-11
ReeuIafion of Froiobts.

Statute-tinkering is the favorite business of
vealy politicians and a class of lawyers who
have some object to gain thereby. 1t peed
not be said that the attempts of such parties
to amend the laws of the State always result
in failure. Sometimes those having better
purpose in view fail through lack of knowl-
edge. For instance, the producing class in
the West are anxious to secure better terms
with the railroads. The Legislature OF ILL
nois, honestly intent on this object, but, as
the result proves, utterly ignorant of the sys-
tenn they proposed to correct, passed law
regulating freight tariffs in that State, which
has been found on application to be more op-
pressive and burdensome than that from
which they sought relief .H
The most serious mischief, however, falls
upon Chicago; and if we are to credit what
we hear, the Legislature of Illinois, by a
measure which they doubtless honestly be-
lleved would greatly advantage the people of
their own State, is really doing them little if
any good, while it is seriously diverling bust
ness from Chicago to st. Louis. The Chicago
Times says the recent law:
trade from the West is forbidden to cross by
the strong power of self-interest.
And in this connection the Buffalo Express
says: -.
The railroads being obliged to equalize
rates, leyelel up instead ofdown. They were
unable to do their entire business al the low
rates that competition with Other routes had
forced them TO adopt on through freight, and
so they had to raise the through rates nearly
to a level with the. old local rates. In this
way Nebraska, which used to buy and sell in
the Chicago market to the advantage of the
State at large, is now driven to the St. Louis
market. 1t cannot afford to pay Illinois
freight charges. St. Louis formerly had only
stray car load of cattle from Nebraska, but
since the first of July, when the railroad law
went into effect. she has received 24O out of
246 carloads shipped from that State. Oma-
ha used to buy all its lumber supplies from
Chicago. Now, as the Times says, she ''aanks
Chicago and contributes to the happines of
Oshkosh, Wis, by purchasing there and reach
ing home without paying tribute to Illinois.
The experiment in Illinois indicates that
this question of freights is a most complicated
one and will require more general corrective
than single State legislature, even if it pos
sessed the requisite ability.
oN o"i ou's'oe this morning, will be found
an extract from letter of ex-senator Foote
Of Mississippi, in which he refers to the
speech of ex-senator Hayne OF South Care
lima, in his famous controversy with Mr.
Webster, being printed on satin. The onlv
copy Oh satin was printed in this city by the
late Gen. Thomas Todd, in 1882, who was at
that time publisher and proprietor of the
Argus. Gen. Todd purchased the satin of a
gentleman in this city who was at that time
in thediy goods business, printed Mr.. Haynes
speech upon it in beautiful style, and gid
ed it. 1t was IN book form, and elegant
ly bound by the late Simeon Pratt of this
city, and was then presented to President
Jackson by Gen. Todd.
IT is generally conceded in well informed