, 1873-06-16


In IN article printed c)aowloro in this ibRuo
will DO found Bono important information 1t, ro-
gard to tho proposed action Of tito 1ltinoia mil.
road companies In roforonce to tho now law
which gooB into effoct on tho Int Of July. It will
bo aceu TINT thoro Ia d general disposition among
tho railroad manngors to conform TO tho spirit
na vol as tho letter Of tho new law. Tho do,
termination Ia highly oommendablc. Tho 1aw
was mado In doforonco to tho sontimont OF n
olear majority tho poop1o of tho State. It is duo
to them Tint tho observance of tho la,Y shall bo
strictly honost. II they find that IT Ia produc-
tive Of moro harm thnn benefit to their ntoreste
they will DO quick to demand Its repeal or modi~
acation. Thoro is to be session Of tho Logisla-
turo In January. If tho now 1aw shall DO rigidly
applied from July !, thoro will bo moro
than six months in which to toBt its mer-
its and dofeots, aud the policy Of uni
form tariff viii present itsolt moro clearly
than over boforo II tho railroads boliovo,
ns many pooplo do, that MI absolute increase Of
ratos according TO increase Of distance will work
aorious injury not only to thoir own interests
but to tho 'intorosta Of agriculture, trado and
commerce generally, thero will mover be bottor
opportunity for demonstrating this doctrine
than by strict application Of tho new tariff law
from July till January. Tho plan may be
costly, but 1t is not apt to bo moro costly than
tho o1ponso Of lawsuits and tho risk Of inourring
law. Eyaaions, moreover, for which thore is un-
quoBsionab1y abundant opportunities, would
load tho people to bolovo that tho law actually
in the interest Of tho railroads, md that 1t Is not
observed on that account. Tho only wise
courao for tho railroads to p,1rauo Ia that
which thoy hayo actually outlined,--an observ-
anco Of tho law from tho beginning in order to
tost its workings.
Some serious results are apprehondea from tho
adoption Of a uniform increase Of rates according
to distance. Among those ia the probable crush
ing out Of certain manufacturing intoroRts which
have started in tho interior Of the Btato and To-
catod on tho lines Of tho principal railroads. By
rcason of tho policy heretofore pursued by rail-
road companies evorywhoro, Of making special
rites in order to build up businosa for thom-
eolvos, these manufacturing establishments have
boon ab1e to secure thoir material and ship thoir
manufactured articles to market at q less cost
tsw. It is reported that tho Railroad Commits
Bonera maintain TINT, If tho manufacturers can
not survive tho now order Of things, they had
hotter shut up shop. Tlis is not necessarily tho
onf aft I'm MI In ,fo.t
ing interest throughout tho State finds it's busi-
noss materially injured by tho new Inv,
1t will adl another clement to tho op-
position. which, by accrotion, may grow
strong enough to soc11ro modification Of the INV
upon practical demonstration Of ite hardshlps
30 with the competing points on 1lltnoa roads,
which will be thrown upon the mercy Of single
road, owned and controlled in many cascs out
sido Of the Stuto. Curiously enough. the jour
nalistic exponents Of public sentiment at these
competing points havo been among tho 1oudest
to demand tho passage Of tho new Inv. Tho
test Of tho next si1 months may lead thom to
change their views. Tho loss Of business to
Chicago by tcaBon Of tho enforced abandonment
by Chicago roatB OF tho business at stations
whore they arc brought into competition with
shorter lines, or lines not governed by tho nli-
nois law, Is q necessary and sorioua consequence.
Chicago must accept tho loss p1acia1y along with
tho railroads, the competing points, tho ANAL
manufacturers, and all othors who nny be dam
nidod by the new policy. II tho result proves to
DO as disastrous to various interests as is antic
patcd III certain quartors, Chicago will be added
to the opposition, aud her aeyou Senators aud
twonty-one Representatives will aid in ropcnl-
ing tho Inv Or suggesting modification
that will meet the .troublo.' But aB Chicago
loscs, 80 do tho Illinois railroads In the diver
zion in othor directions Of business that for
n,erly camo here. If the loss to tho Rock Island
Company in tho Peoria buainess, which will
| honceforth 60 over tho Toledo, Peoria i; War;
SAW Road, be $500, 600 year, as it is estimated
| TINT 1t will be. tho Rock Island Road will hayo
| to tako account Of this loss in making up thoir
tariff, aud increase thoir local rates in proper
tion. So in oil othor caaoa Of an actual loss Of
| such casas, tho incroaso Of rates will full upon
| tho Illinois shippers ia claBa, and from among
them may be expected recruits in favor Of
| clanging tho law. All thoso circumstances are
roas6na why tho new tariff law should bo applied,
| It eau DO shown to DO good md practicable or
hurttul and impraoticable boforo tho noxt ses-
sion Of tho Legislature.
| It is natural that tho railroads should UNDER
| take to sccuro NJ many nlyautacoB as uosBiblo
for themselves without positive infringe
| mont Of tho law. They arc justified, there
foro, in adopting tho most favorable
construction of points In tho law Which aro opon
to controversy. They hare united, for inntanco,
on tho poaition that tho law Of Illinois docs not
apply to any contracts made outsldo ct tho State
with other rairoads. Aa IN illustration, the
Chicago, Burlington i Quincy, tho Northwest
cru, and tho Rock island Il Pacific Roads will