Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-05-21
The Question of Cheap Transportation

The National American Cheap Trans
portatlon Convention, at its recent session
IN New York City, adopted the following
resolutions:
WHEREAS, The productive industries of the
united States, plantation and farm mine and
factory, commercial and mercantile. are not only
the sources of all our national and individual
wealth, but also the elements on which our very
naIonal and individual existence depends and
WHEREAS, All national products are the fruits of
laDor and capital and as neither labor nor capital
Will continue actively employed without an eoIya-
lent measurably just; and
WHEREAS, Great national industries are only sus-
tanned and prospered by the interchange Of pro-
ducts OF one section of country for those of another
and
WHEREAS, The existing rates of transportation
for the varied products of the Union from one mart
OF the country to another and to foreign countries
as well as the transit cost of the commodities re-
CURED IN exchange, are in many instances iniuri-
Gus, and to certain interests absolutely destructive
arising, in part at least, from an insufficency of
| avenues; and tssI
| WHEREAS, The great national want of the nation
to-day is relief from the present rates of transit up
on American products; therefore,
Resol0ed, That it is the duty of the hour and the
mission OF this Association, to obtain from Con-
gress and the different State Legislatures such egis
lation may be necessary to control and limit by
law, within the proper constitutional and legitimate
limits, the rates and charges of existing lines of
transportation; to increase, where practicable, the
capacity of our present water ways, and to add
such new avenues, both water and rail- as our i'm
mensely increasing internal commerce demands so
that the producer may be justly rewarded for his
honest toll, the consumer have cheap products, and
our almost limitless surplus find foreign markets at
rates to compete with the world
Resotged, That cheap transportation both of per-
free movement of the people and the widest inter-
change and consumption of the products of the
different parts of the Union, is essential to the well
fare and prosperity of the country.
ReS0tUed, That constant and frequent association
of the inhabitants of remote parts of the United
States is not only desirable but necessary for the
NM ran n,1d har O,,i.n,
population within the vast area of our territory
ReS0t0ed, That the best interests of the different
parts OF the country also demand the freest possible
interchange of the industrial products of the varied
climates and industries of the United States SO that
breadstutfs, textile fabrics coal lumber IRON
sugar, and various other products local in their
production but general in their consumption. NAV
all reach the consumer at the least practicable cost
of transportation, and that arbitrary and unnec
essary tax levied by the transporter and above
a fair remuneration for investment is burden
upon the producer and consumer that it is the part
of wise craftsmanship to remove
ReSOtUed, That certain leading railroad CORPORA
tons of the country, although chartered to sub
serve the public welfare, and endowed with the
right of eminent domain solely for that purpose
have proved themselves practically monopolies, and
become the tools of avaricious and INSCRIPTIONS
capitalists TO be used to plumber the public, enrich
| themselves, and impoversh the country through
which they run.
ResoEUed That many of the railroad corporations
have not only disregarded the public convenience
and prosperity but have oppressed citizens bribed
our Legislatures, and defed our Executive and
Judges, and stand to-day most menacing danger
to American liberty and to republican govern
ment.
Resolued, That the present system of railway
management, having failed to meet the just ex-
pectatons and demands of long suffering people
must be radically reformed and controlled by the
strong hand of the law, both State and National,
and the railway corporations compelled to perform
their proper functions servants, and not as mas
| tiers, of the people.
ReSOtUed. That to this end we invoke the aid of
all fair-minded men in all States of the Union in
excluding from the halls of legislation, from our
executive Offices and from the bench all such rail
way officials railway attorneys, other hirelings
who prostitute public office to the base of pri
vate gain.
RESOLVED, That leaving the different sections and
interests that desire cheap transportation to work
out the problem in such manner they may deem
BEST we earnestly invoke their careful considera-
ton, their energetic action, and their resolute will
IN regulating and controlling rates of transportation
and in giving remuneratiye wages to the producer
and cheap products to the consumer, untaxed by
unearned charges for their carriage.
Resot0ed, That invite the people of the various
States to organize subsidiary associations State
county and town, to cooperate with the National
Association; that the power to accomplish the
purposes desired rests absolutely with the suffering
millions. Relief is within their reach and control
United action and the future will give, GER
tain as it is needed, for all time and the good of ALL
the true solution of the problem of cheap transpor
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