New Orleans Republican., 1873-03-26
ny movement having the same common n


sumers who pay sixty-two and half cents
for bushel of corn and the producer, who
gets but twenty cents of the money, must
produce its effect The intermediary car
uer. who makes more by moving the
buShei than ne who has produced it,
becomes the common foe of both these
interests. 1t can not be but that they must
force the carrier to more equal partition
OF the price paid for the commodity.
The railroad is the most important
agent OF American progress. Like the
telegraph. il was the discovery of public
spirited men. Like the telegraph. it has
come under the control of class who en-
ploy public enterprise for private gain.
Mr. Benton, the protector of the Pacific
railroad. did not foresee Oakes Ames: nor
did Morse. when asking "wha: hath God
wrought" with his first telegraph. ina
9ine that the gift of God would be per-
Verted 20 the injury of the people. We
yield to none in our appreciation of the
railroad. or in denunciation of the corrupt
men who limit its usefulness. That these
abuses have had their effect on the
public mind is proven by the general
alarm overspreading the country. The
exposures of the Credit Mobiier, the
recent defeat of Mr. Thomas SCOTS at
tempt to control railroad legislation in
New Jersey. the investigation into the
alleged payment of five thousand dollars
each to six New York Senators by ". H.
Vanderbilt, and the stringent legislation
of Massachusetts,. all point in the same
direction. The American people are
aware OF the value and awake to the
abuses of the railroad system. and they
will reform them. Those who regard with
leniency the high crime of seducing legis-
lators. those who stand in awe of railroad
rings. may doubt this result. 1t may
be long fight. and it will be hard
fight. but where the American con-
sumer pays three times as much for
food as the American producer gets for
it, the combination of these inter
ests will. like the positive and negative
poles of a galvanic battery. consume any
thing which shall be interposed between
them. In resisting this vast combination
of unscrupulous wealth it will be neces-
5ary for the people to agree on the protec-
ton demanded. 1t will then be necessary
to emplor all those agencies which have
never yet failed a free people in correcting
a popular abuse. This is no new sub
iect. Nor are we unprepared to institute
the course of action necessary to preserve
the railroad and protect the people.
|. ANY person should be authorized
Upon complying with certain conditions,
% build railroad. The principal OF
hese conditions should be that the Legis-
ature must have the right to amend or
,epeal the grant, and TO regulate its use.
:. The great object 0: the Legislature
should be. however, to place railroads on
he footing Of public highways at the
'ommon law. This done. all is accom-
olished for public protection. The free
lom Of the highway was always most
mportan. interest of society under the
Roman republic: no class Of men, of
whatever rank or respect for merit. were
Exempt from the obligation to construct
oads and bridges" The common law
the three-fold obligation of de-
ending the country against an enemy. the
construction and repair Of bridges. and.
s an indispensable incident to these du-
les. the repair OF roads. The duty OF
epairing roads is imposed upon the par
shes: it is committed to oyerseers, who
re empowered to remove distractions,
hey may call upon all males between
ighteen and siXty-fve to labor on these |
highways. may impress teams and material |
or this purpose. payable by tax to be
evied on the parish. and who. if they |
all to keep these highways in order suffi-
lent for the safe transportation of persons
nd property. are punished not by the
rivate action Of any party aggrieved by |
heir neglect. but by indictment for the |
uisance o.: dangerous. or impossible. or
lsufficient highway. Just here, then. lies
ne remedy of the American people against
ne railroad corporations. The State iuris-
iction should be established over it as
ommon highwav. and its conductors
lould be declared common carriers. The |
should be held to furnish ade.
nate facilities Coz the transportation of
erson, and property. Il they fai!
l any respect in the safety of the
Dads. bridges. Or equipment. if there
g uncomfortable cars. or insufficient ac.
the overseer Of the high.
ay should. Ike those of any other. be
idictable III any court along the line of
le road ha"iDg Jurisdiction. and process
lould be granted compelling remedy.
nd maintained by injunction. replevin.
:. I. necessary. by the posse conf
t@s. To establish this Jurisdiction
lie people may have to await the expira-
on of charters having more or less years
) run. or the jurisdiction of the State
ay be established at once. This is /
for legal advice in each special
se. No charter should lie extended. nor
w ones granted. unless with such reSer-
.tions as We have pointed out.
But thi. advice from New Orleans
lrnal is "ery disinterested. Do not
ese producer, and consumers see that
e Mississippi :iver is their great friend
q nratectnr: I. :: not nhr:n-1slr our