The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-12-27
SECOND DAY.
tomorrow.

SECOND DAY.
Alter the introduction of "A number of rcso
buttons, all of which were referred, President
Flagg opened the discussion Of the day by
reading carefully prepared paper on rail
way legislation, The points discussed were
the status of railways in relation to the state
and the character of legislation thus far had
The attempts at railway legislation thus far
were imperfect In Illinois beginning had
been made. The constitution of Illinois was
beginning. The Pennsylvania constitution
| lately submitted takes hold Of the railway
question. Under the existing constitutional
provisions what can we do? Railways and
canals arc public highways in the constitu,
ton of Pennsylvania, Under this constitu-
tional provision what can be done in the way
of legislation? They are public highways,
and may be used by all the people Tolls
might be fixed by the power that created the
highways. If railways are highways, they
should be constructed by or under the author
| ity of the government of the territory through
which they pass Roads across the counties
are built at public expense by county com
missioncrs, and used for the public benefit
| Why not build local railways in the same
manner for the public benefit? Referring TO
the canal experience in the state, it was main
tanned that 1t was possible for complete
system of state roads to be built, which would
afford constant and cheap transportation to
~ h,,t n,
supplied, he thought it best to compel the ex-
listing lines Of railway TO do the work for
them After n careful examination Of the
whole subject he thought it was best to re
vert to the old English idea of the kings
highway. We would not then have to watch
corporation rings, no watcred stock, no laws
to enact, no combinations to combat. There
would be msmanagement and failure of
ready We have to combat corporate Caesar
to accomplish this but he must be forced to
abdicate 20 other kings before had been. The
tyranny of corporations must be overthrow,
the country. Railways must become agents
| for the convenience of the people, not an OPP
preston. They must be, as the turnpikes
and other roads are, controlled for the public
Interests. There was much to be accom-.
Iplished This is not "a time for personal am
bition. The railway corporations are danger
} Gus. They have no individual conscience,
though the individual members may
o.. a. - I ,,.;s 81,
statement concerning his own experience as
superintendent of government railways in tho
department of the gulf, during the war. The
figures were interesting, After allowing for
interest on the Investment IN road and equip
ments at forty thousand dollars per mile and
paying double wages for train men, allowing
: for Office supcrintendents and all other con.
tngents, he found that he could transport
freight at the rate of sixtyfyc cents per ton
= per thousand miles, and men at sixty cents
, per hundred miles per mar. Gen. Banks
army was moved at that rate on the Opclousas
railway whca on the Red river expedition.
- Compared with present charges OF railroads,
these figures averaged about g fourth.
\ discussion followed ON railroad l-gi,la-
tion, in which Hart Of La Sale, Whiting of
y Bureau, and others took part, lasting until
- noon, when the convention adjourned to .
y, o'clock
Al the opening Of the afternoons session
another long batch of resolutions was offered
lby various members.
~ There was says an eyewitness, hover
J., ing ON the outskirts of the convention, a mum.
Der of gentlemen of pleasing address, exceed
ingly polite, and euducd with much sympa.
., thy for the farmers. These gentlemen have
printed pamphlets and tracts advocating this
and that scheme in relation to railway trans
, Iportation, finance and the territorial policy
>, They are not members of the cony ntion-iu
fact they will tell you that they a .c,cN
actly farmers themselves, but tahp, her
- fathers were, and their wives first cousin /,
. now, and when they themselves were boy.
y they used to drive the cattle field and iulal,
: the fragrant air of the country. oh il WAS q
, Idelightiul lifcn This genus /. here. rot
many OF them, il Is true. They regret tina,
" they are not farmers, never look at one with
out u sigh that they, too cannot be happ,
. and follow the pillow, and handle ihc hoe am,
rake the hay, and dig the bitches and trim
the hedges and their hair wiki hay see,
=, and sing
~ want 10 bee ID Grange,
And with the ,irangcr> stand
&c Or chant in more dulcet measurcs-
j. Come, NY horny handed love- a..
T. In fac; do al the cheerful thing 10, Gran
d gers do such as carting the compost hca,
II to the field raking up dirty potatoes whcr
o they grow and reapins down the COLDER
5 grain. The eagles lowering around the dov,
y cot chirp gently as bobolink-. and only say
u Dear, sweet doves. come out
G "But the doves aye wary. They hay,
p learned The power Of the bird ihcy have
seen hi. cruel slaughter, and ar, moi tn bC dc