The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1873-10-09

both producer and consumer-if, in other
words, this irresponsible regulation de-
| strOys commerce in the true sense of the
word and makes both producer and con-
sumner mere feudatories of the instrument
OF commerce-if the companies raise rates
when crops are abundant and prices high,
! not upon any principle of compensation,
but upon the principles of an extortionatc
system which takes from the producer much,
simply because he has much to take from
then 1t is time that this dormant power
should be exercised to its fullest extent.
That these evils exist is most unquestiona-
BILE. The people arc taxed to pay divi-
dends, not upon the actual cost of construc-
ton, or what that cost should be, but upon
what construction has cost when perform
ed by thieving rings, who are themselves
the huge monopoly. The people are taxed
that dividends may be paid upon stock,
Watered and diluted stock, which represents
nothing but the rapacity of the company
and the patient endurance of the people.
The earnings of the Milwaukee and St. Paul
Company, SINCE it advanced it's rates are
stated, for the entire month of September,
100, 900 against $800,O00 for the September
of 1872, but when the unexampled abund-
ance OF the crop presses so severely upon its
means of carriage that it cannot carry as
fast as it receives, it advances its rates, and
by this regulation of commerce assists to
tax the farmers Of Minnesota alone, over
$6OO,O Commerce among the several
der the idea that the law OF supply and de-
mand would produce competition. The
tendency has been the reverse. Consolida-
ton has been so far perfected, that ticket
agents and freight agents meet.in their con-
VentlOns, as IN a Congress, to leglslate upon
this question of commerce. Their compa-
MES have entered upon the exercises of
sovereign functions in this matter. They
enact the law, they declare and enforce the
penalties, Secure-mOre secure than any
Legislature ever was-in their perfect i'm
munity from regulation and control. :.
Under the power TO regulate commerce
with foreign nations, Congress has imposed
duties, which in many instances, have led
to the creation of monopolies. But here,
in regard to our internal commerce, is a
corporation levying duties more onerous
than all our tariff would be, were they in
creased four fold.
If it is practicable for the State of Mime
sofa to legislate upon the subject, why
should not Congress, grasping this question
in all of its bearings, from centre to eXtren-
tiles do the same thing? It has the power,
and its exercise has become matter of
duty. If the companies can, by combining
their knowledge and experience of rights
and resources, adjust system of uniform
rates to which all lines shall be subject,
surely the government can obtain the same
information and do the same thing. Into
the question will enter one consideration
which does not embarass the companies ap-
parently, and that is what sum can they
carry for, and at same time secure reason
able returns from their investment.
There are yet other methods through
which it is thought the federal power can
assert itself. 1t has been proposed by Mr..
Adams, think, that the government shall
own and operate through lines. The objec-
ton to this scheme is that it is altogether too
paternal. 1t involves an increase of the
army of federal officers altogether too great
to be contemplated with any feeling Of sat
isfactlon.
1t is also proposed that the government
shall own through lines and lease them.
To this it is objected that the lessee will be
the same monopoly in another form, having
exclusive right to operate the road.
In lecture which L delivered some three
years age, before these questions had enter
ed into politics, 1 suggested that the most
feasible plan would be for the government
to acquire through lines under the right Of
eminent domain. Keep them in repair just
as the State keeps the wagon roads in re-
pair, and permit every individual, associa-
ton or corporation which owns or can con-
troll locomotives and cars, to run them on
these roads in competition. This idea has
been subjected to considerable discussion
and criticism, which have tended to confirm
it's soundness in my mind. believe the
nearer these roads can be appropriated in
their use to the common highways, the
nearer we shall be to the result to which
we are surely moving. The State of Mime
sofa owns its wagon roads, keeps them in
repair, and they are the means of an I'M
trammelled competition.
The United States owns the Mississippi
river and its navigable tributaries. Itkeeps
them in repair, and upon them there is COM
petition Of the most intense character. The
State of New York owns the Erie canal,
keeps it in repair, and every one who
chooses completes in the business of car
riage. But it is said that a railroad is too
complex machine to be handled in this
under present management is not towards
the end which have indicated. There are
organizationsrfor carrying freight, such as
the Blue Line9 which do not own foot of
railroad, but Which do own thousands of
cars which are hauled daily over every rail-
road in the land. They control their cars
and pay the companies simply for motive
power and use of track. On every consid-
cradle road in the country MIR. Pullman runs
his private cars, so sqmptuously equipped
and furnished that they are almost home
like as to comfort. he pays the company
simply for motive power and use of track.
The United States mail is carried in cars
specially set apart for it, wholly under the
control of the postal authorities. The Ex-
press companies occupy the same relations
toward their cars. In England, as l am in;
formed, one railroad runs its trains to ter
minal points over connecting lines as mat.