Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-09-04

lost no Flgiats ny going ihio Aife re-
teiiion.
IL declared the reconstruction laws
TO be null and void, encouraged re-
s,staace To them, denied the power oi
Congress ia reygre-S the hu-hinN nis-
orders ia the South. IL has done
everything In lis power since the
war IL make the people OF the South
believe they were oppressed, and
keep them sn.ien and unhappy.
Incapable OF doing the South any
good. its influence has been disas-
Irious continually, ana 1t y hot too
much TO say thai the Democratic
party is, and for many years las
been, the worst enemy OF the south.
INQUIRY INTO RAILROAD ABUSES.
A special committee was appointed
at he last session of the senate, IN
vested with ample powers, to exam
inc ami report upon the subject OF
TRANSPORTATION. The needs oi in-
creased means Of transportation, the
ABUSES and extorti0n5 practiced by
railroad companies, and The RENE
dies for these deeds and ABUSES, are
within the direct scope Of the in4t'i-
nv which this committee Is Instruct
ed to make. 1t has been III session
ut various points since the adjourn
ment Of Congress, and ali exhaustive
aud elaborate report may be louhe
for at the next SESSION. The Senate
will then have before il reliable in
formation i'm regard to the condition
In. ttn Nv fa.Fg "A Ia
States, and such remedies
as the committee may be able to Sug-
gest for existing wants and wrongs.
shall not attempt 10 anticipate
the report nf that committee or to
suggest remedies for
evils, the nature and extent OF which
| may not fully understand. But
this much | may say, that the agri-
cultural interests Of the Western and
southern States may look with con-
fdence to the Republican party for
protection, and for the redress OF
wrongs under which they may be
suffering It is tn. party which has
great reform, and IS
now in condition 10 take hold with
vigor Of the new ques-
tons tiat may be presented. Ana
think may safely promise that II
will, al the next session OF Congress,
address Itself to all questions cpnuec-
ted with the oppression. or depression
of the agricultural interests OF The
West and South. Without under
taking to indicate the character of
any legislation that ought to ne
adopted by Congress, it any, II may
not be improper here to say II word
in reference tothe power Of Congress.
POWER or CONGRESS OVER RAIL
ROADS.
Under the constitutional provision
giving Congress power 10 regulate
among the several States,
Congress has power 10 regulate the
great through lines of railroads. en-
gagged IN conducting inter- tate com
mace. Under this power Congr' .
may establish such rules and reguih-
tons Tor this class oil railroads rs wlil
contribute To the safety of passengers
and the speedy, certain, and equlia-
BILE transportation OF ireights, aud 10
insure the more complete adaptation
OF the railroad system to the wants
and interests of the people in All
parts of the country. The exercise
of this power by Congress would not
Interfere with the States in the regu-
iatlOn of their domestic commerce or
in the control Oi abroad corporation s
50 far as such control may be necrs-
sary for their own protection and in
terust.
DUTIES OF RAILROADS.
That ra lroads are pu ,Iic highways
has bpen recently dec died hy ihe Su-
preine Court of the United st ties and
y no longer IN open question. That
railroad companies are common car
rier-, "a the office. oi common carriers
t. defined 10y tie common law IL
well settled that the statement nee
not he reinforced by authorities
The rights and liabilities OF II com
mon carrier are well settled by the
common law. The common carrier
must carry for all persons. without
distinction, upon the same terms.
He must provide sufficient aud con-
venient methods Of transportation.
He must not make unjust discrimin-
alton In the exercise OF his office, aud
must carry passengers and freight for
a reasonable compensation.
For the breach of any of these du-
ties the common law has always pro-
vided remedies, and ii the breach
complained of is eXtortion, the CUES.
ton is To be settled by ccuft and
jury as 10 what would be a reasonable
rate under all the circumstances in
that particular case. There are great
difficulties i'm the way OF private per-
SONS asserting their rights at com.
mon law against these great corpora
tons, aud Congress in the one case,
or the State legislatures in the other,
may be able To provide additional "a
cilities for enabling private persons
to ascertain and enforce their rights
against railroads rs common carriers,
and may also providr puni>hments
against officers of corporations W 81.
have been clearly shown by the e..
dence TO have been guilty OF extor-
ton.
i have thrown out these suggest
ions. but ~ have before said, shall
not now, in advance OF the report of
the committee, attempt To suggest
specific remedies for evils that are
Il.