Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1873-08-21
Freights and Fares,

Henry Edgerton, the Taxpayers
candidate for the Senate, made a great
speech in Sacramento last. Saturday
night. The speech is reported II full
in the Union. 1t isa powerful arraign-
naent of the Sharks who control the
railroads on this Coast. We append
that portion which refers to freights
and fares, that subject being one of
deep interest also to the people of
Nevada:
A subject of the greatest importance
to the material prosperity of the State,
which demands legislation at the ear
lest practicable moment, is the regU-
Iation OF rates of transportation on our
railways. Ihe rates now imposed by
the different companies controlling
those thOroughtareS are eNtortionate.
ana i'll many instances run into larce.
ny itself. So fiaCrantly outrageous
have their eNac ions became, 50 I'M
just Il discrimination they practice
against individuals and places, that
the continued existence OF those i'll
situations under the present regime is
almost a matter OF doubtful eXpedi-
encv. When producers are compell-
IN N-NAA ~ AACA sc Ia.
mule teams for distances OF from fifty
to a hundred miles right alongside a
railroad, one ot two conditions OF
things is true: either the railway man
ayers are a set OF unmitiLated eXtOr-
TONERS, or the country is too poor to
support a railroad. The grinding
policy of the managers OF those roads
in this State has made them the adj
verSary OF every interest they were
created to subserve, and their mana
gers objects OF just and general ON
domination.
How outrageous and exasperating
to the common sense of justice. is the
spectacle of these great institutions,
called into being by the peoples pow
er, built and equipped with their mo
ney, responsible TO their severe. On
will, designed To procure a freer Vent
for the products OF the earth, to fur
nish new indictments 10 the cultiva-
tors of land, to be the most powerful
instruments in increasing the quantity
of money in the Safe, u be in fine.
the faithful handmade OF labor and
industry, perverted into mere inStru-
ments for the aggr2ndiZment Of 4 lie V
selfish men. into mere tourniquats
by which they may check or STOP at
Will the circulation OF the material
system of the whole State. We pro-
pose to remedy the abuses. Not bv
any attempt at empirical, "A ~retaliatorv
legislation. but by an adjustment of !
scale Of rates on freights and fares
that shall be Just, both to the conlpa-
MES and to the people. The power Of
the Legislature over this subject is in
dubitable.
1t Will be observed that Mr.. Edger-
ton gives the opinion that State Leg
islatures have the power to control the
question of freights and fares. We
believe the Supreme Court of Illinois,
and perhaps other tribunals, have so
held. 1t would be far better, how
ever, if Congress could be Induced to
apply the remdy. The great trans
continental railway was constructed
by the aid of the Government and its
management is therefore more
properly the subject of national legis-
lation. But as redress at the hands of
Credit Mobilier Congress is not TO
be hoped for, the next best thing the
people can do is to enforce a recOgni-
ton Of their rights through the Leg
islatureS of their respective States.
Let the war on this basis proceed.