The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-04-12
" The Railroad Question in the West.


The conflict between railroad companies
and the producers, especially of farm pro,
ducts, is becoming exciting. The threat
ened conflict between the Postoffice De-
partment and some Of the largest railroad
corporation in the matter of postal cars
came apparently very near resulting in a
serious manner, and has only been post,
poned for future adjustment.
But the western farmers, who loudly
complain Of extortion, are rising en- mass to
resist the railroad companies, and the fol
lowing extracts from an address before a
great farmers convention at Bloomington,
Illinois, delivered by Mr.. Rowell will
serve to show the character of the issue
that is on trial between the contending par
ties.
Here is the whole story in nut shell:
The power of eminent domain and the pew
OF of taxation have been lawfully used in
the construction of these roads. They
are, therefore public highways. The cor
porators are the trustees of the public,
engaged in administering a public trust.
They are part of the political machinery
of the State-are political officers as the
Sheriff and Circuit Clerk are political Off
GERS Like them, they are compensated for
their time and capital by being permitted
to charge fees, and like them their fees
may be established by the power that Gre
ated them, the legislature. Now, l think
the proposition is understood by everybody
here. If it is good law, and it is, what
need has the State or nation to build more
lines of railroad? We own all the roads
now-freight cars. locomotives, depots, and
road bed, ties and iron-all belong to the
State, the corporation having qualified
property in them, and the right to perpet-
ually execute the trust, if they obey the
law, for this is the condition under which
they invested their capital. Let us go to
work and regulate what roads we have got
and see how that works, before we build
more. This is the straight road the same
way.
"Now, what do we need by way of leg
islation At present there is no law fix
ing maximum rates of freight. The only
law we now have is a law which says to the
companies: Fix your own rates per mile,
but when YOU have done that, you must
treat all alike. That law is being tested;
it is now before the Supreme Court of the
State, and will be considered by that body
at its present session at Springfield. l do
not fear the result. Your legislature is in
session. Ask them to give us the other
law.
.'One other thing is needed: A permanent
railroad bureau, as part of the executive
department of the State, charged with the
duty of overlooking our railroad property,
examine into the cost of management, the
amount of traffic. the appliances for speed
and safety, the exclusion of bloo0-sucking
fast freight lines. and the enforcement of
the law. 1t is idle to talk about enforcing
obedience from these over mastering mon
opolies by private effort. 1t will be found
altogether too costly and unequal. The
State must take it in hand as it does the
punishment of crime, and its penalties for
wilful disobedience must be forfeitures.
''The courts move slow, but whenever
public opinion becomes crystalized con-
viction, they never fail to give it the voice
of authority. A good old maxim of the
law tells us when the reason of law ceas-
es, the law itself ceases. By its aid many
a musty precedent has been swept away,
and gives place to better and juster rule.
lied and united, with an enlightened I'M
derstanding of the issues involved, not for
getting that the lawyers may be found
necessary evils in the fight. with faith in
the purity and eminent ability of our Su-
preme Court, within the next six months
we shall hear the voice which emancipates
us from the tyranny of railway monopo-
lies"