Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-09-24

| the consumer thinks he ought to pay. charg-
ing the difference to profit and loss to be paid
out of the United States treasury?
But this transportation question has
another phase Below is the resolution of
| the Massachusetts Republican convention on
the subject of State and United States regu-
lation of freight tariffs on railroads:
Resolved, That the adoption sof policy
which shall so reduce freight on railroads
that the raw material, food and coal of the
West and South shall be exchanged at the
least possible cost for the manufactures OF
New England, is interesting to the whole
country and vital to the industries of Massa-
chusetts; that the powers vested by the con-
stitutiOn in congress to regulate commerce
between the states includes jurisdiction over
this great subject, and that we call upon
congress and our state legislatures SO to ex-
erclse all their powers over the railroads OF
the country, as, without injustice to them,
may reduce freights and fares to proper rates,
and secure the advantages of these great
highways to the whole people, free from all
preference or monopoly.
Cheap transportation is obviously desirable
to e7ery one who is not common carrier
To him it is business or industry by which
he must live as well as the corn growers OF
Illinois or the manufacturers of Massachu-
setts Each of tbem-that is the farmer,
the mechanic, and the common carrier-has
a right to demand fair price for his labor
and tue use q his capital necessarily Invested
10 his business.
The questions presented by the Massachu-
setts resolution as to government regule-
ton of the price Of f eight over railroads; and
this obviously Involves the right and expe-
diency Of government regulation of the prices
OF Fl eigrt or passenger traffic over highways
of ali sorts even to a wagon road, 50 far as
the United STAGES are concerned.
THere ought to be no need, at this late
day, to show the power Of the State to con-
troll a corporation created by itself except SO
far as the law of the Dartmouth College case
limits that power; and this power undoubt-
edly Includes the regulation of freight tariffs
whether tbe freight is brought from without
VIZ NNo'S ~ ~ ~ bOu Wiz SN'S '-s''" viz
State. Whether any good will be accom-
pisned BY sucu State regulation, and il any
nOw mUch, are qu:se Other qrestnons. TGe
experience of such attepoIs IN VEN lot, at
leass, does not tend TO maze one hopetul OF
accomplishing much by sueh legs alton -
'et'a,nly GOT if there is 10 remedy given ex
cepU what must be sought by che individual
MS own Charges. Mos pc. sons fnd It muco
enc PEE ID pay whatever p~'ces railroads
ctoo,e TO exact than ID engage 10 an expeu-
s've la s-su.a il orCie' 60 get justice. IL Is.
fcu!ty n tie natu e o. III cgs; foT II is
not easy 10 see Wv, ~ P &C. pc. railroad
co pDratio1 suould be scb:ec ed 10 govern
me1r cOn:.pl i" Cue p,,ce l. shait rece sc 'oT
is work, wl.'e a Cor 20 AEON VIII ch maSes
che Cars or TIE i.Oh U, g-ades the road
W. en- tue lar..oaI comp anv uses, s, COG est
e ~ 10 be as zee e. i ( ,le p, c,s Tor i ;
Work as toe iarner j. , fix the p.ive whIca
he VIII sell a busdeto' p1:atoes il Is be-
gicutGg % be ey,den5 Cna6 Staee cJotrol u
this sun,rc6 " II amount u Wy I.tie even
in acco Is o i,1irg is p.rpooe, TO say nothiog
rs 10 wGetIe LII Tue enc. rnaG cou.ro, would
be Sc. success ui-ur'ess The S.ale a 50
u5ue.!okes " p~J>e-o e Y atoms O. rs aw
at tne plt.'c clarse- fi5nt!rg raj Dads )
qu,Ue 90 cJ>c.y IUAucN ~ Dc iIjuiSed III
~ Individuals 10 save a ew doliaIs over
charge IN freight.
Whatever may be the right or the expedi-
roads. coneroI Of the subject oy The UnHed
States is quite difeIeut question, and in
voives Considerations OF the gravest conse-
ouence. A discussion Of some vi these is re-
served for another article. C. W. W.