The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1873-09-05

hnat tor specified period. Any meth
Cd OF peaceful settlement is bette
than a resort to strikes 1 am awar,
that this subject is a difficult one t.
manage, but approached in a proper
slprlt, L have no doubt a satisfactory
result may be brought about. The
coal trade Is such an important branei
In our industry, and the danger to bt
avoided IS so great, that the expert
ment suggested is worth the trial.
commend it to the candid considera-
ton OF our people.
LOCAL INDEBTEDNESS.
There is one other snbiect pertain.
ing to our State affnrs to which de
sire to call yeur attention, my fellow
citizens, and then / will pass TO the
consideration OF matters having q
broader application. No man who
wishes well for the State can notice
without concern the rapid and enor-
nous increase in the local indebted
ness Of our small political divisions
Incompetent, irresponsible, and reck-
less officials often sqnander the public
money; and sometimes the better
Judgment of communities is improper
ly swayed by specious arguments and
false representations, for private gain
While the State debt is decreasing
our cities and counties are preparing
a burden which will be found heavy
and oppressive in the coming years
All good citizens should set their faces
against this mortgage OF the future,
and this evil should be borne IN mind,
while the people are selecting mem
bers of the Legislature and their
county officers.
But pass to the consideration oil
topics having natural application and
Importance.
RAILROADS AND THE FARMERS.
There is a widespread feeling exist.
ing throughout the West and North
west among the producing masses
that railroad corporations, by the con-
solidation of capital, by combinations
of management and the Capitalization
of authority, are exercising for their
own advantage an undue and per-
nicious influence upon the business in
terests of the country. This feeling
is less prominent in Ohio than in the
great gain growing States further west,
tor the reason tha: we are rapidly be
coming manufacturing State, that
We are nearer the great market, and,
that we have several competing lines
of railroad leading tosthe East. But
there is dissatisfaction among the peO-
pie of Ohio.
From Ii. V. Poor's Railroad Man
ual for 1861, l gather the following
summary of statistics, detailed state
ments OF four hundred and twenty
fiye roads being given in that work.
In tie United States there are
Miles OF railway. 57,x3
Cost 72} q
Cost per j1,ll6
Gross receiptS................ 4732I. .OJG
st lS,;-51l1
DiVldends PAID. .----..---.-----.-. 6l,1ls, ,l0l
"Total number of miles in opera
tion, 81. 1914, of which 6 ,427 were built
last year. Some made no returus,
others refuse information. The total
earnings are $ll,O0O,OOO more than
the receipts in the United States
Treasury, and :he net earnings SlS,-
100000 more than the go, ernment in
terest account. The total cost is S000,-
100000 more than the national debt.
Thirty three thousand nine hundred
and thirty-four miles have been built
since 1S62.'
This statement is startling and in
dicates the power which, by united
effort, could be exerted in our State
and nation. II is well known that
certain great railroad combinations
have for years controlled the legi la
ton OF several States in all matters
affecting railroad property and the
profits thereof. It is feared that this
influence is becoming more and more
extended, and more potent; and that,
unless speedily checked, it will endan
ger the permanent welfare and pros
perity of our whole population. l
confess l do not share in the apprehen.
sion entertained by some, that rail-
roads and their officers, or any other
aggregations of wealth and talent,
are likely to subvert or to materially
endanger the liberties of our people.
Injustice and exaction Will be toler-
ated until they reach a certain point,
aud then the evil will be swept away
with relentless purpose and a strong
haud. In country and under gov
ernment ike ours, the people are
patient of extortien and wrong only
until it presses hard upon them; when
once aroused, they throw of their
burdens with determination and vigor.
Railroads, and all other corpora
tions, are the creatures of legislation,
deriving their privileges from the peo-
pie, and responsible to the people that
the rights so acquired shall be used
for the accommodation and benefit of
the public. The contract implied in a
grant to and acceptance of a charter
by railroad corporation is, that in
return for special privileges it shall so
use its authority az to promote the
comfort, convenience, and material
prosperity ef the power that grants
the charter, namely, the people. II
the railroad company seeks to violate
this agreement, it would be strange
indeed Il there were no authority,
anywhere, to restrict and control it.
That such power exists, / have no
manner of doubt. Our trouble has
been, and Is likely to be, not so much
with local roads, having their termini
within the limits of single State, as
with the through trunk lines, extend
ing far across the country, and holding
charters from number of State Leo
islatures. What is eyerybody's bus
mess is nobody's. As no one State
can control the whole line, no one At
tempts to control any part and &C
the railroads do as they please, without
let or hindrance. In the first place.
have no doubt that Congress, under
the authority to regulate commerc,
between the States, has full and ampl,
power to fix rates of transportation
aud to make such other regulations q
the courts of justice would pronouncr
iair and equitable, under the contrac
implied by the charter. In my iudg.
ment, therefore, the simplest an,
probably the most satisfactory way t.
remedy the evils complained OF, woul,
be to have the whole matte
disposed of by congressional enact
ment Mr.. Sheliabarger, OF this State
introduced such i measure into th
last Congress, and when the Obi
Legislature was asked to strengthe
his hands by resolutions faYoring tn
bill, the Democratic members pu
themselves soiidly against it.
But it might happen that Congre:
: would fail in this duty, under inhu
ences such as have known heretofor
sometimes to affect Congress. Wha
then? In such case, undoubtedly th