The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-31

IN MS inaugural says that while our analrs are IN
q satisfactory condition, in more limited and yet
largely in general sense they are not So All those
products the result Of the labor OF the farmer are
auctions of other branches Of industry are nearer
the prices OF more recent years. This
state OF things cannot last long; the equilibrium
will come, and then we shall be on better terms.
While laws may be passed to facilitate
commercial transactions l do not believe
that the interests Of trade are to be materially
affected by the laws of Legislatures. But 1t Is true,
when any great interest or enterprise is based
upon ana created by legislative enactment ana
Justly outgrow and escape from the restraining
power and influence OF that law. 1t will, however,
IN all cases be better to harm0nize conflicting IN
terests according to the usages OF trade fair deal
ing and just regard for the rights OF Others,
rather than seem to outrage and defy one interest
by another, on some assumed superiority of right
or granted privilege. The law never meant to give
one interest the right of expressing another, and
accepted as an excuse for the imposition Of Odious
determinations by one industry against another.
By our people II Is ieit to be nafdshP TO pay tne
products to market, and to submit to the discrimi-
nations levied upon them. Fit be true that rail-
roads are charging higher rates than they are rea-
sonably entitled to upon freights and passengers,
it Will be strange If they shall not speedily make
them conform to the sensible demands OF trade
in this respect. II the laws OF trade will not bring
about this result some other law will"
IN MISSOURI
several bills have been introduced Into the Legis
lature to check what are called "the outrages now
being committed against the rights Of the people
These bills go far as to propose that the State
shall operate the railroads.
THE FARMERS CASE
may be considered as stated authOritatively In the
resolutions adopted by the Convention at Bloom
ington. They complain that combinations to in
crease the cost OF transportation are pressing the
life blood out of the West, and that the railroads
illegally eXtortng higher rates OF freight ana
fare than are provided for In the laws. They recon-
mend the opening up OF. the st. Lawrence canals
and the improvement OF that route SO as to bring
tide water to Chicago; also the construction of
the Rock Island Canal, 80 as to bring the Western
river system into closer connection with New
York. Further, they recommend and, indeed, have
Toned, grand organization which wiz include all
ISOLATION Will only vote for such legislators or
officers will see justice done the farmers. And,
let me add, these clubs or oranges are pledged to
another work--they discOun tenanCe middlemen
and buy their agricultural implements direct from
the manufacturers
THE RAILROADS. CASE.
The railroads treat the present agitation as
contrived in great measure by demagogues and
intention to discriminate against or Cypress
Western producers. The farmers object that by
ing lower tariffs rom distant points than to nearer
places unjust and arbitrary distinctions are main-
tanned, against which there is no recourse The
railroads retOrt that for instance, competition
compels them to carry corn at q low rate, say
from quincy. They could not carry all corn at
that rate, but have no choice save to carry it at
not at all, since 1t largely contributes to the
volume of business and adds nothing whatever to
the investment OF the stockholders. Would the
condition OF the producers be bettered If the
business received from competing points, assessed
all points alike and threw the share OF the loss
non-competing pointsy Again, equalized rates to
tide-water would discriminate to the very extent
OF prohibition against the producer In Western
Iowa in favor Of the less remote producer in East
ern Illinois. And another and practical argument
is found in the fact that most Of the cars 60 West
with merchandise, and must be returned East.
Whether the company loads these cars at Council
nltffs mr. 0kaCn hIu ri Tpra
the expense to the company. These objections are
introduced to show that q uniform tariff Is an I'M
possibility.
To the charges OF watering stock and extrava.
CANT management compelling the extorton OF IN
creased rates from farmers, the railroads oppose,
OF course, denial. Each railroad Tor itself denies
that its officers are interested in
FAST FREIGHT LINES
or that the effect Of the existence OF such lines Is
inimical 10 the producer. This by the way, is a
weak point In the defence There Is on every rail-
road a sort OF Credit Mobier on a small scale in
the shape of freight line. am informed that as
rule, the stock OF these companies Is held by the
officers Of the road, and that the companies pocket
signing bills Of lang. The officers connive at the
companies success by giving their cars more
speedy despatch than is accorded to ordinary cars
and by absolutely re using cars to people who ship
outside Of the fast line II man goes to the rail-
road the railroad has no cars but ii he goes to the
rate Of freight and something additional for an i'm
aginary handling by q pretended sonsignee at some
point midway. All these charges and delays are
so much loss to the producer.
EASTERN OUTLETS INSUFFICIENT.
The railroads are indisputaby right when. they
say that much OF the responsibility for the state OF
affairs complained OF rests with the Eastern rail-
roads. In the first place, while there are lnnumer-
M,cnran at CHICAGO lins her granares and els'
vators to overnowlng with corn and wheat, there
are only three trunk lines to convey this gigantic
freightage from Chicago to the East. The natural
result OF scarcity OF transportation is the placing
OF a premium on what transportation Is available.
Lake freights feel the influence of this unreieved
from fffV con
BY way OF showing that the Eastern roads are
more directly responsible than the western one
railroad manager shows that his line is carrying
grain TO Chicago, 500 miles, for fourteen cents a
bushel, while the tariff from Chicago to New York.
963 miles, is thirtysix cents. II Eastern freights
were at the same rate it would only cost twenty
seven cents, leaving out OF the calculation the
vital fact that the longer the road the less pro-
portionally IL the cost OF transportation, and the
lower prop0rtionaly should be the rate of freight
age. These nine cents in the producers pockets
would give them several millions OF profits year.
II the farmers want redress the legitimate and
rational method of obtaining 1t is to Increase the
number and capacity Of the Eastern outlets till
LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE AFFAIR
Having. now given the statements of'both Sides
shall briefly review the legal situation in Illinois,
where the fight is most warmly waged. Illinois
possesses Board OF Railroad Commissioners, who
have power TO fix rates and freights and the
statute provides for penalties up 10 the very for
lecture OF charter for roads violating the regula
tons of this Board. 1t cannot, ! think, be said
that this Board has been much OF q success. 1t
commenced by calling the roads TO furnish
statement OF their gross earnings for the year end
ing July !, 1872. The roads at first reused
10 do this, but rendered their accounts
for their own fiscal year. Ultimately, however,
they furnished the information desired, and on
these data the Commissioners proceeded to CLASH
~ the roads according to their gross yearly earn
ings per mile, the highest, class A, being re-
Etricted, Tor instance, TO charging two and half
cents mile for passengers; class Il, three cents,
and so ON. The railroads paid no earthly atten.
ton to the regulation: for instance, the Chicago
and Altonroad charges 81 TO ST. Louis, when It's
legal rate weuld be about So rs. Equally contu-
macious was this line In the matter OF freights,
discriminating in favor OF competing points and
against non-competing points less distant. The
result was suit against the company TO enforce
the penalty and secure
FORFEITURE OF IT'S CHARTER.
The defence of the railroads is that the law is un.
constitutional and that their charters are Irrevoc
able. The Circuit Court OF Mclean county has de-
cided in favor OF the constitutionality Of the law
and on an appeal the case has been taken up
TO the Supreme Court OF the State where 1t awaits
decision. The question OF fares has been raised
several times during the past week by individuals.
A lot Of delegates to thu Convention at Blooming
fon conductor the Legal fare-tnree