Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-12-25
Railroad Legislation.

There seems TO be u widespread misc
derstanding rs to what iufuences<
sponsible for the railroad legislation
last general assembly of Iowa. When
WAS supposed by many that its results wouldV
be beneficial, and that it would meet with
popular favor, il had god-fathers in great
plenty. Now, that we are paying the rail-
ways heavier freight bills than ever. and
when our grain and live stock are depreciat-
cd in consequence, the people are not so
jolly rs they expected to be, and some of the
railway managers are annoyed because they
are compelled to transact part of their
business at loss, Notwithstanding they more
than make it up by taxing higher for the re-
mainder. Other railways have ignored the
law by refusing 10 comply with it. relying on
the courts to proclaim it invalid. In this
case all parties are dissatisfied. The railway
officers are annoyed by the claims of the
people. and dissatisfied with their own atti-
tude and lawless citizens; and the people
are clamoring that public officials shall
bring the railways into obedience to the
statutes. The public officials who are ALL
thorized by the law to prosecute its viola
| tons, but not commanded to do, nor COM
pensatcd for such labor, seem to be guilty,
discharging their other duties and letting the
law take care Of itself
At this time, from all parties, the respons-
Utility for this feeble legislation Is saddled.up-
on ''the grange" When II Chicago hummer
tcuders the exact legal fare and announces
his destination to the conductor, the latter
maiciousy taunts him with being granger.
Where convention or fair asks conces-
sions on freight and passengers, the answer
is, 1--WE give granger's rates" We are tired
of this. 1t is time that all parties should
know that this folly is not the child of "the
grange" not the step-child or foster-chld of
"the grange" but must be satisfied with n
different paternity.
The bantIing was bcgottcn among ward
politicians and shysters, and unseemly rs
was the act, it was born upon the stump.
Talk about the members of that general AS
sembly coming "lrcsh from the plowr'
Nonsense They came from the caucus,
some of them by way of the pothouse, and
others over the stump where they harangued
the dear people until they persuaded
themselves that something must be done to
harass the railroads and land the spoutcr
in Congress. Acting under the impression
that what themselves had said was uttered
by the people, they blndly passed the rail
road law, and would hear no reason.
All the time 1.-THE grange" counseled mod
Grafton, poured oil on the waters, said let
there be no strife between great industries
whose interests are the same. 1t urged that
legislation to be effective and valuable
should go no further than experience war
ranted that no leap in the dark should be
taken. 1t counseled the relief of known
burdens. that abuses should be abolished,
that to he safe and right was of more impor-
lance than ministering to tho supposed ne
cessities of small-fry politicians who aspred
to lead in what they fondly hoped would end
in promotion.
The Journal is not "the organ" of the Pat.
rons of lIusbandry, but it asks that this sir
he not laid to their charge .-Farmer'S Jour
J nal.