Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1874-02-12
ON nAILROADTARlrr
LE010LATION. s

LE01eLATION.
WE hare before referred to reso-
luton introduced into the Senate OF
this State by Mr.. Russell, requesting
the State Grange Committee to trans
NIT to the Legislature such informa.
ton or bill as they might have upon
the question Of tarifiing railroads.
We now have before us the State
Jomsnul Of the It'll inst, which is An
exceedingly fair paper towards the
Patrons Of Husbandry and their warm
friend. That paper gives the recent
action of the State Grange IS follows:
"At the State Convention Of the
Grange, recently held In this city, the
following was adopted:
Resolved, That committee Of twelve
be appointed on memoralixing the
General Assembly Of the State Of
Iowa on the question Of regulating
the charges for freights and tariffs on
the several railroads Of Iowa. Said
committee shall indicate the kind of
. txff6 bill that will meet the approval
OF this body.
Under this resolution, A. B. smsd-
ley, Of Howard; e. N. Gates, Of Jas
per; 8. q. Burnett, OF Be1ton; j. J.
Scott, Of Taylor; g. 81. Benham, Of
ClArke; Marcus Tuttle, Of Cerfo Cor
do; John Scott, OF Story James Car
ter, Of Wsyne; n. q. Fields, Of wash
ington Z. Wardell, Of Mitchell New.
bold, OF Henry Tracy, Of 0fundy, and
HAstic, of Warren, were appointed ~
the committee.
This list embraces men Of ability
and experience, nearly oil Of whom
are practical farmers, and &c is but
natural and reasonable that the meme
beers Of tho Legislature should be
anxious to know what manner Of law,
in their opinion, would best settle this
vexed transportation question. Why
has not the committee performed its
assigned duty? As several Of the
members are also members of the Gen.
eral Assembly, perhaps they can an.
swer."
1t does seem TO ~ that with such &C.
ton Of the State Grange before them,
1t was but courtesy on the part Of the
Legislature to invite the Committee to
present their memorial or bill. The
Senate passed the resolution with but
few dissenting votes. The Housc We
notice on Saturday, 7th inst, tabled
the resolution passed by the Senate
Thereupon Nj. Dixon in order to kill
beyond redemption the resolution,
moved the reconsideration Of the vote,
saying that he did 90, based upon the
statement, that Mr.. Brandt said there
was NO such Committee appointed, and
that IL there was such Committee be
would have voted for the resolutions.
Yet there was such Committee, and il
Mr.. Dixon Ind wanted the resolution
passed, 1t seems TO rs he ought not 10
have been In 90 big . hurry TO recon
| slider the vote il could have been done
just as we'll the next day - then, and
after definite and complete infornla'
ton was obtained npon the subject
indeed at that time the Journal had in
type that Committee, and their names
were published that same evening"
II looks very much az though q studied
effort was made to avoid the introduce
ton Of the views Of Changers, as "a
| what kind Of bill they wanted. In
this we are strongly convinced the
members of the Grange who are Leg.
islators and their friends have placed
the order in an untensbie position 90
far a. their action can do 90, and We
regret it.
The work Of framing . successful
| and julicious tariff bill for railroads
is ono Of the most complicated and diff.
Acult things to do, that can possibly
dsvolve upon anybody. II has beer
said, too, by opponents Of the, Repub
lican party, and BY some who are hal
and hall, or sort Of mixed in politics
s.look out for . botched and fixed ur
bill passed in the interest Of railroads
and 20 framed q to be odious and in.
operative" We want to hear no more
Of this kind Of talk, since information
b refused. Now 10 demonstrated tia
those who above all Others have mad,
this question their study decline I,
execute the trust committed to them
| and 90 bear . part Of the responsible
lty. II any man or body Of men clam
or for certain legislstion, and whel
asked to aid In putting 1t in shape, o
SAY definitely what they want, refns
to do 90, we ssy they are not treatin,
Legislators fairly. We know that tn
General Assembly Of iowa on join
ballot is Republican, and weknow als'
that the House 10 tic, but Il win Il
this state Of the case DO claimed tina
the Republicans are responsible 70
| legislation, whatever it lie. Let it thel
be recorded now that on this vexe,
! question Of railroad legislAtion, thu
that body Of the Legislature which i
strongly Republican, in the most cour
teous manner asked for the wishes Of
the Committee appointed by the Stat
Grange on this subjsct; while tina
body which Is Tie, refused to so ask
and thst Mr.. BonhAm . former Demo
, crst and Granger, and also membe
Of this Stats Grange Committee, sai'
the Grange had no idea Of presentin,
. bill Now hereafter let it not be sail
thas the Republican party are not will
ing to do everything IN their power i
obtain all tho light possible upon thi
question from those who are its cham
pious, that they may the better carr
out their wishes. We are truly sorr
| to see this unwillingnsss TO share 1
| the responsibility Of . measure, by Il
friends. which Il In one form or an
| other certain TO pass this session.
Changers, farmers and everybody elst
| please examine this question and Sc
who is playing fair.
] TA> UrarhvvAA u>vesa n ~tss As~S = A. =