Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-02-19
WHICH PARTY REPRESENTS THEM
BEsTt

WHICH PARTY REPRESENTS THEM
BEsTf
There are not many Changers In
Neyads. Ours Is not III agricultural
State. but In the States lying on the
Mississippi and Missouri Rivers the
agricultural element largely predomi-
mates. It has been aud 10 claimed by
Democratic party leaders aud Demo-
cratic journals that their party was
most nearly In accordance with the
desires OF the farmers, and that it,
principles II carried out would effect
one Of the great results sought to be
attained and established, viz the con-
troll OF railroads by Congressional and
State legislation. The ab.urdi,y OF
this claim was never plainly
exposed than by a recent vote In the
House OF Representatives. a resolu.
ton was introduced on the 9th inst,
by Mr.. Smith, Of Ohio. asserting In
positive and unequlvocal LANGUAGE the
constitutional power OF Congress to
regulate railroads running from u
State to another. The resolution was
prefaced BY a preamble reciting the
provision Of the Constitution empower
Ing Congress to regulate commerce
between the States, and stating that
the provision imposed powers aud du-
ties OF high Importance to the citizens
Of the several States. IL then asserted
rs the judgment Of the House. that
Congress had the constitutional power
90 to regulate commerce between the
States rs to protect the people against
all unjust or oppressive tolls. taxation
or distractions. whether by railroad
companies or other carriers. aud that
the present condition and magnitude
Of this commerce demand the prompt
aud wise exercise Of this power.
Here was the Granger question pure
and unadulteratej, and right here the
parties took sides, aud the Changers
won their first victory. But how ?
BY whose aid? The Democrats hes
itsted when IL was proposed to vote
upon this question. IL was against
their ,ims-honored d~octrines-it tcnd-
oil to centralixition--and they did not
like to be forced to go upon the record
on so important a proposition without
any previous notice. So, to gain time.
they moved to adjourn. and while the
motion (which was Lost was being put
they held a hasty consultation. What
was the result? Did the Democratic
party sustain by their votes the car
diual doctrine OF the Changers! Nay,
verify! While the entire Republican
party In the House, with the exception
OF a few s,ragSlers, rallied to the sup
port OF this resolution, the Democratic
Representatives la that body with n
very few exceptions, voted In the neg
alive. The resolution was adopted by
10 to CT.
After this action, what claim eau
the Democratic party have to the po-
litical support OF the Patrons OF Hus'
bandry or Of any member Of that or
gsnizstiou? They have by their votes
declared that Congress has no power
to legislate for the remedy Of the
abuses about which the farmers con-
plain. That In fact It has no right to
contrel Interstate commerce upon
railroads. The position assumed by
the Republicans on the contrary. u
sustained by the Supreme Court. places
the remedy OF all existing evils In the
transportation business within the
power OF Congress; and although
never before taken by them In the
House. hss long been maintained by
prominent Individual members. In
fact. the party may be said to have
been steadily drifting toward this doc
trine since the beginning Of the war.
or since Its advent into power. Daring
the war Secretary Stanton fixed the
rate to be paid tho railroads for trans
porting troops. aud they nearly all ac-
qulesced In his decision. In 1865 Gen.
Garfield introduced a National Rail-
way law. which. however. never
reached a vote. During the XNNiNth
Congress. the House passed tho New
York aud Washington Air Line Rail.
road bill. mainly By Republican votes,
the purpose OF which was to strike at
the Camden and Amboy monopoly.
The bill asserted very broadly the
power Of Congress to charter and reg
ulate a line OF road crossing States.
This question, therefore, although per-
haps new to many members Of the
House. Il not new TO the Republican
party. On the contrary. the resolution
!, In accord with its well known
policy. and As antagonlstic to Dem.
ocratic party principle as IL Ia possible
to make it. The issue has been made
between the Changers aud the o
porations. The passage OF this res.
olu,ion shows who are In principle the
natural allies OF the former. II not,
will some Democratic organ explain
away the vote upon this resolution :
As n class. Democratic organs are
adopts ut explanation.
TnE first annual session OF the Mis-
souri, State Grange OF the Patrons OF
Hu'bandry commenced yesterday at
Bonneville. Nearly every county In