National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-20
RAILROAD rRANspoRrArroN.
SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES TO q
OVERCOME THE BEST METHOD q

SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES TO BIZ
OVERCOME THE BEST METHOD OF
DOING 1T.
To the Editor Of the National Republican.
SIR: There are % many points Of agreement
between the views expressed by Mr.. Adams Of
Massachusetts, and the objects sought to be at
tanned By the bills introduced by Mr.. Window
and Mr.. McCrary upon tho reform Of railroad
transportation, and those points cut 90 deeply
into the merits Of the to insure their being
found ultimately In the same ranks, side by side
fighting the peoples battle against extortion and
usurpation; but at the present time Mr.. McCrary
Is q long way In the advance Of the fight before
Mr.. Adams, which may be accounted for, doubt
less by reason Of the difference In the experience
ana surroundings Of the two gentlemen. No one
who knows anything Of Mr.. Adams record would
dare impute to him that he would connive Of
wrong from any quarter; and yet some Of tn,
views he has assumed or defended on this ques
ton, however unwittingly, are ut least open u
Mr. Adams, in his letter, designates the rail
road companies as "owners Of the roads, - while
the Illinois farmers, with bitter irony, designat,
them In their platform as "conQuerors levying
contributions at wall from 8 subjugeted people.
Now, the views OF Mr.. Adams on this point, I'm
accompanied by any qualification, are calculated
rather to draw our minds from the facts Of the
case and to conceal them; and We shall never ge
to the bottom Of this trouble SO long as we trea
or consider the railroad companies, as at present
constituted, the sole or rightiul owners and arbi
tiers Of the roads, when such claim Is neither
founded in truth nor equity; and the original pro
visions Of the MeCrsry bill in referring all point
Of dispute about railroad tariffs to nine disinter
ested men, with appeal to the petit courts Of the
country, 10 based on equity, because these mer
would more fairly represent those interests which
have contributed so largely to the building Of the
recognition
We are forced to remember, In times like these
large contributions have been made byth pub
Iic and that 1t is but portion only Of the cost Of
equipment which has been contributed by the
railroad companies for IL the fair value Of all the
cash subscriptions which have been contributed
by the producers could be summed up, they
would be found to exceed largely the bona I'd
and would demonstrate the injustice OF then
claims in equity to sole ownership, and the fsllacy
Of their pretensions to uncontrolled rule.
But we should 20 further than the MeOrsry
bill There is o long catalogue Of grievances and
usurpations by railroad companies upon the car
deeply covered up and incorporated into the SIS
tenn as TO almost defy detection or remedy.
The Window bill would prove to be an invalua-
S9 si cur re be- spDsS 80 ana
the vote Of every friend to the farmer, trader OF
producer throughout the country, as It will oil
every lover Of fair dealing whose attention Is
called to It.
II we would know anything of the character Of
these wrongs we must seek them in the West,
where routes have been changed at will, terminal
points arbitrarily removed after large payments
had been given to secure them, trade forced into
unnatural channels, embargoes laid on local
trade and exclusion from home markets.
But 1t may be objected to these views that we
must deal with things as we find them; that we
have to do with the facts of the case and not with
the equities.
The farmer is charged u certain sum for the
transportation Of his produce TO market. large
percentage Of this goes
/. To the payment Of interest on fictitious capt.
tai or watered stock. This will call fact or i'm
post No. l.
q Another portion is taken to pay certain pri-
have fastened themselves insldiously upon the
Carrying trade OF the country, being inteyYoYsn
into int, he Ne railroad system. This 1Gs fact or I'm
pGSSs oN " hsfs arc Two classes of mon who take
large PROPORTION OF the producers earnings in the
shape Of increased tariffs without having con-
tributed one dollar in any way toward the build
8 4 moderate portion only to pay interest on
the capital actually invested by the railroad COM
panies or bond holders in tho building Of the road
with the net cost of transportation.
Twill leave for future occasion another and
most important aspect Of this case, viz: The in
jury sustained by the producer in not having an
equitable share Of control in the management Of
the road, equivalent to the interest he possesses
In the property, as a guarantee against neglect
tavoritlsm, or improvident management; and this
., IL
will be found, is oftimes greater than No. and
MOI combined. .... ...
With this long catalogue Of outrages and i'm
positions which have fastened themselves like
the whole country, md from which many consciea-
tious railroad men would willingly relieve the
public, but are at present powerless to act in the
matter, so deeply and coyertly are they inter-
woven into tho present railroad system, is 1t any
wonder that the Illinois farmers should, in their
honest indignation, stigmatize the railroad COM
panies as conquerors, levyins contributions at viii
upon q sublpgated people!
1t must not be alleged that any countepance is
afforded in this istter to any in.erferencs with
vested rights founded in Law and equity. The
Western man will always acknowledge as a right
any claim that is founded on truth and justice,
or which offers an adequate and fair consideration
for services rendered. There need be no mistake
on this point; is there any real difference be-
tween the Western man and the railroad compa-
mics on that head. The trouble Hes out of sight.
certain interests, conceived in dapAeity, and
maintained by plumber, have fastened themselves
on to the railroad companies and become their
rulers; and in this situation are seeking enforce
tariffs and regulations which are not approved by
conscientious railroad men, and are the sole cause
Of all the trouble between the railroads and the
people.
pulously carried out will let in such . flood OF
light on these lonY-concealed and hydra-headed
wrongs, and will bring down upon them such An
amount of public apprehension, Is VIII, In its own
good time, effect deliverance and restore " MS
peace justice and general prosperity;
JAMEs MCKENZIE.
-
HOW THE QUESTION APPEARS FROM
ANOTHER STANDPOINT
To the Editor Of the National Republican,,
SIR: As one who has had some experience as q
railroad commissioner, manager and director,
permit me to offer the following few reasons why,
in my opinion, the Window bill, for the establish
ment Of bureau OF internal commercs, should
Nh.L
gress:
l. 1t is believed that many abuses have crept
into the system of railroad transportation in this
country, and have become SO deeply Incorporated
therein as to almost challenge public detection
or remedy.
2 That these wrongs have been the cause In
many instances Of imposing an almost intolerable
burden upon the carrying trade of the country,
equivalent to an unnecessary and excessive tax
upon the producer and consumer.
3. That when the full extent of these wrongs
becomes known, and II is seen that, after pro-
viding for the net cost of transportation and the
maintenance OF the roads, how small part Of the
ordinary tariff charges is really needed to pay
fair and legitimate interest on the amount OF cap
ital actually employed by the railroad compR-
mics in the building and equipment Of the roads,
and how large portion Of these charges goes to
pay dividends on fictitious stock or Is divided
among privileged cl1sses-neither of whom has
ever Contributed one dollar to the building Of the
IObue-Luc Will 10 mum oltnAllucu loI prO-
viding suitable remedy, or for obtaining ade-
Quate protection.
l. Nothing is more true than that bosd fde
capital actually employed in the building OF
railroads has been productive Of untold beneft to
the whole population, and is sacred right,
which should be scrupulously protected at any
cost.
s. On the other hand, fictitious capital imposed
on the railroads which has never contributed In
any way to their cost, but necessitates increased
charges of transportation to pay dividends
thereon, Is public wrong which cannot be too
sternly denounced and exposed.
and right, there are many difficulties in the way
of dealing intelligently, safely and thoroughly
with this question because Of the absence Of pub
lie information on many essential points, which
the Window bill will In great measure supply.
7. That there are many railroad men at present
pouerless to act in the matter, who will, ID good
season. join with you in decryng the enorrnity Of
the abuse. BoSDHoLpER.
IMPRISONMENT. II
LET THE IMPRESSED GO FREE
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1874.
To the Editor Of the National Republican:
SIR: The writer earnestly desires to enlist your
and the Influence Of your journal In
cause which demands at once patriotism. benevo-
lence and good taste. An outrage has been per-
petrated. Three high-spirited individuals from
the West are held In unlawful custody within the
limits OF the capital Being cut of from all COM
munication with the outside world, they have
hitherto been unable to avail themselves
Of the influence necessary to procure their
release. The circumstance by which the