, 1874-02-13

CONGRESS AND THE RAILROADS.
Tho House Of Representatives on Monday
passed resolution declaring that tho Constitu-
ton confors upon Congress- :ho power to regu-
late commerce between the statos, and TINT
this power includes the right to prescribe rates
Of tolls for tho transportation Of passengers and
froights passing from ono State to another.
Thia resolution was adopted by voto of Ito to
O.. Fortunately or unfortunately, resolutions
Of this kind in Congress- very little aB In
dlicatIons Of the naturalization oven OF tho House
that adopts thom. The same House, in March
yoar ago, six times voted down tho Dack-Pay
bill, the members intending all tho time to pass
It, and this thoy eventually did. A1ombors who
voted against the repent IT the safary-grab may
ondeavor to conciliato public sentiment BY
voting for auch q resolution aa this, bus they
nre sadly mistaken IT they suppose it will bo Of
any avail Us IN olfaot ut tho next election.
Tho principle involved TN the resolution, how
ever, is fraugnt with evils and dangers of great
magnitude. There aro but two modes by which
Congress Gun exercise control over the freight
charees Of railroads. Those arc, first, to con-
struot now railroads or purchase the existing
railroads, and administer them as part OF tho
business of tho Government; and, secondly, to
pass laws establishing maximum ratea to DO
charged for tho transportation OF passengers
aud freight. The House has declared that Con-
greas has tho power to do the latter uudor the
4o tt 1tant7
determined by the Supreme Court repeatedly
that tho power to regu1ato commerce be-
tween the states mud with foreign coun-
tries il vested exclusively in the Com
oral Government md cannot DO exercised
by tho States. But 1t has never boen deter
mined by that Court that the powor to "regu-
late " included the authority to prescribe the
[ prices at which commoditias alioulu no nula us
transported. Congress las repeatedly oxoicised
tho power to regulato the comIlerco with foreign
| natious aud betwoon tho States. and thoro Ia
quite q code OF. laws governing tho management
of vessels engaged in tho internal aud foreign
commerce. and intended to prevent accidents,
loss Of life aud property, and for occurring tho
health and comfort OF passengers. This is
| strictly legitimate and warranted by the power
| to " regulate" Doos that power oxtend to tho
| fixing of tho rates to be charged on STEAMBOATS,
| and sail-vessos on the lakes and rivera and on
Hea-going Vessels for the transportation Of pas-
sengors or freight Is TINT a regulation
| If this power to regulate includes tho right to
prescribe maximum rates for transportation, md
1t should be exercised by Congress, it Is, accord-
| ing to Mr.. Norton to bo applied exclusively to
inter-state travel or froights. How is Congress
to apply this regulating process except by ea-
tablishiug uniform ratesper milo shall this rate
bo gauged by what woudb fair for long distances,
or by wlat would bo fair for short distances
Shall 100 miloa, or 1000 milcs, bo the standard
iu computing q fair and reasonable rate? II
eitllor case, there will bo oppression and injury
| to Localities. Tho complaint Of excessive tolls
on railroads l,aa neyor been agains the rates lol
long distances; tho complaint is confined tt
local rates. At this time, the rates all classes
Of freight from Chicago to the Atlantic by raj
arc very low, and arc at all times relatively Low
al compared with local rates. ANY rate which
'-y to Boston would be prohibitory il applied
tho entire distance from Kansas City tt
ton.
Tho most serious objection to the assumption
'' .rs by Congres liea In tho faot that
i'll compel the railway companies to go.t
lington, to maintain n lobby there, aud II
dmonoy for purposes Of corruption. The
,ook upon this species OF Legislation as
or of Hfo and DEATH aud will leave no atons
rncd. no appliance untried. to shape sucl
ton to their own eudH. LocalitIoB and In
.unfayorably Infected will do tho sam
Congress- will bccomo eithor gigauti
:rden or au auction shop-the latto
oily. Tho msories Of a protective tarii
1ltiplied q tllol1sanl-fold, for every rail
~tructed upon equitable principle
tho bonotlt Of certain States, local
.-a, at the expense Of a1l 9th
sabol Ut confused tongues that sue
! produce, any Congressman CO
or selling his vote to the highoa
lor for cash. mora fruitlr
ord and corruption could not
Evil Ono himself.