The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-01-10
Il HALLWAY RLACKGUARD,

IL A., q AFu . ESI pViHiCai ucauiCa''o' l
,mselses of the nuisance, Mr.. Blacl
\ Prcsidcat of the road, has issued CT
Lar, q copy of which is handed to each al
,paScant fer pass as final answer. The gi'
paragraph, which we commend to the after
, ,ion of the farmers, as it is mainly intende
for them:
Public sentiment in the West, as espresso
: by popular assemblies and by the press, Ia
r become nearly in accord with the carolina
! principles Of the French Commune In man
cases 1t has been openly demanded that thos
who have accumulated property by careful
industry and economy shall be compelled t
surrender portion of their accumulations t
be divided among those who have accumulG
ted less, and that laws shall be enacted to pre-
vent an accumulation of property by any pei
son, beyond what may be deemed proper by
majority of the people. Rules are demanded
prescribing the mode of conducting all bust
ness enterprises which are likely TO produce
any considerable revenue or increase of pro
perty, and steps in that direction have ALREADY
been taken relative to the property of persons
transacting business for convenience unde
an artificial or corporate name. The Lcgis
lature Of this State has required and Officers
appointed for the purpose have prescribed
rules for the management of railways, one o
| the declared objects of which is to reduce tn,
compensation heretofore paid for transporta
ton, and limit the revenue Of railway Compa
MES in accordance with the popular demand
The legislation of this State, relative to tho
taxation of property invested in such enter
prises, provides for double and even quad
ripple taxation as compared with that of pro
perry otherwise invested.
If such legislation can be enforced, those
persons who have invested their means in
one class of business enterprises will be com.
PEELED to surrender so much of their proper.
ty as popular clamor may dictate Under
such legislation the management of railways
IN this State can no longer be conducted upon
principles which are still lawful, and have
been just and equitable in other business en-
tcrpriscs The discretion heretofore eXcrcis-
ed in issuing complimentary and haf:flrc
tickets is not allowed.
While none but themselves can bc other.
wise than pleased that these legislative and
political beggars have been properly repuls-
ed, we protest against the pretext for it, as
set forth in this circular, the plain English of
which is, that the demand of the farmers of
the W est to be relieved from the robberics and
eXortion Of railroad companies and other
monopoly combinations is but another phase
OF French com@nnism, which demands an
equal division of property; or as Mr. r. b.
Blackstone expresses it, "that those who have
accumulated property by careful industry
and economy shall be compelled to surrender
ii,,, ,,f,l ,a.. 4
ed among those who have accumulated less"
10 sustain this preposterous charge against
the farmers, the talschood is asserted that in
obedience to the demand of the farmers the
Legislature has prescribed for the railroads
rules for the management of their business
the declared object" of which is to "limit
the revenue of railway companies in accor-
dance with the popular demand" that is, SO as
to prevent an undue accumulation of proper
ty; and has also imposed upon railroads" dou
bic and quadruple taxation as compared with
that Of property otherwise invested"
These statements, both as to the commun.
istic object OF the farmers and the character
OF the legislation they have prompted, are as
false as they are insulting Mr.. Blackstone
when he insists that the railroads of this
state shall be allowed to manage their bust
ness upon the same "prlnciples that are law
Ia, ana have ever been just and equitable in
other business enterprises" forgets the dis
Iinction the laws have always made between
public corporations and private enterprises
\ Ypi M
ne with many rights and privileges not en-
ioyed by private enterprises" It's granted
perpetual succession" 1t is allowed to con
denim and take private property against the
will OF the owner; its partners are cycmpt
in their individual estate from liability for
he partnership debts of the concern and 50
IN. In return for these privileges the "accu
nulatcd wisdom Of thousand years the |
common law, has imposed upon such cor.
ooratlons certain duties, all of which are en-. |
Jraccd in the rules regulating common cnrri