Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-05-06
Western Railroads.

contest, the result of which will do much
to settle the railroad question that has
agitated the West for some time. The
people of the farming communities have
complained that eXorbitant rates were
charged for the transportation of freight.
To the railroads has been laid many an
agricultural grievance that had its source
no doubt rs far east as the sea board, as
we'll many one that justly belongs
there
The savings of those who have had cause
to complain of the course Of railroads have
in many instances shown that they have
become Over-eXcited,an indicate the same
frame of mind a that limited ut by IL ven
cradle Vermont clergyman of the old
school. This aged pastor, in the old Van
Buren, times. fell in with Il number of his
neighbors who We're greatly excited over
the politics of the day, but who on his APP
preach gradually changed the subject, and
fell to discussing the best time for planting
potatoes. Opinions differed, and the va
rious phases Of the moon hld each its spe-
cial advocates. Finally the question was
referred to the minister who said mt once
he would plant when he got ready, and il
he didn't get Il good crop would Law it to
Van Buren,
We are far from saying that the actions
of the disconnected class have been like
the speeches of their extreme men. The
dispute that now arises in Wisconsin will
show whether they are laying more OF
their grievance to . Van Buren, = than
Justly belongs to him. or whether the leg
islation they have obtained Is really sound.
The railroads join issue with them and
the case is being fast male up.
50 far as Yet appears it is this: The
farmers of Wisconsin believe they have
been injured by unreasonable freight
charges. Last fall the grangers combined
with the democrats and carried the STATE
officers and Legislature. This winter the
Legislature passed Il railroad law which
limits passenger fares to three cents Il mil,
and provides for the establishment of :
maximum tariff of freight rates. \ com
mission IS appointed under this law anC
the members of it have Just been name,
by Gov. Taylor. They are three gentle
men of fair standing-one of them the Stat,
agent of the oranges, another Mr.. Paul 0
the Milwaukee Mars ard the third a Madi
son doctor who has been Secretary Of III
Agricultural Society. This commission i
to supervise the working of the law
Now come Mr. Keep, the president @
the Northwestern road, and Alexande
Mitchell, president of the Milwaukee ant
st. Paul, and now member of Congress
from the Milwaukee district and they no
only complain but say they will not obey
They claim that the law is unconstitutional
and that if carried out they must stop thei
trains or loose money every day they rul
them. Mr.. Keep shows that the North
western operates 566 miles of road in Wis
cOnsin; that it cost $4,000 per mile; tina
the running expenses consume 20 per cen
of the earnings and that the proposed Law
would reduce the earnings 80 per cent. s,
that the road could no more than DIV run
ming expenses, thus not leaving Il cent t,
meet the interest on the bonds. Mr.
Mitchell makes out about the same cas-,
for the ST. Paul road. The two roads hay,
made out tariff lists that do not comb,
with the law and propose to run on tina
basis
Gov. Taylor has issued Il proclamation
in which he regrets that the railroad Of
ticials refuse to obey the law, and init
mates that the simple duty of the eNecu
tive being to see that laws are enforced
that duty will be performed.
The early history of Wisconsin railroad
is one of deal of buying of legislators an,
cheating and lying, but the roads them
selves have greatly added to the wealth 0
the State, and great share of their secu
rites are held by innocent parties. If til
Wisconsin legislators have simply PIT thei
rates ut reasonable figures, have only Gu
off eXtortion, they will in the end succeed
If they have inconsideratelv establishe,
rates ut figures that bear ont the statement
of Messrs Keep and Mitchell, they will
find that they cannot force men to do bust
ness at II loss. Protective Legislation is
great, but sometimes necessary stretch o
public authority to private matters. Des
tructive legislation will never stand Ion.
upon the statute book of an American
State
The general opinion outside of Wiscon
sin seems to be that the law is unjust, bu
that the railroads have made Il mistake il
refusing to obey it, rs their better cours
would have been a temporary submission
followed by proof of the unjust characte
Ofthe law.