, 1874-08-31
THE RAILROAD WAR,

by agroonlont, tho douisivo struggle IN tho
railroad conflict will occur In Oclobor uo1t.
The record Of tho caao decided In tho United
ono month ago, and forwarded on tho docket.
Meantime tho contestants In tho several 8tatos
havo determined to await tho 1unl result. In
Illinois tho Railronl Commissioners hnvo agreod
to continue tho toBt suit brought against tho
Northwestern Company, at Frooport, until no1s
Mnrcl. othorwiso tho caso would have been
tried ut tho Soptombor term.
In Iowa similar delays are reported. Tho
1oBaors Of tho railroads oporato1 by tho Illinois
Contral aud Northwestern songht 10 cnjoin tho
latter from conforming to tho inv, but aftorward
rcsolved 10 awalt tho Washington decision.
Monuwlflo tho cftizonB Of that Slate arc not
disposed to harasa tho companies. Tho Bur-
1ington Roaa Inns disregarlod tho Ian from tho
first, yet no action has been brought against tho
Company or it's agents. This Indifference cap bo
readily accounted for. THO Iowa law ouly af-
fecta local freight, and, as tho railways must
la'so tho required surplus for fntorest, By I'D
yalacing tho rites on through froight-wbtct
forms tho bulk of tho traffic they will eocuro "a
much money ~ they did undor tho old tariffs.
Tho natural result Of tho law. thoreforc, h that
It now costs the ros'dons shippers moro to get
their produce to market than It formerly did, for
which incroased expense tho local reductions
arc a quito Inadequate Offset.
In Wisconsin it ia not improbable tho Bu-
promo Court will reaervo Its decision in tho i11-
junction caao until tho ultimate docBiou is given.
OF course this is nero conjecture, but It haa q
precpdont in tho action at tho Supreme Court Of
this Btatc, which reserved tn decision o. tho
foEGa-tentlcr question for moro than year, until
tho opinion Of the Unitod States Supreme Court
was announced Such coureo, 1t IL presumod
would not bo Questionable to the business
public. No further annoyance iB oecasioned tho
companies. and tho casos Of paasopguza tender-
ing cents per milo nro now 80 oxtromoly rare
as to bo hardly noticeable.
In Minnesota tho aspert is different. Tie
nailroad Committees havo sssuod their Rchelulas
OF rates, which nro 10 be accepted as prima fa-
cie evidence OF what aro rcaeonsbe ratoa. 6nv-
eral conferences hive taken plaoo betwoon tho
Commissioners aud tho railway managers, with
1ittso benoht to either pnrsy. Iu no State in lilo
Union il tho margin Of profit To the railways 10
ANAL III in A1inncaota. OF lta lalt-dozon rail-
wars, two arc in tho hands Of Rocelve1B, ono ia
bankrupt, tho others oro on tho vergc, and arc
saved only by their assoctaton With outsido CON.
patica. Yet tho Commissioners do not fool
safe in allowing shom any latitude in thei1
fru1ght tarirs. The passenger ratos aro, il
mn ny cases, higher than the companies previous.
ly '.hargcd~ But tho freight ratea establishad
arc deemed 30 unreasonable ou some hnea thai
they will bo ou:ire1y diBregaraea. In this course
tho Commissioners woro probably not at tault
Iii BY woro created by the voice Of the people
ansI % thoy haye not yct boon confirmed, Il
no uld bo strange did they not consult tho wishol
Of thoir croators- The natural result will bo, s
speedy ircronBo Of tho suita for extortion INC
discrimination, di1foronoo between tht
ci,a sgos fixed by tho companies and those catab
Lab cd by the Commissioners batng tho baals O,
tho auits.