, 1874-01-10

fnl compromise On the part Of these corpora
tlons with tho cxprosbod, as vol rs tho implied,
torn terms upon which tloy were chartered. Il does
foregoing facts, and remember how much tho
poop!o have done towards building our railroads
mud how heavy flioy arc taxol TO pay iatorest on
tho money advanced IN mid Of them, that no ono
right OF tho peopltc. throug1 their Representa-
bands Of those oorporat!ons. iihoro i ars now low
2,857h 1nilos Of railroad In operation In this
frcIeRss ovor lila 2,a5712 mics Of - road ia i n,e.
sontcl In tho Legislature. ono might woll con-
neiido, from tio arguments Of tho opponents Of
sho measure, tat tho railroad corporations own
expenso. erected every mile Of thom, and Ind
done IT With monoy brought horc fron, abroad.
But lot la look for momant at tho fackn OF tI,o
eaao cas.. Tha stato of Missouri Inns Issued ts
Rfato 10 "a M anya GaauF ho railroads. Of tho
tho State, from tho disposition OF tho lions hol
amount Of &ho sse eoano,s as, 20 o,,os to
aad to'wne'lapa OF tho State hayc, as il shown
incurred debta for tho bano ruff,oso, amount.
ing II, the aggregate to tho sum of e28.571,-
ooo, mailing tho amount OF aid givou
e e, .he oonnstl'lction of railroads by tho
me conatfnotlon of tho ratlt oatls Of Mtaaou,i
actually cost do nut know; but 1 do know
that 1t Ia maao tho sworn duty of tho chief OH
oor6 Of tho various roads to return tho full
eto, oto., to tho State Auditor for taxation and
That for tho Year 1878 tho whole Of tic raiJtonja
IN tho Stnto, including all property pertuininy
70 them and exclusive 0f Tho landa granted tl,om
oy tao fodelal Government. nro not likely to
aggregate IN yaluo MFRS than 32i ,23l $3.50. Tho
railroads Of Tho stato havo not all coupled with
tho Inv requiring tllc1n to make this sworn
atatencnt to tho Auditor Of tue value OF thoir
roads and other property for tho past year, and
estlmnto tplacod upon tlo,u by tleis% owl owncss rs.
nut such cstimates, il made. would not nll bo
likely to oxcecd tho amount assessed against
tnou M 4. Tor 1S72, which IL, rs seen above, 524,-
23l, $3.50. '"N'
Again, It must not bs forg otten, tl,at tho
Federal Government has granted large subsidies
Of tho public ]ands to MD In building them.
What these lands, 80 granted aso worth, l do
not know but that they aro worth many mill
grants out OF tho question, however lot us strike
balance shcot and SEQ b ow tue account startls I:
Two thousand oight hundred and tifty-sovou aud
omne-half m mles Of railroad, valued for taxatlon ut
:M, zsl ,9so; stato ald N building. 1e,7 ,9ol:
staso. county. and city, sis, ,333, Dol, making tho
amount given over and above the eHtitiiatod
vnluo for taxable purposes Sal 107 574, Including
Ill rolling stock, etc. When l remember how
m,iH LUZ been done by the people to aid i
that through their instrumentnlity, tho products
Ut tho country would find q ohcap
ana nof. rapid y, expectation to tho mar
when remember how sadly tley have, In most
inssanees boen disappointed. can but regard
II as the boundon duty Of thiB General Assembly
TO DO oil tint 1t eau do to redress the grievances
OF which they complain. I would not havo you,
W under any clroumstanccs, do tho railroads Of tho
State tho el1glsest injustice for. with all their
faults, thay haYe dono mueh good mud will con-
tnuo to do 80. What want is to $50 1ustico
done both to the ron IL and tho pooplo. AL uu-
Just denomination against non-comreting
points ought to be stopped, aud fair aud reason
ablo table OF rates estabIisled. . proper regard
for tho protection of human lifo ro1uirea, and
strict police regulations for the governmout
Of esery raiaroad in tho State provided and
enforced through tho lnstrumcntaity of a
vol -solocted judiciary and d Board OF Rail-
road Commissioners. But tho true remedy,
and tlo only effective onoi no far as tho ros-
ulatlon OF transportation Is concerned. must DO
provided by m act Of Congress-. Whilo State
legislation may bo 30 formed as to afford yory
considerable protection against improper OK
actions by railroad corporations. tho trial Of such
legislation in Massachusetts and several other
States AnB demonstrated its impotenoy, and tue
utter impoaslblllty Of adequate protection by it
to tho great producing interests OF the country.
Under tho power delegated by the Constitution
to regulate commerce between tho States, Con-
grcas may most unquostlonably establish . uni
form, Just, md fair ratio Of transportation by
railroads throughout tue United Btates This
no Slate Legislature can do. Hence fpr3yilod
you concur i'll opinion with mo), suggest tho
proprlcty Of your instructing our Senators. and
requesting our REPRESENTATIVES in Congress-, to
vote for aud urge tue passage Of a law for tho
accomplishment OF tho ond Suggested.