The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-03-31
HlIoolsburp3 tgisttr
Tuesday. MARCH 81. 1874.
Interstate Commerce.


interstate Commerce.
"A bil Is now pending in Congress to
Regulate commerce between the several
-tate,, which provides that there shall
be appointed by the President, by and
with the advice and consent Of the SEN
ate, a board Of railroad commissioners,
which shall consist of nine members,
one OF whom shall be selected from, and
be resident of, each of the judicial cir
cults of the United States. Said board
shall be composed of lisnterested per-
sons, and no person shall be member
thereof who is any manner interested in
the stock, bonds,oi property of any rail-
road or other transportation company !;
who shall have power, without any APP
peal from their decision, except the ap-
peal that is subsequently, provided for
in the courts, 10 determine what Is a
reasonable piice for the transportation
of freight over any railroad in the coun-
try that has through connection.
This subject has been discussed Mt
length, in the House, as to Its constitu-
tional bearing, and to some extent in
regard to its general policy. Mr.. Will
lard's constitutional argument was n
most able and ingenious one,
and 1t would be difficult to dis
cover any defect in it. He bases his ar
gument against the bill upon the con-
stltutional provision, that no regulation
of commerce shall give preference to
the ports of one sta,e over those of an
other state. Then he gives facts and
figures which have tendency to prove
that the regulations which these COM
missioners must make, if they make
any, would unjustly discriminate
against certain ports and sections of
the country, which are supplied with
means of transportation by the longer
competing lines of communication with
the west. If his position is correct that
the limitation of the through freights
to low figures will compel proportion
al increase of local freights for the sup
port Of the railroad companies, and if
the jurisdiction of the Commissioners
to be appointed under the proposed
law extends only to interstate trans
portation, the bad policy for farmers in
Vermont and other eastern states, be-
comes evident.
There would not necessarily,
be any discrimination against the
ports of any state in favor Of the ports
of any other states, within the meaning
ofthe constitution, as the commission
ers would have the same power over
the interstate commerce between ad-
Joining states as between those the
most remote, and the local freights
which do not pass from one state to an
other, would not come within their
Jurisdiction to determine. Right here
appears to be the weakness, If there is
any weakness, in Mr.. Wizards consti
tutional argument. His argument
from policy does not seem to have any
weakness, in its application to the peo-
pie of Vermont The bill was intro
duced and the attempt is made to carry
1t through, by the momentum of the
Farmers movement. 1t is because it is
supposed to be a popular measure with
the farmers that Mr.. Poland favors the
bill. AT least it seems 20. For it is not
to be supposed that he has failed to
perceive the impolicy of the measure
when applied to New England ship
pers. For the west it is different
Their market is mainly upon the east
ern seaboard. Their success or failure
often depends upon the cheapness with
which their products can reach tide
water. Representative and people
Of Vermont ought to recognize the fact
TINT this bill, if it should become n law,
will only aid western producers to
compete, more successfully than ever,
with them in their own markets. Mr..
Willard evidently saw the point and
was not demagogue enough to support
the measure against the real interests
of his constituents, even though il
might be supposed that he would gain
popularity by doing so.
The farmers and other persons inter
ested in having cheap freights, will, o.
course, think this matter out for them
selves, and not take ready made the
opinions of the western producers will
whom in certain cases, they are hrough,
into competition.