The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-07-31

| pedient are so serious that it should not be
embraced IL better one can be found. This
country il 40 new, so raw, and 80 undeveloped,
| the demands for capital are 30 many and 30
urgent that any policy which should tend to
| drive capital from us should be avoided il
| possible. The State is but the aggregate OF
the people in the State. The people are the
purchasers OF transportation. The railway
companies have transportation to sell. The
| law also holds railway companies TO be COM
mon carriers, and 30 bound to carry for all
when tho price is paid. II Ii now mooted
question whether that price shall be named
by the companies or by the people, the sellers
or the purchasers of the article. Which OF
these two parties is legally authorized to nix
that price is probably determined by the laws
under which the several companies are or
| ganized But which of them can, in fact, fix
| it is different question.
1t is manifest that il the company be al
| lowed to fix the price they may demand TOO
| much Vendors OF all commodities are apt TO
want all they can get. On the contrary III
the people or their agents fix the price they
NAV set it too low. Purchasers are very apt
to want commodities 81 cheap as they can be
had 1t is not probable that either party to
the transaction would always hit upon the
| exact equivalent. The consequences or
mistake would probably be found most in
furious if made by the people: II the COM
pany makes the mistake and charges too
|
producer does his own carrying before the
railway is built. He has the perfect right to
do so after it il built SO every company Ii
compelled by the laws of trade, even II the
municipal law is silent, to carry
products cheaper than the producer
can carry them. or he will not have them
them to carry. The company must also carry
them at profit to the producer, else the pro-
duct will cease. The farmers OF Iowa will
send no wheat to Chicago unless the roads
will transport it at pricess which will yield
profit to the producer. The carrier must earn
money for the producer as well az for him
self, else he will soon have nothing TO carry.
1t is as absurd for the railways to demand
more for transportation than the producer
can afford to pay as 1t was for the man in the
fable to endeayor to get two golden eggs each
day from his goose. The attempt to do 30
was death to the goose.
Under favorable conditions, indeed, the
carrier may demand and receive more than
fair share OF the profits OF production. Where
such is the case. when the State finds the pro-
Queer makes but 10 per cent. while the carrier
makes Is or 20 per cent, it is very easy and
perfectly legitimate for 1t to say to the COM
pany: 1.-The work you do can be done for
less money. We will pay you for your road
what it will cost to build such another, or you
may keep your road and we will build an
other" SO the people are not helpless against
exorbitant charges. On the contrary, If the
people set the price, and set it too low, the
consequences may be graver. The company
has no option. 1t must accept the price
named or not run. II the rates named will
afford a slight return on the capital existing
companies may continue to run, but 70 more
capital will encounter like risks. III the rates
will yield no return the road cannot be run.
Company and community i'll that case are
alike ruined. This expedient seems to ne too
hazardous to adopt if better can be found
Another expedient ia to build double-track
railway between the Mississippi and the At
lantic, over which any party may run trains,
and all trains to run with the same rate OF
speed. This is worthy of careful considera-
ton.
THE PROBLEM TO DE SOLVED BY REPUBLICANS
ALONE.
But whatever may or may not be expedient
to be done, this much seems certain-if the
national Government il to do anything what
ever to cheaper transportation, only the Re-
publ IAN party can be relied upon to do it.
The Democratic party has forsworn all such
labors. Long ago they determined the Con-
stitution would not permit the Government to
remove obstruction from harbor or
river. 1t is vain to suppose they will find now
authority to build canals and construct rail-
ways. But we are left in doubt as to their
present disposition, Two votes given during
the last session-one in the Senate on Mr..
WINDOWS amendment to the River and Har-
Dor bill, and one in the House on Mr.. Nc
Crary's railway bill-will prove beyond all
doubt that the Democrats, like the Bourbons,
have learned nothing good, even if they have
forgotten nothing bad.
THE MORAL Ole THE PAST.
Upon all these considerations, for all these
reasons, we think you should send Republic
ans and not Democrats to the next Congress-
II you cherish the deeds of the recent past,
and would not see them undone; if yon respect
the present and would not disgrace it, or if
you have hope of the future and would realize
that hope, we urge you to send Republicans
and not Democrats to the next Congress.
The address is signed by Senator Chandler
and thirty-eight Senators and Representa-
tives, members Of the committee.
a lp On