New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-07

WHAT THE CHANGERS ASK OF CONGRESs-NO APPRO-
PROPRIATIONs FOR NEW WATER LINES OR RAIL
ROADS BxPECTKD-REMOvAL OF INK OBsTRUC-
TIoNs FROM THE MISSISSIPPI THE MOST IMPORT
ANT STRIP TOWARD RBFORM-GOyKRNMENr
CONTROL OF RAILROAD TARIFFS URGED
IRON REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNR.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. Am Iowa Congressman
when asked recently what practical steps the supporters
OF the cheap asked Congress- to
take to accomplish tho ends sought by them, replied
that present condition Of the National treasury
no large appropriations were expected TO open new
water lines to the Atlantic or subsdize Railways oo'
three important things that Congress
could do to relieve the farmers OF the west
The first thing was, he said. TO Tree from
all distractions the great natural highway Of the whole
interior Of the Continent TO the namely the Misss
sppi River. The mouth OF the Mississippi is oh
structed by make 1t impossible for vessels OF
deep draught enter except at favorable tides III the
way these bars, 1t ought to he done
once he thought If the undertaking should DO
very costly The fact is that the removal cannot
from the nature of things be permanent II the pro
posed Fort st. Philip canal should be Thought by On
gineers the better PLAN It should be begun at once
Free access to the having been thus secured to
the entire Mississippi Valley the second thing for Con
gress to 90 enable the shippers of produce to
reach the with their freight at cost that woud
make it possible ship 1t by that route and this could
only be by Legislation to prohibit the railways
from making discriminating charges. At present the
roads that Iowa discriminate in their freight
tariffs against all the towns upon the Mississippi In
order to compel the transportation OF produce over their
lines the East The charge per bushel for grain from
interior to Burlington Dubuque. or Muscatino Is
grossly unjust proportion to the through rates to
Chicago aud NewYork that the shipper Is not bene-
flied by cheap upon the river and cannot avail
himself of them.
ALA he
eliminating against the North and South lines that III
tersect the the Upper Mississippi IS frozen III
Winter and important feature IN tho cheap tran
sportston programme the transfer OF freights In
Winter from great East and West trunk lines to the
lines running southwark to points on the river from
whence there is open navigation southwark all the
Winter The third thing asked OF Congress legislation
to secure reasonable live stock from the West
70 New-York The gram of the Mississippi Valley can
seek markets of the world by OF the river and
the ocean II all obstacles shipment by this route
removed but tho cattle and hogs must to NewYork,
and must 90 by rail. The Oranges demand that Con
ress shall provide for such supervision and control by
national authority Of the rates OF freight charged upon
live stock as will make them reasonably profitable to
railway companies. and at the same time enable tho
It viii be seen that the foregoing plan. which is put
forth by gentleman thoroughly c0nversant with the
Grange movement. involves expenditure OF Govern
ent funds except the opening OF tho mouth OF the
Mississippi. and for this purpose 1t is argued sufficient
means can be obtained by cutting off the usual annual
appropriations for dozens OF petty harbors which bene
only unimportant localities The power to regulate
ratios on railways traversinc more than one STATE
although never asserted by Congress- has always been
claimed by many of the aOlest constitutional lawyers
There ia little doubt that at least beginning Will be
made this session towards the general exercise of this
power The Western members are almost unanimous in
favor OF some such that introduced by Mr.
MeCrary of Iowa. the Chairman OF the House Commit
tee on Railways and Canals, creating Government
commission to revise freight and passenger rates Oh
all roads running State to another trayersng
a number of States.